Knee Surgeon
Waking up in pain day after day is no fun. If you have recently been in an accident or sustained a knee injury, you should get checked out by a knee surgeon as soon as possible. The sooner you start treatment, the better as a knee surgeon like a knee surgeon from a local center such as Premier Osteoarthritis Centers of Pennsylvania can explain. Getting an early start might shorten your recovery time and lead to a better outcome overall. If you are thinking about seeing a physical therapist, here are some things you need to know.
Can I Go Straight to a Physical Therapist?
This is a common question. There seems to be an idea floating around that you must have a referral before you can see a physical therapist. That is not strictly true, but it is a complicated situation.
Every state allows for direct access to physical therapists without a referral. Some states have time or procedure restrictions in place without a physician’s referral, though. Before you run off to book an appointment, check with your insurance company. Some insurance providers will require a referral before they will pay out for physical therapy.
What Can I Expect?
If you have never been to see a physical therapist, there are a few things that will help you get the most out of the first session:
- Wear comfortable clothes
- Arrive early to fill out paperwork
- Be prepared to answer questions
- Ask questions if needed
- Do your homework
You will be doing some exercises to help with your pain at the appointment. That’s why it is so essential that you wear comfortable clothing to the appointment. If it is your first appointment with the provider, make sure you arrive early to fill out some paperwork.
The first appointment will focus on getting down to the root cause of your pain. Once that happens, they will explain the problem and proceed with treatment. Most of the time, the treatment includes exercises you need to do at home. Ask questions if you are unsure about any part of the homework. Doing the at-home exercises is an essential part of recovery.
In summary, you can go straight to a physical therapist as long as your insurance does not require a referral from a physician. If you need a knee surgeon your physical therapist will send you to one. Make sure you look over the items on the list provided above before the first appointment. If you would like to know more, contact a physical therapist to see how they can help.
