What Causes Severe Knee Pain?

Posted on Wed, 14 Jan 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 14 Jan 2015 Answered on

Thu, 12 Feb 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I am a 55 year old female. My knees have been awaking me the past three nights,with excruciating pain. The pain is in both knees under the kneecap. Ibuprofen and percocette do not help. I have no history of knee problems.

Answered by Dr. Kathy Robinson (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Compression bandage, ice, see doctor

Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for your question. It is very unusual to have knee pain that severe if you have not had a history of knee pain. I would be concerned about the onset of some sort of inflammatory arthritis. You would need to see a doctor to get this diagnosed by exam, xrays and blood tests. In the mean time ice, anti-inflammatory medications like the ibuprofen and compression wraps (like ace bandages) may be able to give you some relief. It is also concerning that you have tried percocet without relief. If you have access to a physical therapist, they may have treatments like ultrasound or electrical stimulation that could also help with your pain. I hope you find a solution to this problem very soon.
Best regards and thanks for using HCM

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj