Knee Injury

Is this your symptom?

  • Injury to the knee
  • Injury to a bone, muscle, joint, or ligament
  • Excluded: muscle pain caused by too much exercise or work (overuse). Covered in Knee Pain care guide.

Types of Knee Injuries

  • Fracture. Fractures are broken bones. They can be caused by a direct blow, by twisting injuries, or falls from a height. If a bone is broken, it is unlikely that you can put weight on the leg. Fractures around the knee can include the kneecap (patella), the bottom end of the thigh bone (the femur) or the top of the bones on the lower leg (tibia and fibula). Fractures involving the knee joint can cause a lot of swelling of the knee itself.
  • Dislocations. This happens when a bone is pulled out of its normal position. Dislocations of the kneecap are often seen in sports injuries and can happen once or recur.
  • Sprains. Sprains are stretches and tears of ligaments. These can occur in injuries when the knee ligaments are stretched and pulled away from the bone they are attached to. These injuries can cause the joint to be unstable (wobbly) and unless it's just a minor sprain, may need surgery.
  • Strains. Strains are stretches and tears of muscles. These can be minor or severe tears, causing a lot of pain, swelling and bruising.
  • Muscle Overuse. Muscle pain can occur without an injury. There is no fall or direct blow. Muscle overuse injuries are from sports or exercise.
  • Muscle Bruise from a direct blow.
  • Bone Bruise from a direct blow.
  • Skin Injury. Examples are a cut, scratch, scrape or bruise. All are common with knee injuries.

Pain Scale

  • Mild: You feel some pain, but it does not keep you from your normal activities. Work, chores and sleep are not changed.
  • Moderate: The pain keeps you from doing some normal activities. It may wake you up from sleep.
  • Severe: The pain is very bad. It keeps you from doing all normal activities.

When to Call for Knee Injury

When to Call for Knee Injury

Call 911 Now

  • Knee has been crushed
  • Major bleeding that can't be stopped
  • Bone or object is sticking through the skin
  • You think you have a life-threatening emergency

Call Doctor or Seek Care Now

  • A puncture injury. Example: injury where an object (broken glass, nail) has gone into the skin.
  • Knee is painful and can't be straightened
  • Skin is cut and No past tetanus shots
  • Severe swelling
  • Severe pain
  • Sudden increase in pain or swelling a few days after the injury
  • You think you need to be seen, and the problem is urgent

Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours

  • Very large bruise or swelling
  • Increasing redness, pain or swelling around a wound
  • Can't put full weight on the knee or walk normally (limping)
  • Pain not getting better after 3 days
  • Dirty cut or hard to clean and no tetanus shot for more than 5 years
  • Clean cut and no tetanus shot for more than 10 years
  • You think you need to be seen, but the problem is not urgent

Contact Doctor During Office Hours

  • Injury limits work, sports, or school
  • Pain lasts more than 2 weeks
  • You have other questions or concerns

Self Care at Home

  • Sore muscle or bruise from direct blow
  • Minor knee injury

Call 911 Now

  • Knee has been crushed
  • Major bleeding that can't be stopped
  • Bone or object is sticking through the skin
  • You think you have a life-threatening emergency

Call Doctor or Seek Care Now

  • A puncture injury. Example: injury where an object (broken glass, nail) has gone into the skin.
  • Knee is painful and can't be straightened
  • Skin is cut and No past tetanus shots
  • Severe swelling
  • Severe pain
  • Sudden increase in pain or swelling a few days after the injury
  • You think you need to be seen, and the problem is urgent

Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours

  • Very large bruise or swelling
  • Increasing redness, pain or swelling around a wound
  • Can't put full weight on the knee or walk normally (limping)
  • Pain not getting better after 3 days
  • Dirty cut or hard to clean and no tetanus shot for more than 5 years
  • Clean cut and no tetanus shot for more than 10 years
  • You think you need to be seen, but the problem is not urgent

Contact Doctor During Office Hours

  • Injury limits work, sports, or school
  • Pain lasts more than 2 weeks
  • You have other questions or concerns

Self Care at Home

  • Sore muscle or bruise from direct blow
  • Minor knee injury

Care Advice for Minor Knee Injuries

  1. What You Should Know About Minor Knee Injuries:
    • During activities, muscles and bones get bruised.
    • Muscles get stretched.
    • Here is some care advice that should help.
  2. Pain Medicine.
    • To help with the pain, take an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol).
    • Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil). Ibuprofen works better for this type of pain.
    • Use as needed, but do not take more than the maximum recommended dosage as stated on the package.
    • If you are not sure what to take, ask a pharmacist.
  3. Small Cut or Scrape Treatment
    • Use direct pressure to stop any bleeding. Do this for 10 minutes or until the bleeding stops.
    • Wash the wound with soap and water for 5 minutes. Try to rinse the cut under running water, maybe in the shower.
    • Gently scrub out any dirt with a washcloth.
    • Use an antibiotic ointment (such as Polysporin). No prescription is needed. Then, cover with a bandage. Change daily.
  4. Cold Pack for Pain:
    • For pain or swelling, use a cold pack. You can also use ice wrapped in a wet cloth.
    • Put it on the sore muscles for 20 minutes.
    • Repeat 4 times on the first day, then as needed.
    • Reason: helps with the pain and helps stop any bleeding.
    • Caution: avoid frostbite by wrapping the ice pack. Do not put ice directly onto the skin.
  5. Use Heat Pack After 48 Hours:
    • If pain lasts more than 2 days, put heat on the sore muscle.
    • Use a heat pack, heating pad or warm wet washcloth.
    • Do this for 10 minutes, then as needed.
    • Reason: increase blood flow and improve healing
    • Caution: avoid burns by wrapping the heat pack. Do not put it directly on the skin.
  6. Rest the Knee.
    • Rest the injured knee as much as possible for 48 hours, but keep the hip, ankle and foot moving gently if you can.
    • Keep the leg raised on a pillow above the level of your heart to help limit swelling.
  7. What to Expect:
    • Pain and swelling usually peak on day 2 or 3.
    • Swelling should be gone in 7 days.
    • Pain may take 2 weeks to fully go away.
  8. Call Your Doctor If:
    • Pain becomes severe
    • Pain is not better after 3 days
    • Sudden increase in pain or swelling a few days after the injury
    • Pain lasts more than 2 weeks
    • You think you need to be seen
    • Your symptoms get worse

And remember, contact your doctor if you develop any of the 'Call Your Doctor' symptoms.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.

Copyright 2023 Schmitt Decision Logic LLC.

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