Knee basics - symptoms

Knee pain

After injury -

• if agonising initially and continuing - it might be a 'fracture' (bone break)
• if agonising initially, associated with a loud 'pop' and marked swelling - it might be a 'ligament tear'
• if painful initially, with continuing pain in joint line - it might be a 'meniscus tear'

Without injury -

• if vague pain over front of knee - it might be a problem with the 'kneecap, hip or spine'
• if persistent pain at back of knee - it could be a 'Baker's cyst'
• if gnawing pain, worse at night - it could be 'arthritis'

Knee noises

At time of injury -

• if there was a loud pop - it might be a 'ligament or meniscus tear'
• a loud crack - it might be a 'fracture' (bone break)

Without injury -

• if crunchy noises on bending - it might be related to the 'kneecap'
• if there is a pop in certain position - think 'normal, or old meniscus tear or discoid meniscus'

Knee swelling

With injury -

• if extensive, tense, painful - there could be 'blood in the joint (haemarthrosis), with internal damage'
• if localized, tense, painful - it could be a bursa bleed'

Without injury -

• if severe, painful - think 'rheumatoid condition or infection' (an emergency)
• if persistent - it could be 'internal damage or arthritis'
• if recurrent - think 'rheumatoid condition'

Knee instability

With injury -

• if immediate, unable to continue activity - it might be a 'ligament tear' (collateral/cruciate)

No injury -

• if there is brief catching - it could be a 'kneecap subluxation'

Knee locking

• if completely locked - it could be a 'bucket handle tear of meniscus, big loose body'
• if intermittent catching - it could be a small 'loose body, plica, kneecap subluxation'

Knee deformity

• if sudden painful deformity - it could be a 'kneecap dislocation, or it could be blood in the joint'
• if sudden crippling gross deformity - think 'total knee dislocation'
• if slow onset - it might be 'arthritis'