Having pain in your knees is like trying to walk on stilts made of rotten wood. They’re not strong enough to keep you up throughout your day.

Finding a qualified knee expert is the solution, but it requires research. You need to find out who you can trust to give you something steadier to walk on.

Read on to learn how to find the best orthopedic knee specialist near you.

Look At Their Experience and Specialization

Look into the specialists’ credentials. The top knee doctors will have active board certification and fellowship training.

It shows they know enough to be qualified. It also shows they’re continually honing their skills and staying updated with new developments.

What types of knee surgeries have they performed before? Are they familiar with what you need? Skip past the surgeon who only does sports injury orthopedics if you think you need a total knee replacement.

What are their success and complication rates? How many of the procedures they specialized in went off without a hitch?

Use Referrals and Online Reviews

Ask your primary care doctor who they think is the best orthopedic knee specialist in your area. They can give you a referral. It could help you get your foot in the door and decide who to start researching first.

Look at patient reviews and testimonials from the specialist you’re considering. 72% of patients use them as the first step to evaluate doctors. 70% feel they’re as important as credentials.

Focus on anything that shows up across all of these reviews. If everything online is saying the specialist had poor bedside manner, it’s probably true.

Check Their Communication

Few things will ruin your recovery more than an orthopedic knee specialist with no social skills. A pleasant bedside manner is important to help you through the process.

Talk to the surgeon before scheduling any appointments. Ask them about your knee surgery options. Listen to them explain which one they think is best for you. If you need a knee alignment, for example, they should be to explain why.

Make sure they’re willing to answer your questions. Go with your gut, because you’ll know right away if you’ll feel comfortable with them.

Research the Hospital

Knee pain treatment takes time, so research the place you’ll spend most of that time. Look into the hospital where the surgeon works.

Make sure it’s at a convenient location for you. Look at the types of knee pain treatment they provide. Check reviews of the hospital and its staff. Go in for a visit or talk to the staff to see how they’ll communicate with you.

Trust Our Orthopedic Knee Specialist Team

Finding the best orthopedic knee specialist requires checking their credentials and experience, using referrals and reviews, checking their communication skills, and researching the hospital where they work.

Blackrock Orthopedics specializes exclusively in knees. That gives us the experience to provide specialized care for a wide range of knee conditions.

We can also get you into the office faster than other orthopedic surgeons. Our goal is to provide quick relief and get you back to doing what you love. Contact us for an appointment today.