Knee Pain (Gonalgia): Symptoms, Complaints, Signs

The following symptoms and complaints may indicate gonalgia (knee pain):

  • Radiating pain in the upper/lower leg.
  • Restriction of movement
  • Gentle posture
  • Tension / hardening of the muscles

Note: pain in the knee, never forget the hip!

Warning signs (red flags)

  • Anamnestic information:
    • Inflammatory rheumatic disease
    • Recent trauma
  • Laboratory: CRP elevation
  • Localized tenderness
  • Increasing, persistent pain + night pain → think of: Osteosarcoma (bone sarcoma, osteogenic sarcoma); occur in childhood and adolescence; localization: metaphyses (sections near the joints) of the long tubular bones of the arms and legs. More than 50% of all osteosarcomas are located in the area of the knee joint (Attention! Signs of swelling and inflammation appear later:).
  • No decrease in pain at rest
  • Night pain
  • Unstable knee → think of: anterior cruciate ligament lesion.