Knee Pain Relief

Knee pain questions, answered

These are the knee questions we hear most at our North Palm Beach clinic, some of them answered on air by surgeons on our Pain 2 Power show. Your own answers come from your evaluation.

Can physical therapy help knee arthritis?

Usually, and it is where care starts. Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of the knee pain we see, and Dave has found it in patients as young as their mid-thirties. Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Richard Weiner, M.D., was plain about the order on Episode 6: “Surgery is the last resort,” he said. “The first thing is conservative treatment.” Therapy sits high on his list because “you need to have strong muscles to stabilize the knee to have fewer symptoms.” His whole ladder is in Knee Pain: What to Try Before You Think About Surgery.

What about a torn meniscus or a ligament injury?

ACL, MCL and meniscus injuries are among the knee problems we treat, before surgery and after it. For a fresh twist, sports medicine surgeon Dr. Rami Elkhechen, M.D., told listeners on Episode 7 to give it a few days of rest and ice. If the pain settles, you likely don't need an office visit. If it lingers, come in. Before an ACL operation he has patients strengthen the quadriceps and hip abductors. If imaging shows one small damaged patch of cartilage, read Cartilage Transplants: Rebuilding a Knee Instead of Replacing It.

What is runner's knee?

It's the everyday name for patellofemoral pain, kneecap pain that is common in runners and non-runners alike. The vastus medialis, on the inside of the knee, helps track the kneecap, so Dave strengthens the whole quadriceps and works the muscles above and below the joint, glutes and calves included. Dave described many of his patients as “building up their knee, building up their ankle to go back running, playing sports.” If your mornings on A1A end with an aching knee, that is the goal we build toward.

What does a knee assessment look at?

Plan on about an hour, one-on-one. We start with your history: what hurts, when, and what it stops you doing. Then we watch you walk and climb a step, measure how far the knee bends and straightens and how strong the muscles around it are, and check the hips and ankles that share the load. Bring any imaging, though Dr. Weiner's rule applies: “you don't treat an X-ray, you treat the patient.” Treatment usually begins the same day. People come to our one clinic on US-1 from across the county, West Palm Beach included. See the first visit page.

What does knee pain treatment involve?

Every session is one-on-one. Expect hands-on manual therapy for joint mobility, progressive strengthening of the quadriceps, hips and glutes, and practice at what knees get asked to do: stairs, longer walks, getting out of a car. The goal comes from you. Some of Dave's patients are “just wanting to get off the chair and be able to make themselves a pot of coffee,” as he said on Episode 8. After your evaluation your therapist proposes a visit frequency and honest milestones, then adjusts to how you respond.

What does rehab look like after a knee replacement?

Your surgeon sets the protocol and we follow it exactly. Joint replacement patients here follow a structured pathway from first bend to full stride: range first, then quadriceps strength, then stairs and walking distance. One patient, Sandy S., wrote that they “had a great experience rehabbing from double knee replacements.” A partial usually needs less rehab than a total, which is one reason to read Partial vs Total Knee Replacement before you book. On prehab, Dr. Michael Leighton, MD, said it is “not a one-size-fits-all situation.” More on our post-surgical rehab page.

Which knee exercises can I start at home?

Most knee programs here borrow from the set Dr. Dave Kashuba, Ph.D., OTR, walks through on Pain 2 Power, below. Do the heel to buttock one leg at a time; both at once, Dave warns, is how you end up on the floor. On the sit to stands, the pillow reaching forward makes your hips start the movement and take the load. Full instructions are on our home exercises page. If an exercise causes pain, swelling or warmth in the joint, stop and call us.

When should a doctor see my knee first?

A pop followed by sudden pain and a leg you can't stand on is a day for an orthopedic specialist or the hospital. So is a knee that turns hot, red and swollen with a fever, or knee pain after a significant fall. Get evaluated soon if the pain isn't settling, if swelling or warmth develops, or if the knee gives way or locks. Dr. Weiner's test has nothing to do with a pain score: get help “when your symptoms interfere with ADLs, which means activities of daily living.”

Do I need a referral, and will insurance cover it?

In most cases Florida's direct access law lets you begin a physical therapy evaluation without a physician referral. Some plans still require one for coverage, and Medicare requires a physician to certify your plan of care. After a knee replacement or ligament repair you will usually arrive with a referral and protocol from your surgeon already. Before your first visit our front desk verifies your Medicare or commercial benefits and tells you what your plan needs. Our 2026 Medicare guide explains deductibles and coinsurance.