When to See a Doctor for Knee or Hip Pain

Seek urgent care for knee or hip pain after a major injury, if the joint has changed shape, if you cannot move it or safely put weight through the leg, or if a joint becomes suddenly painful, hot and swollen, especially with fever. Book a non-emergency assessment when pain persists, worsens, repeatedly returns or begins to limit sleep, walking, work or everyday activity.

Most knee and hip pain does not begin with an orthopaedic surgeon. A GP or physiotherapist can often identify the likely cause, start treatment and decide whether imaging or a specialist referral would change the plan.

This article provides general information and cannot assess your symptoms. Call triple zero (000) for a medical emergency or Healthdirect on 1800 022 222 when you are unsure which level of care you need.

Go to an emergency department for these warning signs

Healthdirect advises emergency assessment for a badly swollen or deformed knee, knee pain caused by a major injury, or a red and hot knee with fever. For hip pain, urgent assessment is needed after an injury or fall when pain is sudden or intense, movement is not possible, or you cannot put weight through the leg.

Seek emergency care when:

a knee or hip looks deformed after an injury
you cannot move the joint or safely bear weight
pain is severe after a major fall, collision or other trauma
there is substantial swelling or bleeding
a joint becomes suddenly painful, swollen, red or hot
joint symptoms occur with fever, chills or feeling seriously unwell
you are concerned about a medical emergency for any other reason

A suddenly painful and swollen joint can be caused by septic arthritis, an infection inside the joint. Healthdirect describes this as a medical emergency because early treatment helps reduce the risk of permanent joint damage. Call triple zero (000) if an ambulance is needed.

Arrange prompt medical review when function changes

Not every significant problem requires an emergency department, but some symptoms should not wait for weeks. Arrange prompt assessment if:

you cannot fully move or straighten the knee
the knee repeatedly locks or gives way
pain is intense or rapidly worsening
you have new swelling after an injury
walking has become unsafe
you have ongoing hip pain after a fall, even if you can still walk
pain follows recent surgery, an injection or another procedure and is worsening

A GP, urgent care service or emergency department can advise based on severity and access. Healthdirect's telephone service is available 24 hours a day on 1800 022 222.

Book a routine assessment when pain is not settling

Make an appointment with a GP or physiotherapist when knee or hip pain:

persists rather than improving
keeps returning with the same activity
disturbs sleep
causes a limp or changes how you move
limits stairs, walking, work, exercise or self-care
is accompanied by stiffness, swelling, weakness or loss of confidence
has not responded to a reasonable period of appropriate self-care

Early assessment does not mean early surgery. It can clarify what you are dealing with, prevent unhelpful rest or testing, and establish a plan for returning to activity.

What can knee or hip pain mean?

Pain location can offer clues, but it cannot confirm a diagnosis. The same condition can feel different between people, and pain may be referred from another area.

Common patterns of knee pain

Sudden pain after twisting or impact: may involve a ligament, meniscus, bone, tendon or other structure.
Gradual pain during repeated activity: may relate to training load, tendon irritation or kneecap-related pain.
Pain, stiffness and swelling over time: can occur with osteoarthritis or another form of arthritis.
A hot, red and acutely swollen knee: needs urgent assessment for infection and other causes.

Common patterns of hip pain

Groin or deep joint pain: may arise from the hip joint itself.
Pain on the outside of the hip: may involve tendons and tissues around the greater trochanter.
Buttock, back or radiating pain: can sometimes come from the lower back or another nearby structure.
Pain and stiffness that affect shoes, socks or walking: can occur with hip osteoarthritis but needs assessment.
Sudden pain after a fall: requires prompt medical review, particularly when weight-bearing is difficult.

Healthdirect notes that hip pain can be referred from elsewhere in the body. This is one reason a clinical examination is usually more useful than choosing a scan based only on where pain is felt.

Who should you see first?

GP

A GP is a strong starting point when the diagnosis is uncertain, symptoms may involve arthritis or another medical condition, medicines need review, imaging might be required, or you need a specialist referral.

