Why does my knee hurt?

Start with three questions

Before thinking about scans, ask yourself where exactly it hurts, how it began, and what brings it on. A knee that hurt suddenly during a twist on the padel court is a very different problem from a knee that has ached a little more each month for a year.

Write down the answers. They are the same questions a knee surgeon asks first, and they often narrow the cause to two or three possibilities.

Where it hurts is the biggest clue

• Front of the knee, around or behind the kneecap: often patellofemoral pain or a tendon problem, worse on stairs, squats and after sitting
• Inside of the knee: often the inner meniscus, the MCL or early arthritis in the inner compartment
• Outside of the knee: often the IT band in runners and cyclists, or the outer meniscus after a twist
• Behind the knee: often a Baker's cyst, a hamstring or calf tendon, or the back of the meniscus
• The whole knee, with swelling: often arthritis, a significant injury or inflammation inside the joint

How it started matters too

Pain after a clear injury, such as a twist, a pop or a fall, raises the possibility of a ligament tear, a meniscus tear or a bone bruise. Pain that crept in after increasing training, starting a new sport or putting on weight is more often an overload problem. Pain that has slowly built over years, with morning stiffness, is often wear of the cartilage.

Knee pain can also come from the hip or the lower back, especially in older adults, so a hip problem is sometimes found when the knee itself looks normal.

When to see a knee specialist in Doha

Seek urgent care for a hot, red, swollen knee with fever, a knee you cannot put weight on, or a visible deformity after an injury. Book an appointment if the knee swells, locks, gives way, or if pain lasts more than a few weeks despite sensible rest.

At Aman Hospital in Doha, Dr. Gelber starts with your story and a careful examination. Imaging is ordered only when it will change the plan.