Random Knee Pain That Won’t Go Away? How an Ultrasound Can Help

Dealing with random knee pain that won’t go away? It could be time to consider a knee ultrasound. Even without an injury, persistent discomfort in the knee can indicate underlying issues like inflammation, fluid build-up, or soft tissue damage. A knee ultrasound is a safe, fast and accurate way to investigate these problems without radiation or invasive procedures.

What Is a Knee Ultrasound and Why Would You Need One?

A knee ultrasound is a non-invasive imaging scan that uses high-frequency sound waves to create real-time images of the soft tissues around your knee joint. It’s commonly used to assess structures like tendons, ligaments, bursae (fluid sacs), and joint fluid especially when pain has no obvious cause.

Unlike X-rays, which mainly show bones, an ultrasound helps visualise the soft tissue components that often contribute to pain such as inflammation, swelling, or small tears. If you’ve had ongoing knee pain without injury, this type of scan can provide answers fast.

What Can a Knee Ultrasound Detect?

If your knee pain is persistent or unexplained, an ultrasound can help identify conditions like:

• Bursitis (inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs)
• Tendonitis or ligament inflammation
• Joint effusion (fluid in the knee)
• Cysts (like a Baker’s cyst)
• Soft tissue swelling
• Early signs of osteoarthritis
• Muscle or tendon tears
  

These are conditions that don’t always present visibly or during a physical exam, making imaging an important step toward diagnosis.

Common Symptoms That Warrant a Knee Ultrasound

You don’t need to be an athlete or have a traumatic injury to experience knee pain. Everyday wear and tear, overuse, or internal inflammation can all cause discomfort. If you’re experiencing any of the following, a knee ultrasound might be the next best step:

• Pain when bending or squatting
• Pain when walking or going downstairs
• Swelling or puffiness around the kneecap
• A sensation of fluid inside the joint
• Night-time knee pain
• Pain on one side of the knee (medial or lateral)
• Burning, aching or stiffness in the joint
• Limited range of motion or clicking/popping sounds
  

One common yet often overlooked condition is joint effusion where excess fluid builds up in the knee joint. This can cause pressure, pain, and a visible swelling that may worsen over time. If you’d like to learn more about joint effusion and its causes, the Cleveland Clinic has a great overview you can read here.

Why an Ultrasound Instead of an MRI or X-ray?

Each imaging type serves a purpose. MRIs are useful for deeper structural imaging but can be expensive and time-consuming. X-rays show bones but can’t assess soft tissues well. Ultrasound, on the other hand:

• Is radiation-free
• Offers real-time imaging
• Is more cost-effective
• Can assess movement and inflammation live during the scan
  

A knee ultrasound is often the first, most efficient step especially for detecting soft tissue problems.

What to Expect During Your Knee Ultrasound

The process is simple and usually takes 10 to 20 minutes:

1. You’ll be seated or lying down with your knee exposed
2. A gel will be applied to the area
3. A small probe will move across the knee to capture images in real-time
4. There’s no pain or downtime involved
   

At Capri Ultrasound, we ensure the experience is relaxed and respectful for you, especially if you’re dealing with chronic pain or uncertainty.

Why Choose Capri Ultrasound on the Gold Coast?

If you’re located near Isle of Capri on the Gold Coast, Capri Ultrasound offers fast, professional and bulk-billed diagnostic imaging with:

• Expert musculoskeletal sonographers
• Bulk billing available for all Medicare-eligible patients
• All referrals accepted – no need to return to your GP
• Easy access and same-week bookings
• A local clinic that understands the needs of Gold Coast residents
  

We’re here to make high-quality diagnostic imaging accessible and stress-free whether you’ve had pain for a week or a year, we’re here to help you get it sorted. 

Book Your Knee Ultrasound Today

If knee pain is limiting your movement, disrupting your sleep or just not improving, don’t put it off any longer. A quick, non-invasive knee ultrasound could be the key to finding answers and relief.

👉 Book your bulk billed knee ultrasound with Capri Ultrasound today or contact our friendly team to find out more about your options.