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Is Your Knee Pain Diagnosis Correct? 
Diagnosis of knee injuries is, in my opinion, too dependant on many large machines and invasive techniques. Your knee hurts so you visit the orthopedist, here he uses his tools to figure out why your knee hurts. While some of these tools are very impressive indeed, are they accurate?
    
Once X-rays rule out problems with bones, a MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is brought in because of its ability to reveal soft tissue damage, but problems with the knee, especially the
cartilage, can still be very evasive and hard to pinpoint. Studies have shown that the advanced technologies commonly used to diagnosis injuries are grievously insufficient to do the job.  

In one study conducted by Dr. J.A. Lawrance of Oxford, England, MRIs had a success rate of only 11% in diagnosing partial anterior cruciate ligament tears. In yet another study, focusing on the knee, doctors compared the findings of standard x-ray tests and physical examinations on 210 people—all of whom were self-described as pain free at the time of the testing. Although none of the participants exhibited any pain or other symptoms of pathology, and considered themselves completely healthy in regard to their knees, the test results yielded dramatic evidence of physical problems and abnormalities, including an incidence rate of 80% or better for arthritis, patellofemoral crepitus (grinding) in 94% of the women, high percentages of asymmetry and hypermobility, and a dozen other problems to varying degrees. As the authors of the study noted: "Because patellofemoral crepitus is so common in both symptomatic and asymptomatic volunteers, the importance of this finding must be reevaluated as a surgical indication."

The conclusion is obvious: by offering "objective" evidence and a technology based rationale to over-eager surgeons, MRIs, X-rays and other advanced diagnostic techniques contribute greatly to promoting cases of unnecessary or even ill-advised surgery. The end result is more problems for the recipients of these surgeries. 

Generally speaking, the most efficient and safe method for diagnosing a knee injury is a simple manual examination, coupled with extensive questioning of the patient to determine exactly what happened and where it hurts.

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 A Multi-Disciplinary Clinic For Professional and Amateur Athletes and Chronic Pain Sufferers
11645 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 120 Los Angeles, CA (310) 231-7000

Patient's stories herein, and the language used, is intended to inform and educate. HOWEVER, it does not imply that you or anyone else will receive the same outcome.

Prolotherapy and other modalities mentioned are medical techniques that may not be considered mainstream. As with any medical procedure, results will vary among individuals, and there could be pain or substantial risks involved. These concerns should be discussed with your health care provider prior to any treatment so that you have proper informed consent and understand that there are no guarantees to healing.


Neither
Dr. Darrow, nor any associate of Joint Rehab offer medical advice on this website. This information is offered for educational purposes only. Do not act or rely upon our information without seeking independent professional medical advice. The transmission of this information does not create a physician-patient relationship between you and Dr. Darrow or any associate of Joint Rehab. Neither Dr. Darrow, nor any associate of Joint Rehab guarantees the accuracy, completeness, usefulness, or adequacy of any resources, information, apparatus, product, or process available at or from this transmission. The photos in this Web site feature models for illustrative purposes and do not depict real patients.

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