Imaging Tests
There are no lab exams for knee pain unless your doctor suspects rheumatoid arthritis or wants to rule out inflammatory arthritis such as gout. If that’s not the case, the only type of additional medical test will be an imaging study, which usually consists of X-ray scans and sometimes an MRI. Depending on the case, an ultrasound scan can also be useful.
- Radiography: Many patients with an acute knee injury need radiography, especially if they underwent trauma recently. There are different criteria doctors use to determine whether or not you need one of these exams.
- Ultrasound scans: They are mainly used to diagnose joint effusions, Baker cysts, and superficial musculoskeletal tears and injuries.
- MRI scans: These exams are made to diagnose soft tissue damage in your joints, especially when it is a deep tissue problem, as in ACL injuries. Doctors can also diagnose meniscal tears, osteomyelitis, and vascular injuries with an MRI scan.