Knee Pain: Causes and Symptoms
Knee pain that persists, keeps returning, or starts interfering with walking, climbing stairs, exercising or sleeping deserves more than temporary pain relief. At Healthy Bones and Joints Clinic, Dr. Amol Narkhede takes time to understand how your knee problem started, what movements make it worse and how it is affecting your everyday life before deciding on treatment. The aim is to identify the underlying cause and recommend the least invasive treatment that is appropriate for your condition.
Knee pain can develop suddenly after an injury or gradually over time. The cause may involve the bones, cartilage, meniscus, ligaments, tendons, muscles or the joint itself. Sometimes there is a clear event, such as a fall, twisting injury or sports injury. In other cases, pain develops progressively without one obvious incident.
Common causes include:
- Knee osteoarthritis: Wear-related changes in the joint can cause pain, stiffness, swelling and difficulty with movement, particularly during walking or climbing stairs.
- Meniscus injuries: A tear in the meniscus, the cartilage that cushions the knee, may occur after twisting the knee or may develop gradually with age.
- Ligament injuries: Injuries to structures such as the ACL can cause pain, swelling and a feeling that the knee is unstable or may give way.
- Tendon problems: Repetitive activity, running, jumping or overuse can irritate the tendons around the knee.
- Patellofemoral pain: Pain around or behind the kneecap may become noticeable when climbing stairs, squatting, sitting for long periods or getting up from a chair.
- Bursitis and inflammation: Irritation of the small fluid-filled sacs around the knee can cause localised pain and swelling.
- Fractures or acute injuries: A fall, collision or other significant trauma can damage the bones or soft tissues around the knee.
- Other joint conditions: Arthritis and inflammatory or metabolic conditions can also cause knee pain, swelling and stiffness.
What knee pain can feel like
Patients describe knee problems in many different ways. You may notice:
- Pain at the front, inside, outside or back of the knee
- Pain while walking or standing for long periods
- Pain when climbing or descending stairs
- Stiffness after sitting or when getting up in the morning
- Swelling around the knee
- Difficulty fully bending or straightening the leg
- Clicking, catching or a sensation of locking
- The knee giving way or feeling unstable
- Pain after running, exercising or playing sport
- Pain that becomes worse with activity
- Reduced ability to perform normal daily activities
The pattern matters. Knee pain after a twist is different from pain that has gradually developed over several years. Likewise, swelling, locking, instability or difficulty bearing weight can point towards different problems. This is why identifying the cause is an important part of treatment rather than simply treating the pain itself.
How Dr. Narkhede Evaluates Knee Pain
At Healthy Bones and Joints Clinic, the consultation begins with listening.
Dr. Amol Narkhede gives patients time to explain what they have been experiencing rather than immediately moving to an examination or scan. He asks questions based on the particular problem: when the pain began, whether there was an injury, which movements cause pain, whether the knee swells, whether it gives way or locks, and how the problem is affecting walking, work, exercise and everyday activities.
The physical examination then helps him understand what may be happening inside and around the knee.
Depending on your symptoms, you may be asked to stand, walk or perform particular movements. Dr. Narkhede may examine the knee while you are standing or while lying on the examination bed, moving the knee through different positions himself or asking you to perform specific movements. He observes how the knee moves and asks about pain, discomfort, weakness or other sensations during the examination.
The examination is tailored to the problem. A patient with suspected ligament or meniscus injury may require different physical tests from someone whose symptoms suggest osteoarthritis or another cause of chronic knee pain.
When an X-ray is needed
If imaging is required, Dr. Narkhede may review recent X-rays that you bring with you. When an X-ray is needed and you do not already have one, X-ray facilities are available on the same floor at Healthy Bones and Joints Clinic, allowing the imaging to be done as part of your visit rather than requiring you to search for a separate facility elsewhere.
Once the X-ray is available, Dr. Narkhede reviews it and explains what he sees. Rather than simply handing over a report, he can show you the relevant findings on the image and explain how they relate to your symptoms and examination.
Not every knee problem requires an MRI. The need for further imaging depends on the history, physical examination and initial findings. Where an MRI or another investigation is appropriate, the next step can be discussed based on the suspected cause.
Most importantly, an X-ray finding is considered alongside your symptoms and examination. An image alone does not determine whether surgery is required.
Knee Pain Treatment Options
Treatment depends on what is causing your knee pain, how severe the problem is and how much it is affecting your daily life. Treatment does not automatically mean surgery.
