How Do I Know If My Knee Pain Is Serious?

Many conditions or injuries may cause knee pain, but you should see a doctor if you have trouble bearing weight, the pain is intense and does not go away, you notice a deformity of the joint or other indications your knee pain is serious.

The knee is a joint that permits the leg to bend and straighten. Knee pain is common due to injury, age-related degeneration, inflammation, and infection.

What Are Symptoms of Knee Pain?

Symptoms of knee pain include:

• Sudden, intense pain at the knee
• Swelling
• Stiffness
• Tenderness
• Bruising 
• Redness
• Warmth 
• Popping sound at the time of injury
• Difficulty walking
• Instability
• Weakness
• Inability to bend or fully straighten the knee
• Clicking, crunching, or catching sound in the knee joint when walking

Signs knee pain may be serious include: 

• Extreme pain
• Swelling
• Large wounds
• Knee deformity
• Feeling or hearing a popping when injury occurs
• Joint instability
• Inability to bear weight on affected leg
• Inability to straighten leg
• Knee buckles under when you try to walk

Knee pain can have many different causes. Common causes of knee pain include: 

• Overuse injury 
  • Squatting
  • Running
  • Prolonged sitting
  • Climbing or descending steps
• Arthritis (inflammation of the joints), including osteoarthritis 
• Bursitis (fluid-filled sacs around the knee called bursae become irritated or swollen)
  • Can become irritated as a result of injury, excessive pressure, or overuse
• Patellar tendonitis ("jumper's knee")
• Fluid collecting in the knee 
• Meniscus tear
  • Traumatic tears occur when a sudden, twisting force tears an otherwise healthy meniscus – common in young athletes
  • Degenerative tears occur when routine forces (jogging, sports participation, yard work) tears menisci that have become soft and weak due to age, arthritis, or other factors – most common in patients over age 40
• Ligament tear
  • Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries
  • Often occur during movements such as cutting, pivoting, or landing from a jump
• Muscle strains
  • Often occurs in sports requiring rapid acceleration and deceleration such as basketball, softball, American football, soccer, and less commonly in fitness activities such as jogging, swimming, rowing
• Other knee injuries such as fractures or dislocations
• Knee joint infection 
• Gout, which causes crystals to form inside joints
• Conditions that don't involve the knee
  • Hip problems may result in knee pain

The cause of knee pain is diagnosed with a patient history and physical examination, and tests such as: 

• X-rays
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan
• Computerized tomography (CT) scan
• Ultrasound
• Removal of joint fluid (arthrocentesis)
• Blood tests (if arthritis or gout is suspected)

Treatment for knee pain depends on the cause and may include: 

• Knee brace 
• Shoe inserts
• Stretching and strengthening exercises for the muscles that move the knee joint 
• Physical therapy
• Injections in the knee
• Corticosteroids
• Lubricants
• Surgery

Home remedies to relieve knee pain include: 

• Rest the knee 
• Avoid movements that make the pain worse, such as
  • Squatting
  • Kneeling
  • Twisting and pivoting
  • Running/jogging
  • Aerobics, dancing
  • Playing sports
  • Swimming using the frog or whip kick
  • Exercise machines
    • Stair stepper
    • Rowing machine
  • Body weight exercises 
    • Squats
    • Leg extensions
• Ice to reduce pain and swelling
  • Apply for 15 to 20 minutes every two to four hours
• Elevation of the knee above the level of the heart
• Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve)