Take Me To Post Comment Form If you had a problem with an old, valuable piece of furniture you would do well to take it to an antique furniture refinisher and not someone inexperienced. But we often don’t treat ourselves that way.

Seeing a general practitioner first is often best. But when indicated, see a specialist because they will know more about your problem since that’s all they do.

But be careful. Today’s specialists are often brilliant in their very narrow scope of expertise, but often know little outside of that particular area. So choosing the right doctor is important or you may end up being one of the “wandering wounded,” going from doctor to doctor seeking relief.

If your knee pain is due to an injury or overuse, see a good orthopedic surgeon; if possible, one that just does knees. But remember, orthopedists are surgeons. So if your knee pain is due to arthritis, a far better choice might be a rheumatologist.

Rheumatologists are board certified internists who have sub specialized in arthritic problems of the joints. They are like “super” internists, not surgeons, and are experts on the best medications to take for arthritic problems. Physical therapists can also be helpful, but it’s best to find out what you’re treating first.

Regardless of the reason, you should also see someone who specializes in structural analysis,
because other specialists usually don’t evaluate or treat the abnormal structural components we all have, that can either cause or make your knee pain worse. Without fixing your “bent frame,” only part of the problem is being addressed.

Remember that none of us are built perfectly, and structural problems increase the wear and tear on our joints, in the same way that poor wheel alignment causes abnormal wear on our tires. For example, if you have a tendency to roll your foot in and flatten your arch (pronation), this will cause your knee to rotate inward, causing a great deal of stress on it. If you have a longer leg (and we all do to some extent), the stress on one of your knees is greatly increased.

Recent studies at the famed Mayo Clinic showed that even the smallest alignment problems can increase the stress on your knees significantly. As a matter of fact, structural problems are the major cause of arthritis in our weight bearing joints (feet, ankles, knees, hips and back). So by correcting these problems you can often get significant relief.

A former reconstructive foot and ankle surgeon and past Clinical Instructor of Medicine at Emory, Dr. Pack practices at MCG in Greensboro. He works with patients who have arthritis and wish to decrease joint symptoms and remain active without medication or surgery. Dr. Pack also treats athletes at all levels. In the 2004 Olympics he had a silver and gold medalist, and helped the UGA Golf Team (2005 NCCA National Champions). For further information please see www.drloupack.com, drloupack.blogspot.com or contact him directly at 706-454-0040.