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Knee Pain & Instability Guide

Select your specific knee symptom pattern below to narrow down the probable orthopaedic cause, learn safe home-care habits, and understand what an orthopaedic evaluation checks.

Step 1: Differentiate Your Pain Pattern

Which description best matches your knee pain?

Tap the pattern that most closely describes how your knee feels during daily activities:

Step 2: Any Accompanying Signs? (Optional)

Select any additional symptoms you have noticed to include them in your consultation summary:

Probable Orthopaedic Impression Joint-Preserving Window

Knee Osteoarthritis (Cartilage Wear & Tear)

Selected Pattern: Gradual pain on stairs or walking

Why Your Knee Feels This Way

Safe General Advice You Can Start Today

    Why an In-Person Orthopaedic Evaluation Is Essential

    Share My Knee Symptoms & Book OPD Visit Read Full Knee Arthritis Guide

    Educational symptom guide only. Definitive diagnosis requires clinical examination and imaging by an orthopaedic specialist.

    How Orthopaedic Surgeons Differentiate Knee Pain

    Understanding the difference between cartilage wear, ligament tears, and meniscus catching

    Osteoarthritis vs. Patellofemoral Pain

    • Age & Pattern: Osteoarthritis typically begins after age 45 with inner-knee pain on weight-bearing and morning stiffness (<30 mins), whereas Patellofemoral pain often affects younger adults who sit for long hours or climb stairs.
    • Why Standing X-Rays Matter: Lying-down X-rays often look falsely normal! Dr. Avneet Sandhu orders standing (weight-bearing) AP/Lateral X-rays to see true cartilage thickness under body weight.
    • Preserving the Joint: Stages 1–3 respond strongly to quadriceps offloading, weight management, and viscosupplementation (gel injections).

    ACL Ligament Tear vs. Meniscus Tear

    • Instability vs. Mechanical Locking: An ACL tear causes the knee to "give way" or slip during twisting/turning, while a torn Meniscus flap catches between the bone surfaces, causing sharp joint-line pain, clicking, or a locked knee.
    • Why MRI & Clinical Tests Matter: X-rays only show bones—not ligaments or meniscus cushions. Clinical Lachman/McMurray tests paired with an MRI reveal the exact tear geometry.
    • Saving the Cartilage: Early keyhole meniscus repair or ACL stabilization protects the knee from developing early osteoarthritis.

    Knee Red Flags: Seek Immediate Orthopaedic Care If You Notice:

    • Inability to Bear Weight: You cannot stand or take 4 steps on the leg immediately after a fall, twist, or road injury.
    • Locked Knee Joint: The knee gets mechanically stuck in a bent position and cannot be straightened (do not force it straight).
    • Rapid Swelling or Hot/Red Joint with Fever: Large swelling within 2–4 hours of a twist (internal joint bleeding) or a hot, red knee accompanied by fever/chills.

    Consult Dr. Avneet Sandhu in Amritsar

    Morning OPD (No OPD Fees): Mon & Thu, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM at Sri Guru Ram Das Hospital, Valla.
    Evening OPD: Mon – Sat, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM at Amritsar Golden Hospital.

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