Wellness

[qvc chick]

I am in my early sixties.....my right leg has been bothering me for a few months...i have leg pain in my knees.  Just the right leg.  No pain in left.  I am thinking I could have arthritis??

Does anyone know what type of doctor I should see?  Orthepedic?

Thanks

[IMW]

Internist for general check, and then orthopedist.

Good luck.

[Annabellethecat66]

First you need to get your fanny to an orthopedic Dr.  From there he can tell you if (God forbid you have a blood clot) or more likely a torn meniscus.

If the latter they would use a microscope to repair it...no big deal.

more than anything, make the appointment immediately to see the orthopedic Dr.

please come back afterward and let us know how you are....we will be waiting!

[Krimpette]

OP, I understand completely.  I have similar pain in my right leg....the knee and the ankle, plus the top of the foot.  Yesterday, we had a strong weather front come through.  I was all but incapacitated all day.  Could barely walk.  Sitting down and getting back up were both a struggle.  I've been to an ortho for the knee.  Got shots and some PT.  But sadly, there is no cure for arthritis.  The weather front has moved on and I'm much better today, though still having some difficulty getting in and out of my car.  Hang in there, arthritis is not fun.  

[itsmagic]

I would go to my own general practitioner first and have him refer me. 

[Sadiesadie]

@qvc chick, I agree with @Annabellethecat66 @that it could be a torn meniscus. I saw my regular doc as I was having so much pain so she essentially me for an X-ray insurance requires that first, and then an MRI to confirm it was a torn meniscus. It was so she gave me a steroid shot which instantantly brought down the swelling. Not all torn meniscus have to be dealt with further. I will get pain periodically but still doing what I normally do but just careful with that knee. I hope your issue is not serious.

[haddon9]

---

@qvc chick wrote:

I am in my early sixties.....my right leg has been bothering me for a few months...i have leg pain in my knees.  Just the right leg.  No pain in left.  I am thinking I could have arthritis??

Does anyone know what type of doctor I should see?  Orthepedic?

Thanks

---

@qvc chick   Hope you get it resolved.  I also have leg pain but it's only when I sit for long periods in the same position (like driving for more than an hour).  The pain starts in my rear & travels down my leg to my ankle. (I have a feeling it might be spine related). In addition, I had some knee pain which got worse last year...going up & down stairs was hard. It's the same leg (right too).

I went to my primary and he took some xrays and said I had some arthritis and a bone spur in the knee.  Gave me an Rx for Meloxicam which I take 2-3 Xs a week and has helped a LOT with knee pain but not the other issue with my leg.  I need to see an orthopedist for that.

[chrystaltree]

First you need a general physical by your PCP, if you don't have one look for an internist and make an appointment.  There are 1000 things that could cause leg pain, it isn't necessarily orthopedic.  The internist will refer you to the appropriate specialist, if he or she thinks it's necessary.

[Annabellethecat66]

@Sadiesadie @is totally right.  Some don’t require surgery.  A lot of people I know (myself included) did need to have surgery.  Only a Dr can determine that.

However, if you just let it go on your own you are increasing the likelihood that you WILL need surgery.

Take care of your body now so you don’t have to pay later ( be it monetarily or physically..or both).

We are lucky, we live in a time where, if we are good to our bodies they’ll keep us trucking for a longtime.

One of my many mottos is, “ It’s not the ‘quantity’ of life that’s as important as the ‘quality’ of life”.

[Kachina624]

---

@itsmagic wrote:

I would go to my own general practitioner first and have him refer me. 

Orthopedist are so specialized that you need to know what's wrong before making an appointment with one.  If its arthritis, you may need to see a rheumatologist, not a "bone" doctor.  Definitely see you primary doctor first.