What to Do in Case of Sudden Knee Pain: Doctor's Advice

Possible Causes of Knee Pain

According to orthopedic surgeon and candidate of medical sciences Dmitry Savitsky, pain can be caused by:

• acute or chronic diseases;
• injuries;
• damage to joints or soft tissues.

Degenerative changes, such as osteoarthritis, are more common in older adults, while injuries, which can sometimes go unnoticed or ignored, are more prevalent in younger individuals.

Diagnosis

1. X-ray — the first examination to identify injuries (such as fractures) or chronic diseases.
2. MRI — allows for the assessment of the condition of bones and soft tissues, especially if the X-ray does not provide a complete picture.
3. CT and laboratory tests — used when there is suspicion of bone damage or to clarify the diagnosis of osteoarthritis.

Accurate diagnosis helps in choosing the appropriate treatment strategy: surgical intervention with subsequent rehabilitation or conservative therapy.

Who to Contact

• If the pain is felt not only in the knee but throughout the leg — the problem may be related to the nervous system, and a consultation with a neurologist is needed.
• If the pain is localized in the joint without obvious injury — it is advisable to consult a therapist to identify chronic disease.
• If the pain is sudden, severe, and localized — it is likely an injury requiring consultation with a traumatologist-orthopedist.

Even a minor injury after a sudden movement can be serious and requires examination by a specialist.

What Can Be Done Before Visiting a Doctor

• Use a pain reliever for temporary relief.
• In case of injury — immobilize the leg and apply cold.
• Do not load the joint and under no circumstances endure the pain by postponing a visit to the doctor.

According to Dmitry Savitsky, any pain in the knee joint is a reason to consult a specialist. Self-treatment only temporarily alleviates symptoms and does not solve the problem.