Knee pain can often be treated at home - you should start to feel better in a few days. Call 111 if the pain is very bad.

How to ease knee pain and swelling

Try these things at first:

• put as little weight as possible on the knee - for example, avoid standing for a long time
• use an ice pack (or bag of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel) on your knee for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours
• take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen

See a GP if:

• knee pain does not improve within a few weeks

Get advice from 111 now if:

• your knee is very painful
• you cannot move your knee or put any weight on it
• your knee is badly swollen or has changed shape
• your knee locks, gives way or painfully clicks – painless clicking is normal
• you have a very high temperature, feel hot and shivery, and have redness or heat around your knee - this can be a sign of infection

111 will tell you what to do.  They can tell you the right place to get help if you need to see someone.

Treatment from a GP

A doctor can suggest treatment based on what's causing your knee pain.

They might:

• prescribe medicine or physiotherapy
• refer you to hospital for a scan or specialist treatment (for example, surgery)

Common causes of knee pain

Knee pain can be a symptom of many different conditions.

This information might give you an idea of what the cause might be. But do not self-diagnose - see a GP if you're worried.

Knee pain after an injury

Knee symptoms and possible causes:

• Pain after overstretching, overusing or twisting, often during exercise - possible cause could be sprains and strains
• Pain between your kneecap and shin, often caused by repetitive running or jumping - possible cause could be tendonitis
• Unstable, gives way when you try to stand, unable to straighten, may hear a popping sound during injury - possible cause could be torn ligament, tendon or meniscus, cartilage damage
• Kneecap changes shape after a collision or sudden change in direction - possible cause could be dislocated kneecap

Knee pain with no obvious injury

Knee symptoms and possible causes:

• Pain and stiffness in both knees, mild swelling, more common in older people - possible cause is osteoarthritis
• Warm and red, kneeling or bending makes pain and swelling worse - possible cause is bursitis
• Swelling, warmth, bruising, more likely while taking anticoagulants - possible cause is bleeding in the joint
• Hot and red, sudden attacks of very bad pain - possible causes are gout or septic arthritis
• Teenagers and young adult with pain and swelling below kneecap - Osgood Schlatter's disease