What to Tell the Doctor About My Knee Problem

Knee problems may arise from the natural aging process, diseases or injuries. The knees provide motion for daily activities such as walking, so proper care is required for healthy knee function. Communicate with your physician about knee problems by making a doctor's appointment, explaining your symptoms and discussing knee treatments. A strong physician-patient relationship may help you learn about your knee problems and find a medical solution.

Make an Appointment

• Make an appointment for suspected or diagnosed knee problems. You may have tried home treatments such as resting or mild exercising without results, so it is a good idea to seek a qualified medical opinion. Your physician may provide a diagnosis during the office visit or may require additional testing.

  Review your health insurance plan to determine if prior medical authorization is needed and to learn if a specific medical form should be completed by the physician's office staff. Be aware your health insurance plan may deny the office visit and any follow-up knee treatments such as medications, physical therapy or knee surgery.

Explain Knee Problems

• To explain your knee problems, take a detailed list to your doctor's appointment. The list should describe when you noticed your knee problem and the frequency of your knee problems. For instance, you may have noticed knee soreness or pain during your afternoon golf game or an evening jog.

  Use decriptive words such as tingling, throbbing or pounding for your doctor to obtain a clear picture. Do not minimize or overstate your knee problem to reduce the chances of a misdiagnosis. Physicians need accurate information to determine an effective knee treatment plan.

Discuss Knee Treatments

• Discuss knee treatments with your doctor by asking detailed questions and listening to answers. Tell your physician about medical or financial concerns. For example, if you are prescribed pain medications on a fixed budget, your physician may give samples and monitor any improvement before giving a long-term and costly prescription.

  Discuss fears about your treatment. The physician understands that fearful patient are more likely to avoid treatment such as a medication with chronic side effects. This may lead to more painful, costly knee problems such as long-term knee rehabilitation.

  Telling your doctor about your knee problems by making a doctor's appointment, explaining your knee symptoms and discussing knee treatments allows your doctor to create an individualized treatment plan ,which can help you enjoy a better quality of life.