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SYMPTOMS |
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DIAGNOSIS |
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SELF-CARE |
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Did your knee pain or swelling begin after a
fall, twisting injury, or after the knee was hit
by an object or person? |
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Go to Question
7.* |
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| 2.
Is the knee deformed? |
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Your knee may be FRACTURED and/or you may have
seriously TORN some ligaments in the internal
area of the knee. |
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EMERGENCY
See your doctor or be seen in an emergency room
right away. |
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| 3.
Is the tenderness over the patella (kneecap)? |
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If
you fell hard on your kneecap it may be
FRACTURED. Otherwise, it may be bruised or you
may have PREPATELLAR BURSITIS. |
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See your doctor. |
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| 4.
Is the knee swollen and filled with fluid and is
it difficult to walk on the leg? |
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Your symptoms may be from TORN CARTILAGE, a TORN
LIGAMENT or CHONDROMALACIA PATELLAE. The fluid,
or "water," in the knee is a reaction to the
injury. It may return at other times. |
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See your doctor. |
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| 5.
Is the tenderness behind the knee, or did you
feel something "pop" behind the knee while
running? |
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You may have a TORN HAMSTRING MUSCLE. |
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Start with ice and analgesics. You may also wrap
the thigh with an elastic bandage. See your
doctor if there's excessive swelling or pain. If
you can barely walk, make sure you see your
doctor. |
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| 6.
After the knee is better do you still have a
grinding in the joint or does it ever lock? |
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This may be from TORN CARTILAGE. |
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Use an anti-inflammatory medicine and rest the
knee. If it's painful or if the knee becomes
swollen, check with your doctor. |
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*7. Is the knee swollen, red or
both? |
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Go to Question
10.** |
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| 8.
Do you have a fever with the swollen red joints? |
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You may have a more serious problem, such as
RHEUMATIC FEVER, including infection of the
joint or bone. |
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URGENT
See your doctor as soon as possible. |
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9. Is the other knee or any
other joint red and swollen? |
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You may have RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS. |
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Try an anti-inflammatory medicine. If there's no
improvement after taking a few doses of the
medicine, see your doctor. |
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If
the swelling is soft and on top of or around the
kneecap, you could have PREPATELLAR BURSITIS. |
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Try not to kneel on that knee. Use ice and an
anti-inflammatory medicine. See your doctor if
it doesn't respond quickly to rest and medicine. |
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Your symptoms may be from
GOUT
or from BURSITIS. |
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Try an anti-inflammatory medicine. If there's no
improvement within a few doses of the medicine,
see your doctor. |
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**10. Has the knee become
tender over many months or years? |
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Pain and stiffness are often due to overuse or
to arthritis, such as
OSTEOARTHRITIS. |
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Try an anti-inflammatory medicine. If there's no
improvement within a few doses of the medicine,
see your doctor. |
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11. Do you have a swelling in
the back of the knee? |
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The swelling may be from a
BAKER'S CYST. |
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Try an anti-inflammatory
medicine. If there's no improvement, see your
doctor. |
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12. Are you between 12 and 18 years old and have
pain below the knee with swelling of the bump
below the knee? |
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You may have
OSGOOD-SCHLATTER DISEASE, a condition that
affects the lower leg. |
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Start with ice and rest. See your doctor if
there's excessive swelling or pain. |
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13. Are you less than 18 years old with knee
pain? |
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You may have a hip problem that feels like knee
pain. |
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See your doctor. |
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| For more
information, please consult your doctor. If you
think the problem is serious, call right away. |
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