Knee Problems And Injuries: Check Your Symptoms

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Check Your Symptoms

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, click on the "Yes" in front of the question for information about how soon to see a health professional.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

If you have any of the following symptoms, evaluate those symptoms first.

• Calf or leg pain: Go to the topic Leg Problems, Noninjury.
• Leg injury: Go to the topic Leg Injuries.
• Bleeding: Go to the topic Cuts or Puncture Wounds.

Yes

Do you think you have broken your knee or pulled your kneecap out of place?

Yes

Do you have knee pain or tenderness?

Yes

Is your knee, lower leg, or foot pale, white, blue, or cold?

Yes

Do you have numbness or tingling in your knee, lower leg, or foot?

Yes

Has your knee given out, buckled, or felt unstable after an injury?

Yes

Do you have swelling of your knee?

Yes

Did you feel or hear a snap, pop, or grinding in your knee?

Yes

Do you have knee weakness, stiffness, decreased movement, or locking?

Yes

Do you think that a knee injury may have been caused by abuse?

Yes

Do you think you have inflammation or infection in your knee?

Yes

Does your knee look bruised after an injury?

Other Symptoms to Watch For

Do you have any of the following symptoms?

• A burn, scrape, or bite: Go to the topic Burns, Scrapes, or Animal and Human Bites.

If a visit to a health professional is not needed immediately, see the Home Treatment section for self-care information.

Last updated:	September 19, 2007
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer