When should I see a doctor about knee pain?
For mild knee pain, you can try icing the area, elevating your leg, and wearing a compression knee support. You can also take aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen for a few days.
Compression knee support
The knee joint is complicated as shown by the diagram below. So alot can go wrong. All 6 of the ligaments/menisci can tear and cause problems. Fractures etc are also possible.
You should see a doctor for knee pain if:
- You have a sudden, high-impact injury
- The pain is severe or your knee is very swollen, hot, or red
- You have a fever along with knee pain
- You can’t put weight on your knee or move it
- Your knee locks, gives way, or painfully clicks
- You have pain at night or whilst resting
- You have an obvious deformity in your knee or leg
- You still have pain after 5 days of home treatment.
