Patient question
When is knee pain serious?
Dr. Pablo GelberOrthopaedic Knee Surgeon
Quick answer
Knee pain is serious when the knee is hot, red and swollen with fever, when you cannot bear weight after an injury, when it looks deformed, or when the calf is swollen and tender. These need same-day emergency care. Swelling, locking or giving way needs a prompt specialist review, advises Dr. Pablo Gelber at Aman Hospital in Doha.
Go to emergency the same day
- A hot, red, swollen knee, especially with fever, chills or feeling unwell: this can be a joint infection
- You cannot take four steps on the leg after a fall or injury, or there is a visible deformity: possible fracture or dislocation
- The knee dislocated, or the foot is cold, pale or numb after an injury: blood vessels or nerves may be affected
- A swollen, tender, warm calf, especially after a long flight, surgery or a period of immobility: possible blood clot
- A sudden inability to straighten the knee actively after a fall or jump: possible tendon rupture
Book a specialist within days
- The knee swelled within hours of a twist or a pop during sport
- It locks and you have to wiggle it to free it, or it will not straighten fully
- It gives way or feels unstable on turning
- Pain wakes you at night repeatedly, or comes with unexplained weight loss or fever
- A new lump that is growing or painful
Usually safe to manage at first
An ache after a busy week, mild soreness after a new exercise, or clicking without pain or swelling are common and usually settle. Adjust activity, keep moving within comfort and give it a few weeks. If it is not clearly improving after four to six weeks, have it examined rather than waiting months.
Getting seen in Doha
In an emergency, go to the nearest emergency department in Qatar or call 999. For the specialist signs above, Dr. Gelber sees patients at Aman Hospital in Doha, where examination, X-ray and MRI can be arranged so a diagnosis and plan are made without delay.
Frequently asked questions
My knee is swollen but not painful. Is that serious?
Painless swelling is less urgent, but swelling always has a cause, such as arthritis, a meniscus tear or inflammation. If it lasts more than a week or two, or keeps coming back, have it examined.
Can knee pain be a sign of something in another part of the body?
Yes. Pain felt in the knee can come from the hip or lower back, and rarely from a clot in the calf veins. This is why a doctor examines more than the knee itself.
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