Medically reviewed by Charles A. DeCook, MD ·
YOUR GOALS COME FIRST
Start with what
you want back.
These paths organize questions and reading. They do not diagnose symptoms or recommend a treatment.
MY GOAL · Walk to a nearby shop
Walking is getting harder
Start with the activity you want back. Distance, pace, balance, and symptoms all help frame the conversation.
How far can I walk comfortably, and what stops me?
Bring these questions
- Could strength, balance, or a walking aid help me?
- How should I adjust my walking if symptoms increase?
Related options to understand
These are reading links, not a shortlist of suitable treatments. Knee and hip indications differ.
MY GOAL · Use the stairs at home
Stairs hurt
Tell your clinician about pain, weakness, locking, or giving way. Difficulty with stairs alone does not identify the cause.
Is going up, coming down, or both difficult?
Bring these questions
- What is contributing to my difficulty with stairs?
- Can you show me a safer way to manage my stairs?
Related options to understand
These are reading links, not a shortlist of suitable treatments. Knee and hip indications differ.
MY GOAL · Understand my choices
I was told “bone-on-bone”
An X-ray description is one part of the picture. Your symptoms, goals, previous care, and examination matter too.
How are symptoms affecting sleep, walking, and daily life?
Bring these questions
- How do my symptoms and examination relate to the imaging?
- Would a surgical evaluation help now?
Related options to understand
These are reading links, not a shortlist of suitable treatments. Knee and hip indications differ.
MY GOAL · Decide what to try next
An injection did not help
Bring the treatment name and a timeline of your response. A disappointing result is a reason to reassess rather than assume a different injection is the answer.
Which product was used, when, and did anything change?
Bring these questions
- Should we reconsider the diagnosis or treatment goal?
- What supports repeating, changing, or stopping this treatment?
Related options to understand
These are reading links, not a shortlist of suitable treatments. Knee and hip indications differ.
MY GOAL · Enjoy an activity I miss
I want to travel or garden again
Break your goal into the movements it involves. Discuss a manageable starting point and useful adaptations.
Which part is hardest: standing, walking, bending, or getting up?
Bring these questions
- What adaptations would make this activity more manageable?
- What would meaningful progress look like for me?
Related options to understand
These are reading links, not a shortlist of suitable treatments. Knee and hip indications differ.
MY GOAL · Make a confident decision
I am considering surgery
A surgical evaluation is a conversation about benefits, risks, timing, and alternatives. It does not commit you to surgery.
What have I tried, and what still limits my life?
Bring these questions
- Am I a candidate, and why?
- What happens if I wait, and what should I work on meanwhile?
Related options to understand
These are reading links, not a shortlist of suitable treatments. Knee and hip indications differ.