Knee pain and sprains

Knee pain is often associated with swelling or tenderness around the knee joint and knee cap which can occur during everyday activity or as a result of a sports injury. Our specialists can help treat all manner of conditions, from soft tissue injuries to arthritis.

Foot and ankle twists and falls during sport

What is a knee sprain?

If you have pain, swelling or tenderness around or inside your knee, you may have a knee sprain. Sprains can happen if you've damaged or injured the muscles or one of the four ligaments that support the knee. Ligament sprains are graded (from one to three), depending on how bad your injury is. Common causes include tired muscles and playing sport.

Types of knee sprain

Medial ligament sprain

Medial ligament sprains are often a result of an impact on the outside of the knee. They tend to cause pain on the inside of the knee.

Lateral ligament sprain

Lateral ligament sprains are often a result of an impact on the inside of the knee. They tend to cause pain on the outside of the knee.

An anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) sprain

The ACL criss-crosses with the posterior cruciate ligament over the middle of the knee. A sprain can occur due to twisting or impact.

A posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) sprain

The PCL criss-crosses with the anterior cruciate ligament over the middle of the knee. A sprain can occur if the knee is forced back the wrong way.

Need to know

Small kidney cancers don’t always have symptoms. They are often diagnosed by chance while undergoing tests or scans for unrelated medical reasons. But there are some things you can look out for:

  • A continuously high temperature
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Increased sweating during the night
  • Tiredness
  • A subdued pain in your side
  • Spasms in the bladder or uterus. These are painful and are a result of blood clots
  • Blood in the urine. This may be a sporadic, happening often or from time to time. It may not be visible to the eye and only detected by a urine test
  • A lump around the kidney area

Kidney cancer is often diagnosed while undergoing tests or scans for another medical reason. Possible tests you may have include:

If you are diagnosed with kidney cancer you will have immediate access to world-class cancer specialists and expert care.

Your consultant will talk you through your diagnosis and treatment options in detail, helping you to make an informed decision about your care. Treatments offered include:

  • Surgery – we offer the latest open and minimally invasive surgical techniques
  • Tumour ablation
  • Embolisation
  • Targeted (biological) therapies

At HCA UK you will be looked after by a multidisciplinary team, including expert consultants, Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs) and supportive therapists including psychologists who can help you with your emotional wellbeing.

Why choose HCA UK

Why choose HCA for knee pain treatment?

Here are some of the reasons why we're a great choice for knee pain treatment:

  • Fast access to the care you need: We'll confirm your appointment with one of our expert knee specialists within 24 hours
  • Advanced imaging facilities: To accurately diagnose your knee arthritis, we use X-rays, MRI scans and CT scans at our diagnostic centres. We can usually offer this on the same day as your consultation
  • Advanced surgical techniques: If you need surgery you may benefit from the latest robotic assisted procedures which are showing to deliver faster recovery rates. Your consultant will be able to advise if this is relevant to your treatment plan
  • We're industry leaders: We're number one in London for private orthopaedic care, based on reports by the Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN). We also have the highest proportion of facilities rated 'Outstanding' by the CQC of any private hospital group in the UK
  • We're trusted by patients: 97% of our orthopaedic patients rated us as 'very good' or 'excellent' in our 2023 patient satisfaction survey. 

Patient stories

How to book an appointment

Book an appointment with a knee specialist

Get in touch with us today to book your appointment with one of our knee consultants. We can arrange imaging appointments and physiotherapy treatment for knee arthritis for you too. 

This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.