Here are some measures you should take if you feel a shooting pain in your knee that continues on and off for more than a week:

See a Sports Medicine Doctor If you have strange shooting knee pain that is persistent, it is important that you talk to the doctor and get a full examination done. While knee pain is not likely to be life threatening, it can have a huge impact on your daily routine. An injured ligament is often the result of a breakdown of the ligament over time or an acute injury. If you are a former athlete, you are more at risk for a torn ligament. Talk to your doctor about recent activities as well as activities that you once participated in. Only a doctor can make a knee diagnosis so if you have a repeated strange shooting knee pain, make an appointment to see a doctor.

Expect X-Rays and an Examination Your doctor will most likely ask you to get an X-Ray or an MRI done to see what is wrong with the knee. In addition, the doctor will also do a clinical examination of the knee to see how it hurts and when you feel the shooting knee pain. After the doctor determines the cause of the condition, a proper diagnosis can be made and proper treatment recommended.

Treat the Knee Injury If you have a torn ligament, you will need to follow the advice of the physician to treat the injury. The doctor will often times advise that you wear a knee brace when you walk and also apply ice if there is any swelling. You may also be advised to take over the counter pain medication if the knee hurts badly. Better chocies include systemic enzymes and natural anti-inlammatory herbs. In some cases, depending on the reason for the strange shooting knee pain, the doctor may also suggest that you perform some exercises to help alleviate the knee pain. There can be many reasons why you may experience this type of strange shooting knee pain and it is best to get it diagnosed by your doctor and to follow the recommended course of knee treatment. Leaving the pain untreated or resorting to wrong treatment could be disastrous to the knee.

Wearing a knee brace is often times one of the best thing you can do for your knees if you experience any strange shooting knee pain. It will help allow you to enjoy full range of motion (if your physician allows this) with your leg while still restricting the leg and preventing it from any advertent movement that could cause a strange shooting pain in the knee. Not only do people usually feel the physical support and pain reduction within the first few moments of putting on a knee brace, but many times people will tell us that it helps them mentally too. The confidence that the brace helps to provide (relative to your injured knee) can be an extra bonus!