Scheduling a San Diego knee surgery appointment with an experienced orthopedic surgeon shouldn’t have to take days. Nor should it take weeks to be seen.  Many practices have succumbed to the pressure to see tons of patients to make ends meet.  Patients, as educated consumers of medicine, know better.  They know when they are being cattled-hearded through the practice.  In contrast, we very intentionally have opted not to take the easy way out.  We take our time with patients at each and every visit; we listen to what patients feel is necessary to share to aid us in making a proper diagnosis and render the treatment that is right for them as an individual (as an athlete, as a professional, as a mother, etc).  The process should be seamless from start to finish, especially if you already have a primary care physician who can offer good advice and pass along a few names.

But for many San Diego patients who suffer with chronic knee pain or stiffness or for those who sustain an acute injury on the soccer field or elsewhere, entering this world can seem like a daunting enterprise. For them and for you, I have created this quick guide to walk you through the steps of planning a knee surgery procedure here in San Diego.

1. Get the Best Diagnosis

Good sports medicine starts with effective, careful diagnosis. Although you may have heard differing opinions from your neighbor, friend, or masseuse, you will want to check in with credentialed professionals who can evaluate details such as your range of motion, pain level and medical history. At my San Diego orthopedic surgery practice, we offer assistance with every part of this diagnostic process, up to and including help with imaging.

2. Exhaust the Other Options

Knee surgery is a fairly involved undertaking, even if your surgeon uses minimally invasive techniques– despite how seemingly easy everyone and I mean everyone makes it appear.  Yes, it’s easy to do a mediocre job;  achieving excellent results takes diligence, attention, and most importantly, care. That’s why it is wise to exhaust the full range of medical treatments before you commit to surgery, including taking anti-inflammatories, if indicated, as well as physical therapy, rest and even accupuncture. At times, injections may be warranted.  Injections come in different flavors, based on the problem at hand.  Sometimes we use injectable medications to decrease inflammation; other times we might use injectable concoctions that promote an inflammatory process, such as platelet rich plasma (PRP).  If you continue to experience distress despite the best efforts of the right medical personnel, then it’s time to move onto the next step.

3. Find a Great Knee Surgeon

Orthopedic knee surgery is a skill, like any part of medicine. The physicians who achieve the best outcomes tend to work in cutting-edge facilities and boast experience and credentials from some of the world’s finest medical institutions. I am proud to say that I am the former Chief of Sports Medicine at UCSD, and that I specialize in cartilage, ligament reconstruction, and kneecap issues, advanced surgical areas on which I speak throughout the country.  Many surgeons are able to perform knee arthroscopy; however that is not the proper question to ask.  On point, it is the sports medicine surgeon who has developed the mastery of arthroscopy.  It is the sports medicine surgeon who accomplishes the task with minimal damage to the surrounding healthy structures in the knee; which minimizes the postoperative pain and accelerates the recovery process.

4. Get Started

If your knee pain has begun to interfere with your life, it’s time to intervene. Feel free to contact my San Diego knee surgery center for more information today.  We will do the right thing for you in the right way!