Introduction
Knee pain can often be treated at home. You should start to feel better in a few days. Call 111 if the pain is very bad.
How to ease knee pain and swelling
Try these things at first:
- put as little weight as possible on your knee – for example, avoid standing for a long time
- use an ice pack (or bag of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel) on your knee for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours
- use painkiller such as paracetamol ↗ or ibuprofen gel ↗ (or ibuprofen tablets if needed)
See a GP if:
- knee pain does not improve within a few weeks
- your knee locks, painfully clicks or gives way – painless clicking is normal
Get advice from 111 now if:
- your knee is very painful
- you cannot move your knee or put any weight on it
- your knee is badly swollen or has changed shape
- you have a very high temperature, feel hot and shivery, and have redness or heat around your knee – this can be a sign of infection
111 will tell you what to do. They can tell you the right place to get help if you need to see someone.
Go to 111.nhs.uk ↗ or call 111 ↗.
Other ways to get help
You can also go to an urgent treatment centre if you need to see someone now.
They're also called walk-in centres or minor injuries units.
You may be seen quicker than you would at A&E.
Treatment from a GP
A doctor can suggest treatment based on what's causing your knee pain.
They might:
- prescribe medicine or physiotherapy
- refer you to hospital for a scan or specialist treatment (for example, surgery)
Common causes of knee pain
Knee pain can be a symptom of many different conditions.
This information might give you an idea of what the cause might be. But do not self-diagnose – see a GP if you're worried.
Knee pain after an injury
| Knee symptoms | Possible cause |
|---|---|
| Pain after overstretching, overusing or twisting, often during exercise | Sprains and strains ↗ |
| Pain between your kneecap and shin, often caused by repetitive running or jumping | Tendonitis ↗ |
| Unstable, gives way when you try to stand, unable to straighten, may hear a popping sound during injury | Torn ligament, tendon or meniscus, cartilage damage ↗ |
| Teenagers and young adults with pain and swelling below kneecap | Osgood-Schlatter's disease |
| Kneecap changes shape after a collision or sudden change in direction | Dislocated kneecap ↗ |
| Knee symptoms | Possible cause |
|---|---|
| Pain and stiffness in both knees, mild swelling, more common in older people | Osteoarthritis ↗ |
| Warm and red, kneeling or bending makes pain and swelling worse | Bursitis ↗ |
| Swelling, warmth, bruising, more likely while taking anticoagulants | Bleeding in the joint |
| Hot and red, sudden attacks of very bad pain | Gout ↗ or septic arthritis ↗ |