Knee pain

Pain - knee

Many causes of knee pain, especially those related to overuse or physical activity, respond well to self-care:

• Rest and avoid activities that aggravate the pain, especially weight bearing activities.
• Apply ice. First, apply it every hour for up to 15 minutes. After the first day, apply it at least 4 times per day.
• Keep your knee elevated as much as possible to bring any swelling down.
• Gently compress the knee by wearing an ace bandage or elastic sleeve. Either can be purchased at most pharmacies. This may reduce swelling and provide support.
• Take acetaminophen for pain or ibuprofen for pain and swelling.
• Sleep with a pillow underneath or between your knees.

Call your doctor if:

• You cannot bear weight on your knee.
• You have severe pain, even when not bearing weight.
• Your knee buckles, clicks, or locks.
• Your knee is deformed or misshapen.
• You have a fever, redness or warmth around the knee, or significant swelling.
• You have pain, swelling, numbness, tingling, or bluish discoloration in the calf below the sore knee.
• You still have pain after 3 days of home treatment.

Your health care provider will perform a physical examination, with careful attention to your knees, hips, legs, and other joints.

To help diagnose the cause of the problem, your doctor will ask medical history questions, such as:

• When did your knee first begin to hurt?
• Have you had knee pain before? What was the cause?
• How long has this episode of knee pain lasted?
• Do you feel the pain continuously or off and on?
• Are both knees affected?
• Is the pain in your entire knee or one specific location like the kneecap, outer or inner edge, or below the knee?
• Would you say that the pain is severe?
• Does it feel bruised?
• Can you stand or walk?
• Have you had an injury or accident involving the knee?
• Have you overused the leg? Describe your usual activities and exercise routine.
• What home treatments have you tried? Have they helped?
• Do you have other symptoms, like pain in your hip, pain down your leg or calf, knee swelling, swelling in your calf or leg, fever?