Physiotherapist

A physiotherapist can assess movement, strength and function and guide rehabilitation for many non-emergency musculoskeletal problems. They should refer you for medical review when findings suggest imaging, medicine or specialist assessment is needed.

Sport and exercise physician

This specialist may be useful for complex activity-related pain, an uncertain sports diagnosis, non-surgical treatment or return-to-exercise planning. Read the comparison of a sports physician and orthopaedic surgeon in Perth.

Rheumatologist

A rheumatologist may be appropriate when inflammatory or autoimmune arthritis is suspected, particularly with persistent joint swelling, prolonged morning stiffness or symptoms affecting several joints. See the guide to choosing an arthritis specialist in Perth.

Orthopaedic surgeon

An orthopaedic opinion becomes more relevant when there is a fracture or major structural injury, recurrent instability, substantial mechanical symptoms, or severe pain and disability that have not improved with appropriate non-surgical care.

Do you need a scan?

Not always. Your clinician first needs to understand how the problem began, where symptoms occur, what activities are limited and what the examination shows. The appropriate first test may be an X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, blood test or no test at all.

For suspected knee osteoarthritis, Australia's clinical care standard says the diagnosis can often be made clinically and routine imaging is not required. Imaging is useful when it is likely to clarify uncertainty or change management.

Taking an existing scan to an appointment is helpful, but a scan finding should be matched to your symptoms. Some findings are common in people without pain.

What happens at the first appointment?

A clinician may ask:

when and how the pain started
whether there was an injury, fall or change in activity
where the pain is felt and whether it travels
whether the joint swells, locks, clicks or gives way
which activities, positions or times of day are difficult
about fever, general health symptoms and other joints
what treatment has already been tried
your medical history, medicines and goals

The physical examination may look at walking, range of movement, strength, tenderness, swelling, stability and nearby areas such as the lower back. The next step should follow from the likely diagnosis rather than from a standard package of tests.

What can you do while waiting for a routine appointment?

For mild pain without warning signs, it is often reasonable to reduce the aggravating activity temporarily while keeping comfortably active. Avoid repeatedly testing a painful movement. Note what triggers and settles the symptoms so you can give the clinician a useful history.

Ask a pharmacist or GP before using pain medicine if you have kidney, heart or stomach problems, take blood-thinning medicine, are pregnant, have allergies, or take other medicines. Do not use someone else's prescription medicine.

When might an orthopaedic referral be useful?

A GP may recommend an orthopaedic opinion when:

a major injury or fracture needs specialist management
the joint remains unstable or mechanically locked
there is a tendon or ligament injury for which surgery is a reasonable option
severe osteoarthritis symptoms persist despite suitable non-surgical treatment
the diagnosis or treatment decision requires surgical expertise

Seeing a surgeon does not mean an operation is inevitable. It creates an opportunity to compare continued non-surgical care, surgery and the likely consequences of each option.

When your clinician recommends a surgical opinion, you can compare knee surgeons in Perth or hip surgeons in Perth by relevant profile details. For the Medicare process, read how orthopaedic referrals work in Australia.

Frequently asked questions

How long should I wait before seeing a doctor for joint pain?

Do not wait when there are emergency warning signs, major trauma or inability to bear weight. For non-emergency pain, arrange an assessment when symptoms persist, worsen, recur or interfere with normal activity. The appropriate timing depends on severity and cause rather than one fixed number of days.

Should I see a GP or physiotherapist first?

Either may be appropriate for uncomplicated musculoskeletal pain. A GP is particularly useful when the diagnosis is unclear, general health symptoms are present, medicines or tests need consideration, or a specialist referral may be required.

Does clicking mean I need knee surgery?

No. Clicking alone does not determine treatment. Locking, instability, pain, swelling, injury history and functional loss are more important and should be assessed together.

Can hip pain come from the back?

Yes. Pain from the lower back or nearby tissues can be felt around the hip or buttock. Examination helps distinguish the likely source.

Do I need a referral to see an orthopaedic surgeon?

A private practice may accept a booking without one, but a valid referral is generally required to claim the relevant Medicare specialist benefit. Public outpatient services also use formal referral pathways.