Achy hips? Nagging knees? When should you come in?

Randall Norgard, MD, Orthopedic Specialist at Winona Health answers frequently asked questions.

Hip and knee pain have been bothering me. How do I know when it’s time to get it checked out?

My advice is to come in for an evaluation whenever your pain is keeping you from doing everything you want to do or limiting your daily activities. The sooner you come in for an evaluation, the sooner we can address the pain. If your pain has been getting progressively worse, waiting longer isn’t the answer. Let’s start taking care of it before it gets worse. There are many treatment options for you to choose to help you decrease pain so you can increase your ability to do what you want to do.

What should I expect when coming in for an evaluation?

You can expect me to listen. We sit down one-on-one and I’ll ask you questions about your pain – about how long ago it started, whether it began with an injury or if it started gradually. I’ll ask you what makes it hurt more and what makes it feel a little better. I’ll ask you about the lifestyle limitations it’s causing and what you’ve tried so far to treat the pain. We typically do X-rays right away so we can take a look at the bones in the painful area. Depending on what I learn in our conversation and what we see on your X-ray, we’ll determine if whether further testing is needed. I’ll share information about the treatment options available and offer a recommendation. Then, based on your decision, we take the next step. That may mean giving you a referral for physical therapy, offering an injection, or discussing a surgical option depending on your specific situation. We typically want to try nonoperative measures before considering surgery.

Would I need an MRI or CT scan if I’ve already done X-rays and know that nothing is broken?

Depending on what an X-ray shows, the specific area and type of pain, I may request a CT or MRI to complete the evaluation. An X-ray allows us to assess bones and joints but doesn’t clearly show all parts of the joint. A CT scan or MRI will show more detail including bone, blood vessels and soft tissue like ligaments and cartilage around your joints. Once we have what we need to accurately evaluate the painful area, we’ll discuss our findings and share treatment options and what outcomes to expect. My goal is to give you the information you need – empowering you to make a decision based on your goals.

What if it turns out I actually need joint replacement or some other type of surgery?

Before scheduling surgery, we have a detailed conversation about what the procedure entails including expected outcomes, recovery time and any specific requirements you need to be aware of. It might be necessary to have a conversation about the surgical options with your primary care provider, addressing any other health factors that should be considered before proceeding with surgery. We work together to make sure you get the best care and achieve the best results.

Is a fracture different than a broken bone?

In medical terms, a fracture and a break mean the same thing.

If my child comes in the house holding their arm after falling off her their bike, would I be able to tell if it’s broken?

Maybe, but maybe not. Signs of a fracture (also called a break) include pain, swelling, redness, bruising or deformity. Fractures can be mild or severe. Some are easy to see – for example, a severe fracture may be obvious because of deformity – an exposed bone or a bend where there shouldn’t be a bend. However, with some fractures, the bone is slightly displaced or may have what is called a hairline fracture. Regarding your question: Would you be able to tell whether it’s broken? Unless it’s a severe fracture, you probably won’t know until we take an X-ray.

What should I do if I suspect a fracture or have any injury to my bones or joints?

If you suspect a fracture (broken bone) or have any injury to your bones or joints, you can call Orthopedics directly at 507.474.3338. Tell our scheduler about the injury and when it happened, and we’ll get you an appointment as soon as possible. If we can’t get you in right away, Urgent Care is another option – or, if after hours, our Emergency Department is always open.