After an injury
A fall, twist, collision or sudden movement followed by immediate pain, swelling or loss of function.
See when prompt assessment is needed →Start with what you feel
Find the symptom that best describes your problem
You do not need to know the diagnosis. First choose the area of the body, then how the pain or restriction occurs.
This guide provides information, not a self-diagnosis.
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Choose an areaKnee, shoulder or hip
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Describe the symptomLocation, movement or associated symptoms
3
Explore the possible next stepsWithout jumping to a diagnosis
How the problem occurs
Sometimes the timing or movement tells us more than the location
If you find it difficult to choose a specific symptom, start with how it began and what it prevents you from doing.
Gradually, without a clear injury
Pain has increased over time, with work, exercise or everyday loading.
Choose a body area →During a particular movement
Using stairs, squatting deeply, raising your arm, walking or rotating the joint.
Find the relevant symptom →At night or at rest
Pain that affects sleep, persists without loading or does not settle when you change position.
When to have it assessed →With swelling or instability
Visible swelling or a feeling that the joint gives way, locks or cannot support you securely.
Go to symptoms →With numbness or radiating symptoms
Discomfort that travels down the limb, with tingling or possible nerve involvement.
Request a clinical assessment →A symptom can have more than one cause
The same discomfort can be associated with different conditions, while an imaging finding does not always explain the pain. Your history and clinical examination guide the next steps.
When more urgent assessment is needed
Do not wait when there are warning signs
The following do not necessarily indicate a serious condition, but they require timely medical assessment.
Emergency help in Greece: 166For an emergency or a potentially life-threatening condition, call 166 in Greece or go to a hospital Emergency Department. Do not wait for a routine appointment.!
Inability to bear weightYou cannot stand or use the limb.
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Severe or rapidly developing swellingEspecially after an injury.
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Visible deformityA change in shape or possible dislocation.
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Redness, warmth or feverWhen the joint is warm and painful.
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New significant weakness or numbnessSudden loss of strength or sensation.
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Calf pain with swellingEspecially when accompanied by breathlessness or chest pain.
From your symptom to the next step
From your symptom to the right assessment
Starting with what you feel, you can identify useful details to note and when an orthopaedic examination is needed.
1
Symptom
What you feel, where, and during which activity.
2
Clinical context
Onset, duration, injury and functional limitations.
3
Possible causes
Information about common causes that may be associated with your symptoms.
4
Individual assessment
History, examination and targeted imaging where needed.
A symptom is the beginning of the journey, not the final diagnosis.Treatment is not decided by an MRI scan or a list of possible causes alone. It is decided when the findings are considered alongside the person, their function and their goals.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about symptoms
Do I need to know my diagnosis already?
No. You can start with the location of the pain, the movement you find difficult and any other symptoms.
Can I identify my condition from the symptom alone?
Not reliably. The same symptom can be associated with different conditions, so a medical history and clinical examination are needed.
When does pain need a medical examination?
When it persists, worsens, limits function or sleep, follows an injury, or is accompanied by marked swelling, instability, locking, weakness or numbness.
Is an MRI scan always needed?
No. Your history and clinical examination determine which imaging is useful. An MRI is requested when it can answer a specific clinical question and influence management.
What should I bring to my appointment?
It is helpful to bring previous investigations and reports, a list of medicines and a brief account of when your symptoms began and which activities you find difficult.
Clinics in Athens & Loutraki
Not sure where to start?
If your symptom persists, limits your daily life or you need a second opinion, you can arrange an individual orthopaedic assessment.