9 conditions
What might be wrong
Written for people who do not yet have a diagnosis. Each page starts from how the problem actually feels, explains what is happening inside the joint, and sets out what helps — beginning with the treatments that are not surgery.
4 conditions
Knee
ACL Tear
The knee that gives way
A torn ligament in the centre of the knee. It usually still walks fine — the problem is that it gives way when you turn.
- “My knee gives way when I turn”
- “I heard a pop and it swelled up”
- “I don't trust my knee any more”
Meniscus Tear
The knee that catches or locks
A tear in one of the two cartilage shock absorbers in your knee. It catches, clicks, or stops the knee straightening.
- “My knee catches or clicks”
- “It locks and won't straighten”
- “Pain on the inside of my knee”
Cartilage Injury
A pothole in the joint surface
A defined patch of damage to the smooth joint lining — not general wear, but a specific hole with healthy cartilage around it.
- “Deep pain in one spot in my knee”
- “It swells whenever I do too much”
- “Something catches when I bend it”
Knee Arthritis
The knee that aches and stiffens
Wearing of the smooth cartilage lining the joint. It stiffens in the morning, aches after activity, and slowly shortens how far you can walk.
- “My knee aches and is stiff in the morning”
- “I can't walk as far as I used to”
- “It hurts going down stairs”
3 conditions
Shoulder
Rotator Cuff Tear
The shoulder that hurts all night
A tear in the tendon sheet that grips the ball of your shoulder. The night pain is the giveaway.
- “My shoulder aches all night”
- “I can't lift my arm overhead”
- “I can't sleep on that side”
Shoulder Dislocation & Instability
The shoulder that keeps coming out
Once a shoulder has dislocated, the rim that holds it in place is usually torn — and it tends to happen again more easily.
- “My shoulder keeps coming out”
- “It feels like it's going to slip”
- “I can't sleep with my arm above my head”
Frozen Shoulder
The shoulder that seizes up
The lining of the joint thickens and contracts, so the shoulder becomes genuinely stuck. Painful, slow, and almost always self-limiting.
- “My shoulder has gone stiff”
- “I can't reach behind my back”
- “It's painful and getting tighter”
2 conditions
Hip
Hip Impingement & Labral Tear
Groin pain in a young hip
The ball and socket pinch against each other because of their shape, tearing the cartilage rim. Commonly mistaken for a groin strain for years.
- “Groin pain that's worse after sitting”
- “My hip pinches when I squat”
- “It hurts getting out of the car”
Hip Arthritis
Groin pain and a stiffening hip
Wear of the ball-and-socket joint. Groin pain, difficulty with socks and shoes, and a walking distance that keeps shrinking.
- “Groin pain when I walk”
- “I can't put my socks on”
- “My hip is stiff and I limp”
Do not wait for an appointment
Some things need to be seen today
Most joint problems can safely wait for a routine consultation. These cannot.
- A hot, red, swollen joint with a fever, or feeling generally unwell — this may be infection in the joint.
- A limb that is numb, cold, pale or pulseless after an injury.
- Being unable to bear any weight at all after an injury.
- A visibly deformed joint, or a joint that is dislocated.
- Sudden breathlessness or chest pain after surgery — this is an emergency.
- Calf pain and swelling after surgery or a period of immobility.
If any of these apply, go to your nearest emergency department rather than waiting for a clinic appointment.
Not sure which of these is you?
That is a completely normal place to start, and working it out is the job of the consultation rather than something you should have to do first. Bring any scans you have.