What is it about ?
Knee pain can have several causes. The pain can come from the bones, ligaments, menisci, muscles or tendons of the knee. Knee pain can also come from a hip problem.
Where and how often?
About 8 out of 1,000 people see a general practitioner each year for knee pain. Depending on the age of the person, certain causes are more or less frequent. Osteoarthritis knee injury, for example, is more common in older people, while Osgood-Schlatter disease is relatively characteristic in adolescents between the ages of 10 and 15.
How to recognize it?
Depending on the cause of the knee pain, other characteristics may guide the diagnosis. For example,
- In case osteoarthritis, pain begins in the morning or after a period of rest;
- In the event of inflammation or overload, the pain is greater during exertion of the knee or immediately after.
How is the diagnosis made?
To begin with, the doctor will ask you questions about the onset and course of the pain.
Then he will perform a series of tests on the knee and he will also possibly examine the hip and ankle.
If necessary, the doctor will order additional tests, such as a blood test or a medical imaging test (for example x-ray, ultrasound or scanner).
What can you do ?
If the knee is overloaded, it is important not to strain it too much during the first week (s). If in doubt as to the cause of knee pain or if symptoms persist, consult your doctor.
What can your doctor do?
Depending on what is causing the knee pain, the doctor will start treatment, for example with painkillers, physiotherapy and, if necessary, he will also prescribe rest.
In some cases, the doctor will refer his patient to an orthopedist. The latter will suggest other treatments depending on the cause.
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