There are a variety of treatments available to help eliminate knee pain. Talking with your GP is the first step toward moving beyond knee pain and returning to a more active, pain-free life.

Before you go to your appointment, try to answer some key questions that will help your GP help you. You may want to write a few notes for yourself and bring them to your visit:

• How long has your knee been hurting?
• On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your pain?
• Can you point to where it hurts?
• Have you been sick recently?
• Have any of your relatives had arthritis, gout or chronic bone problems, such as a frequently dislocated kneecap?
• Have you have ever had steroid treatments for your knee pain?
• Have you had knee problems in the past, or ever sustained a significant knee injury?
• If the pain is related to an injury, can you describe exactly what happened?

During your appointment:

• Tell your GP what treatments you’ve tried in order to ease the pain (over-the-counter medications, nutritional supplements and at-home therapy) and if they’ve helped.
• Let your GP know if your knee pain is limiting your work, exercise routine or family activities in any way.
• Ask if your GP recommends that you see a specialist.
• If your GP prescribes any medications, be sure to ask if there are any side effects you should be aware of.

Before your appointment, you may want to use the Pain and Mobility Assessment tool and bring the results to discuss with your GP. Use the tool now.