Knee pain

Your knee pain will depend on the underlying cause. Signs and symptoms you might notice include:

• pain of different kinds, such as a niggling ache, stabbing, throbbing, aching, or a sharp, intense pain

• swelling and stiffness

• redness and warmth to the touch

• feeling weak or not able to bear weight

• giving way if you try and use it

• popping, grinding or crunching noises

• locking – when you can’t fully straighten it

There are many different causes of knee pain. You may have more than one at the same time.

Common causes of knee pain include:

• sprains and strains

• dislocated kneecap

• runner’s knee (atellofemoral pain)

• patellar tendinitis

• a torn ligament, tendon or meniscus

• cartilage damage

• osteoarthritis

• rheumatoid arthritis

• bursitis

• gout

• infection

Diagnosing your knee pain usually involves an initial consultation where our pain specialist will:  

1. Take a history to get a full understanding of your pain and how it affects you – for example, how severe it is, where it is, what makes it worse or better, how it affects daily life. They will want as much detail from you as possible because this can help narrow down the cause

2. Do a physical examination of the painful area.

3. Review any relevant scans and other previous investigations.

4. Talk through their initial findings and what will happen next.

They may also:

• recommend further imaging tests such as MRI, ultrasound or X-ray

• recommend a minimally invasive procedure called an arthroscopy, where a thin video camera with a light on it is passed through a small incision into the relevant area of your knee to help the consultant see the damage, which can often be repaired at the same time

If your knee pain is caused by a health condition, you may not be able to prevent it. But there are some lifestyle tips that can help reduce your risk of knee pain, including:

• stopping smoking if you smoke – it increases your risk of arthritis

• managing your weight if you’re obese – extra weight puts more pressure on your joints

• stretching and warming up before activity or sports, then stretching and cooling down afterwards

• wearing the right shoes when playing sports

• stopping what you’re doing if your knee hurts

• tidying cables and securing rugs to avoid trips and slips

• using the right equipment to reach things – don’t stand on chairs, tabletops, or countertops

• using mobility aids if you need to

Complications are most likely to come if you don’t get your knee pain diagnosed and treated. These might include worsening of the pain, making the damage worse, or degradation of the tissues.

Your consultant will talk you through any potential complications of treatments you may need to manage the pain, such as medications or surgery.

Once your consultant has identified the root cause of your knee pain, they’ll recommend the most appropriate next steps and will arrange treatment to ensure you make the best possible recovery.

Treatment options for knee pain include:

• medications such as pain relief and anti-inflammatories

• physiotherapy

• support devices like a knee brace or taping

• injections to relieve pain and inflammation

• a range of surgical options

Our consultants have access to multidisciplinary teams who can be brought in to support your personalised pain management plan.

At Welbeck, our orthopaedic specialists are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient. 

With access to colleagues across other specialties, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.  

All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.

Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.

Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.

Get in touch today to book an appointment.