What's up with my knee? (Symptom checker)
Have you had an injury to your knee with pain and swelling?
Have you had an injury to your knee with pain and swelling?
Have you had an injury to your knee with pain and swelling?
- Torn cartilage in knee (meniscus): Pain on one side usually. Feelings of locking, catching or giving way. Swelling may come and go.
- Damaged articular cartilage: Continuous dull ache or throb. Pain made worse on certain manoeuvres or positions. Pain localised to one part of knee. Swelling may or may not be present. Locking if a loose body present.
- Ligament tear in knee: Usually very swollen and sore at time of injury. Swelling and pain reduce over a few weeks. Knee may feel loose and wobbly. Giving way especially when turning and changing direction.
- Dislocation of kneecap: Feel something come out of place. May have seen a bulge to side of knee and bone sticking out.
Does your knee Lock or catch?
Have you had an injury to your knee with pain and swelling?
Have you had an injury to your knee with pain and swelling?
- Torn cartilage in knee (meniscus)
- Ligament tear in knee
- Loose body: A detached bit of bone and cartilage can sometimes move around the knee joint and cause intermittent locking or jamming. (see under arthritis)
- Kneecap problems: The kneecap can sometimes get stuck and jam in the groove in which it travels.
Does your knee give way?
Have you had an injury to your knee with pain and swelling?
Does your knee give way?
- Ligament tear in knee (ACL injury): Usually will have had a noticeable injury in the past. Giving way or a movement in the joint that occurs if knee twists or a change in direction while walking or running. Prevents people playing football, squash and skiing etc. Knee may swell after giving way and pain may be felt on one side of knee when knee gives way.
- Torn cartilage in knee (meniscus): Cartilage tears that get trapped in the knee can sometimes give a feeling of giving way.
- Kneecap problems: If there is problems with the kneecap, the muscle loses strength occasionally and leg feels like it will let you down.
Pain
Crunchiness/Crepitus
Does your knee give way?
- Very vague symptom and can suggest lots of things.
- Arthritis knee pain: Pain is the predominant symptom of advanced arthritis
Stiffness
Crunchiness/Crepitus
Crunchiness/Crepitus
- Arthritis: When a joint is worn the friction rises and the joint feels stiff especially if you have been sat for some time.
- Arthritis knee pain can inhibit movement slowly leading to stiffness.
- A torn cartilage in knee that gets trapped can block movement
- Poor rehabilitation after an injury such as a ligament tear in knee, can lead to scarring and contractures
Crunchiness/Crepitus
Crunchiness/Crepitus
Crunchiness/Crepitus
- May be insignificant and sometimes without a clear cause
- May indicate areas of roughening on the joint surfaces - Articular cartilage fraying.
Swelling
Swelling
Swelling
- Vague and could suggest lots of things
- Arthritis: Inflammatory conditions such as Gout (crystal deposition) or Rheumatoid arthritis can create a swollen joint. There will normally be a significant degree of arthritis knee pain in addition
- Torn cartilage in knee (meniscus) can result in slight swelling
- Ligament tear in knee initially will give rise to significant swelling
- Overuse: If excessive activity is undertaken a reactive swelling can result in a joint.