knee pain

Background

Knee pain is extremely common in the elderly population. However the causes of knee pain may vary.

Causes - Bursitis - Torn ligaments or tendons - Bleeding into the joint - Gout - Septic arthritis (infected knee joint) - Soft tissue damage/ inflammation

! An extremely painful red hot knee may indicate septic arthritis, which is a medical emergency. Medical advice must be sought immediately or the knee joint may risk being damaged by the bacteria. ! Inability to walk may also indicate serious problems and urgent medical advice should also be sought.

Treatments - Simple analgesics may be helpful. - Rest the affected knee.