Remember, only a trained healthcare professional can provide an accurate diagnosis of your knee pain.
In some cases, mild pain can be treated with home remedies and over-the-counter pain modifications while your body heals itself.
Moderate or severe pain that lasts more than a day or two may require advanced treatments to reduce your pain or restore motion to the joint.
In either of the above cases, your local GP will advise the best course of treatment for you.
Ligament Injuries
Ligaments connect your bones to each other. Ligaments in the knee are usually torn or ruptured accidentally through injury or athletic activity. The major ligaments that may become injured are:
- Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL)
- Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL)
- Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL)
- Lateral Collateral Ligamanent (LCL)
Cartilage Injuries and Meniscal Tears
Cartilage cushions and protects your joints. There are two types of cartilage in your knee: articular cartilage, which is stretchy and white; and meniscal cartilage, which is thick and fibrous. Over time, damage to either can cause the bones in the joint to rub against each other. Cartilage injuries are a common source of knee pain.
Tendonitis of the Knee
An inflammation of the large tendon that connects the tibia (shin bone) to the patella (also known as your kneecap).
Dislocated Kneecap
A condition where the patella (also known as your kneecap) dislocates or moves out of its normal position.
Bursitis
An inflammation of the bursae, or the sacs of fluid that reduce friction in the joint. Caused by sports injury, overuse, or excessive kneeling.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (the most common form of arthritis) is a painful condition that develops when the cartilage cushioning your joint deteriorates and the joint surfaces begin to experience increasing friction. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition, which means it often gets worse over time.
Patellofemoral Syndrome or Chondromalicia
Chondromalacia is a condition that affects your kneecap, or patella. A knee with this problem may hurt, swell and grind. Whilst this condition can be painful, lots of patients have chondromalacia of the patella with no symptoms other than a grinding sensation when they squat or climb stairs. The grinding sensation itself can often be non-painful.
When to Talk to Your GP
If you don’t know what is causing your pain, or if you don’t know what treatment is right for your condition, talk to your GP. Signs that you should talk to your GP include:
- Difficulty walking comfortably on the affected side
- Injury that causes deformity around the joint
- Knee pain that happens at night or while resting
- Knee pain that persists
- Inability to bend the knee
- Swelling of the knee or calf area
- Signs of infection, including fever, redness and warmth in the knee area
- Any other unusual symptoms
