What is wrong with my right knee? My knee has been stiff, swollen and sore for t!

What is wrong with my right knee? My knee has been stiff, swollen and sore for the past three days.?

In the past that knee has liked to lock or not want to support my weight. Sunday, I went to take a step and it felt like my knee wanted to slip out of place. I get pain at the top of the kneecap and on the sides when I stand for even short periods of time. My knee is stiff if I don't use it but it also stiffens as I use it. When it swells it's usually at the top of the kneecap. Although, this morning my knee was fairly swollen, and hot. It hurt to have anything touch my knee, to bend, straighten it or bear weight on it. Also the knee itself looked red and my shin bone was sore as well. Extra strength tylenol has helped with the pain. I've also been using muscle balm(tea tree oil) which helps somewhat. I don't have health insurance so I can't go to the doctor. Anything else I can do to help my knee?

4 weeks ago
I'm 29 years old. I don't play sports.

Sounds like patellofemoral syndrome. Without insurance its gonna be tough to solve this. If you have access to exercise equipment try to work on the strength of your hip muscles (inner/outer thigh, butt). Doing this will take some of the stress off of your knees and put it in stronger muscles that are better at accepting the stress of walking. Other things you can do is to place an ice bag directly on the knee for 15 mins and do this 2-3 times daily for several days.