Most minor knee aches heal with rest. But how do you know when it's time to stop self-medicating and see a specialist?

Here are 7 Red Flags that indicate a serious problem requiring professional care.

---

1. You Cannot Bear Weight

If your knee collapses or hurts intensely when you try to stand on it, you may have a fracture or a severe ligament tear. Do not force it.

2. The Knee "Locks"

If your knee gets stuck in a bent or straight position and you physically cannot move it, you likely have a bucket-handle meniscus tear or a loose body (bone fragment) jamming the joint. This often requires surgery.

3. The Knee "Gives Way" (Instability)

If you feel like your knee is buckling or unstable when you walk, your ligaments (ACL/MCL) may be torn or insufficient. This puts you at high risk of a fall.

4. Severe Night Pain

Pain that wakes you up from a deep sleep is a sign of significant inflammation or, in rare cases, other pathologies like tumours. It is a classic sign of advanced arthritis.

5. Significant Swelling

A little puffiness is okay. A knee that looks like a grapefruit compared to the other one indicates bleeding or severe fluid accumulation.

6. Fever and Redness

If the knee is hot, red, and you have a fever or chills, you may have a septic joint (infection). This is an emergency that can destroy your cartilage in days. Go to the hospital.

7. Pain Persisting Over 2 Weeks

If you've rested, iced, and taken meds for 2 weeks and the pain hasn't changed, it's not a simple sprain. It's a chronic issue needing evaluation.

---

Takeaway

Your knees carry you through life. Don't gamble with them.

If you have any of these signs, prompt treatment can save your joint function. 👉 Book an Urgent Consultation