Activity and lifestyle measures
For some knee problems, modifying the activities that aggravate your symptoms can help settle the problem while maintaining appropriate movement. Depending on the underlying condition, this may involve temporarily reducing high-impact activity, changing how you exercise or gradually returning to activities as symptoms improve.
For people with knee osteoarthritis, maintaining physical activity and strengthening the muscles supporting the knee can form an important part of treatment.
Medication for pain and inflammation
Medication may be recommended when pain is interfering with normal activities or making rehabilitation difficult. The choice depends on your condition, medical history and other medicines you may already be taking.
Dr. Narkhede takes a measured approach to medication. For some problems, medication may be useful for a period of time, while in other situations pain medication may not be necessary if you are comfortable.
The objective is not simply to prescribe a painkiller, but to address the underlying problem while using medication appropriately.
Physiotherapy and rehabilitation
Physiotherapy may be recommended when improving movement, strength, stability or function is an important part of recovery.
At Healthy Bones and Joints Clinic, physiotherapy is available within the same clinic through Dr. Rucha Narkhede (PT), consultant physiotherapist (orthopaedics and sports). Where physiotherapy is recommended, the clinical notes and treatment plan can be carried forward so that rehabilitation is connected to the orthopaedic assessment.
Treatment may include specific exercises, movement training and other physiotherapy modalities depending on the patient’s condition.
Patients can also be shown how to perform their prescribed exercises correctly. Where a patient wants a reminder of the exercises, Dr. Rucha may record the patient performing them correctly on their own phone for reference at home.
Injections or other non-surgical treatments
Depending on the diagnosis, certain patients may be candidates for an injection or another non-surgical intervention. Whether such treatment is appropriate depends on the specific condition rather than knee pain alone.
The benefits, limitations and alternatives should be discussed before proceeding.
Surgical treatment
Surgery is considered when there is a specific structural problem that may benefit from an operation, particularly when symptoms are significant or when appropriate non-surgical treatment has not provided sufficient improvement.
Dr. Narkhede’s approach is generally to consider conservative treatment where it is clinically reasonable rather than treating surgery as the first answer.
The type of surgery depends entirely on the underlying problem. For example, some patients with ligament or meniscus injuries may require arthroscopic treatment, while advanced knee arthritis affecting quality of life may eventually lead to discussion of knee replacement.
The decision is made after considering the diagnosis, symptoms, examination findings, imaging and the effect the condition is having on the patient’s life.
When Should You See an Orthopaedic Specialist for Knee Pain?
Not every episode of knee pain requires an immediate specialist consultation. Mild pain after unusual activity may settle with rest and appropriate self-care.
An orthopaedic assessment is worth considering when:
- Knee pain continues for several weeks or repeatedly returns
- Pain is interfering with walking, work, exercise or sleep
- You are finding stairs increasingly difficult
- The knee is repeatedly swelling
- You cannot fully bend or straighten the knee
- The knee catches or locks
- Your knee feels unstable or gives way
- Pain began after a fall, twist, collision or sports injury
- You are relying increasingly on pain medication to remain comfortable
- Knee pain is limiting activities that matter to you
More urgent assessment is appropriate after significant trauma, if you cannot bear weight, if the knee is severely swollen or deformed, or if a hot, red and very painful knee is accompanied by fever or feeling unwell.
Your Care Journey at Healthy Bones and Joints Clinic
Your visit begins with a consultation with Dr. Amol Narkhede.
You do not need to arrive with a diagnosis. Explain what you have been experiencing, and Dr. Narkhede will ask questions to understand the problem before examining you.
If an examination is required, it is performed during the consultation using movements and physical tests relevant to your symptoms.
If an X-ray is needed and you do not already have recent imaging, X-ray facilities are available within the clinic on the same floor. Once the imaging is completed, you return to Dr. Narkhede, who reviews the X-ray and explains the findings to you.
He then discusses the diagnosis or likely cause of your symptoms, answers your questions and explains the available treatment options.
Where physiotherapy would be useful, you can also discuss rehabilitation with Dr. Rucha Narkhede, who practices within the same clinic. The physiotherapy setup includes private treatment rooms and equipment for modalities such as electrotherapy when clinically indicated.
The result is a connected care pathway: consultation, examination, imaging where required, treatment planning and physiotherapy can be coordinated within the same clinic environment.
