How To Evaluate Knee Pain

Knee pain is one of the most common afflictions in the United States. Between sports injuries, overuse, obesity, and an aging population, more and more knee problems are being seen every year by doctors. Knees are also tricky to evaluate in that in some cases they may cause less pain, but the injury may be severe if left untreated. Knowing some simple steps to help you evaluate your knee pain can help you make decisions concerning treatment.

Things You'll Need

• Helper
• Pen
• Paper

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Instructions

How to Evaluate Knee Pain

• 1

  Rate your pain. Think about the pain in your knee and put it on a scale of one to 10, with one being almost no discomfort, and 10 being the worst pain you have ever felt in your life. Have your partner write it down.

• 2

  Rate your pain on the same scale as you bend your knee. Try to bend it as much as you can without causing worse injury or excruciating pain. Write down the pain scale number.

• 3

  With the assistance of your helper, try standing and putting weight on the knee. Again, rate your pain and write it down.

• 4

  Try walking with assistance, or, if possible, unassisted. Rate your pain scale and record it.

• 5

  Take special note during each section of what kind of pain is present: sharp, dull, grinding, popping, tearing, etc. If there are any audible sounds, make note of these as well.

• 6

  If any of your scores rate a five or higher, you need to see a medical professional. If you have a feeling of instability, like the knee might buckle, you need to get to a doctor immediately. Continuing to use a knee with these problems is only going to worsen the injury.

• 7

  If the pain is at any point excruciating, forget trying to rate it and get yourself to the nearest emergency room. You could have a fracture or worse.