When to see a doctor · The knee joint is bent or deformed. When home remedies and over-the-counter medications just don't work or the pain gets worse, it's time to call a doctor. If you try to wait for the pain to go away and it doesn't seem to go away, a doctor can help. Usually, athletes should see a medical professional if the pain lasts longer than 48 hours and other adults should see an expert if there seems to be no change for three weeks. This type of knee pain progresses slowly and is more persistent than acute pain caused by repetitive movements or activities.
She adds that, many times, knee pain is simply a sign of overuse of the knee to let you know that you have overdone it. Another common cause of knee pain is osteoarthritis, which can cause stiffness, swelling and pain in the knee joint and is more common as a person ages. A heating pad can alleviate some types of knee pain, especially when muscle stiffness that puts pressure on the tendons and ligaments in the knee is what causes irritation. Signs of this would be if your knee is swelling, bending, collapsing, or if you can't bear weight on your knee.
Like knee joint deformity, changes in the shape and color of the knee can indicate serious problems. To learn how to get rid of knee pain, you must first try to understand why your knee hurts and determine if the pain warrants seeing a doctor or if there are measures you can safely try at home first. Techniques such as those used for acute injuries, such as compression bandages, oral pain relievers and topical medications, can also help control chronic pain kneeling. If knee pain progressively improves with home remedies, it's a good sign that the knee is healing.
Make an appointment with your health care team if your knee pain occurred after a hard impact or injury. In this case, the doctor will want to further evaluate the knee injury and discuss treatment options and pain management. If the affected knee appears deformed compared to the healthy knee, you may have a fracture, a dislocated kneecap, or an injury to the patella. Start with self-care if your knee pain doesn't show clear signs of trauma and you can still go about your daily life.
