| After conducting the necessary physical examination, | | | | analysis |
| especially on joints like your knees, hips and legs, | | | | - knee x-rays |
| your doctor will require a detailed enumeration of | | | | - MRI scan of the knee to determine any tears in the |
| your medical history for a more accurate diagnosis. | | | | ligaments or meniscus |
| You will be asked questions about: | | | | To counter pain symptoms, your doctor may |
| - the first time you felt pain in your knee | | | | prescribe NSAIDs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory |
| - whether you've had previous knee pain, and why | | | | drugs that are more potent than over-the-counter |
| - the length of time you've been experiencing pain | | | | painkillers. For more severe symptoms, injectible |
| - whether the pain is constant or intermittent | | | | steroids can be administered to cut down pain and |
| - whether the pain affects one or both knees | | | | inflammation. |
| - the precise area where pain is felt - above, below, | | | | Other methods of treatment may involve sessions |
| at the sides, or on the knee itself | | | | with a physical therapist for stretching and |
| - the severity of the pain | | | | strengthening joint exercises, or visits to a podiatrist |
| - whether the knee feels tender and battered | | | | for orthotics fittings. These remedies can avert the |
| - your ability to put weight on your knee or walk | | | | reoccurrence of arthritis symptoms. |
| - any history of injury or accident involving the | | | | When the disease has progressed to a stage where |
| affected joint | | | | there is extensive bone and cartilage damage and |
| - whether the whole limb or just the knee has been | | | | severe pain and inflammation, surgery may be |
| used excessively | | | | necessary to replace the affected joint. While minor |
| - your normal day-to-day activities and exercise | | | | injuries involving ligaments strains and tears will heal |
| regimen | | | | naturally with self-nurturing home care or the use of |
| - the home remedies you've used to treat the knee | | | | supportive apparatus, substantial tears and fissures, |
| and whether they alleviated any of the symptoms | | | | like a torn meniscus will require arthroscopic knee |
| - other signs like hip, leg or calf pain, and swelling of | | | | surgery. |
| the knee and its surrounding areas | | | | Ligament and meniscus-related conditions result in |
| - any incidence of fever | | | | slow and painstaking recovery, often involving the |
| Your doctor may also order the following tests: | | | | use of crutches and prolonged physical therapy. |
| - extraction of a fluid sample from your knee for | | | | |