Written by Dr Sean Leo, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon whose clinical focus is the knee, sports injuries and the lower limb.
Last updated: 9 October 2026.
Some signs should not wait for a routine appointment. The NHS says knee pain can often be treated at home, and you should start to feel better in a few days [1]. See a doctor if knee pain does not improve within a few weeks [1]. Do not self-diagnose: see a doctor if you are worried [1].
Some signs should not wait for a routine appointment. They are listed below, under “When is urgent help needed?”. The NHS says knee pain can often be treated at home, and you should start to feel better in a few days [1]. See a doctor if knee pain does not improve within a few weeks [1].
Can I tell what is causing my knee pain?
Knee pain can be a symptom of many different conditions [1]. Do not self-diagnose: see a doctor if you are worried [1].
When is urgent help needed?
The list below covers the signs that should not wait for a routine appointment.
What should I do next?
If knee pain is not settling, or you are unsure what is causing it, an assessment is a sensible next step. The assessment brings together the patient’s story, an examination and any tests that help, so that the patient and the surgeon can decide together. It looks at the structure involved, the patient as a whole person and the goal they want to return to. An appointment supports an informed decision. It is not a commitment to surgery.
This page provides general information and cannot diagnose an individual condition. OrthoKinetics does not provide emergency or urgent care through this webpage or its WhatsApp contact.
WhatsApp is for clinic enquiries only. It is not an emergency service and is not monitored for urgent care. Website or messaging contact is not an emergency-response service. For a medical emergency, use your local emergency service.
