Knee pain – what can help

Sometimes, knee pain is nothing more than a temporary problem. In other cases, it can be so painful that it’s difficult – or even impossible – to walk or move.

To get relief from knee pain, it’s helpful to know what’s causing it.

There are lots of possible causes, but one of the most common is wear and tear. This happens naturally as you get older, and it can also be triggered by playing sports, exercising, or putting too much pressure on the joint.

Other common reasons for knee pain include injuries, for example, a fall or a sports injury, and health conditions such as arthritis.

Often, you can manage the pain with self-care, or treatment from your doctor.

There are also things you can do to reduce the risk of future flare-ups.

What does it feel like?

You can feel knee pain in different places, depending on what’s causing it.

If it’s coming from the bone or cartilage, it may feel like the pain is deep in, or under, your kneecap (patella).

Or if it’s coming from the muscles, tendons, or ligaments that support the knee joint, it may feel closer to the surface.

The pain can be achy, stiff, throbbing, sharp, or stabbing, and either come and go, or be there all the time.

It might ease when you rest it, or get better with gentle movement. But it can also get worse whenever you move it, making walking difficult or even impossible.

The pain can also spread (radiate) to other parts of your leg, such as your shin or thigh.

When to get urgent medical help

Go to an urgent treatment center if you:

• have severe knee pain
• can’t move your knee properly, or put weight on it
• notice swelling in your knee, or it’s changed shape
• have painful locking or clicking of your knee (painless clicking is normal)
• have a fever and the skin around your knee feels hot or looks red.

What causes it and who can be affected?

Knee pain can be caused by lots of things, from overuse to health conditions.

It’s possible for anyone to strain, sprain, bruise, damage, or dislocate their knee – during exercise or sports, or just by tripping over or missing a step.

Injuries aside, you’re more at risk of knee pain if you:

• are older – your joints can wear out as you age
• have excess weight or obesity – this puts pressure on your knees
• have previously injured your knee
• have a job where you need to kneel down a lot – such as gardening or carpet laying
• do a lot of high-impact exercise
• play sports that involve twisting – such as tennis or basketball.

Some health conditions can also cause knee pain, or be linked with it. These include:

• arthritis – this is a common cause of knee pain, including osteoarthritis, septic (bacterial) arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis
• gout
• infections
• bursitis – a condition where the fluid-filled sacs (bursa) that cushion a joint become inflamed and painful
• depression – there is a link between knee pain and depression.

Self-care tips for knee pain

You can try to manage mild knee pain at home with:

• rest – avoid putting weight on your knee for long periods, and sit with your leg raised when you can
• ice – applying an ice pack (wrapped in a tea towel or cloth) for about 20 minutes, a few times a day, can help with swelling
• pain relief – over-the-counter painkillers, such as acetaminophen (paracetamol) or ibuprofen, either as pills or a cream/gel you rub into your knee (check with your pharmacist about what’s suitable for you)
• exercises and physical therapy – to help build strength and keep your knee joint mobile
• support – wearing a knee brace or arch supports in your shoes can help to take pressure off the knee
• acupuncture – some evidence suggests that this dry-needling technique may help with knee pain caused by osteoarthritis.

When to see a doctor

Go back to the section When to get urgent medical help to check which symptoms need immediate medical attention.

You should see your doctor if the pain doesn’t get better after a few weeks.

They will check your knee for bruising, swelling, tenderness, or warmth, and may get you to move your leg in different directions. They’ll also ask about your medical history, and if you have any other symptoms.

You may be referred to a specialist for tests, such as blood tests or an X-ray, CT, or MRI scan.

What are the treatments for knee pain?

If self-care hasn’t helped, or you’re diagnosed with a condition that needs treatment, you may need:

• prescription-strength pain relief
• physical therapy
• antibiotics – if you have an infection
• medication for a health condition – such as arthritis or gout
• steroid injections– to reduce inflammation
• surgery – to repair the joint damage (arthroscopy) or replace the knee joint (knee replacement), if your pain is severe and other treatments have not helped.

Reduce your risk

You can’t always prevent knee pain. But you can help to minimize your risk of injury during exercise, sports or falls, and stop knee pain from coming back, by:

• maintaining a healthy weight – to take strain off your knee joints
• warming up and cooling down before and after sports
• giving your body time to rest and recover after intense exercise
• strengthening the ligaments and muscles that support your knees with exercises
• wearing the correct footwear for the activity you’re doing
• choosing the right exercise for your age/fitness levels – such as swimming or low-impact workouts to strengthen rather than stress joints
• wearing a knee brace or support
• not standing on chairs or tabletops
• using a cane if you need it, to help with walking and balance.