Pain On The Left Side Of Knee

Causes And Risk Factors

Several different risk factors can make you more likely to develop chondromalacia patella in your knee. Individuals who are overweight are at greater risk due to the increased amount of stress placed on the joint. Females and people with a previous injurysuch as a fracture or dislocationto their knee cap are also more susceptible.

Often informally called runners knee, chondromalacia patella is also more frequently seen in individuals who participate in endurance sports like running or biking. In this situation, muscular imbalances that cause the knee cap to track improperly in the femoral groove may lead to repetitive rubbing and irritation.

Lower Leg Pain Caused By Bones Joints And Muscle Problems

Some of the most common causes of pain from knee to ankle are related to injuries of muscles, joints, and bones.

1. Compartment Syndrome

Compartment syndrome or chronic exertional compartment syndrome occurs if you repeatedly engage in exertional or loading activities. It can affect any lower leg compartments, with the anterior compartment most likely to be affected. Pain in the case of compartment syndrome is typically exercise-induced and you will experience relief with rest. It can also be accompanied by numbness or weakness.

2. Stress Fracture

Stress fractures develop slowly due to repetitive trauma. Eventually, the muscles are overloaded or fatigued to the point where they cant absorb the shock or stress of repeated impacts and instead begin braking. The stress can transfer to nearby bone, leading to small fractures that arent visible on regular X-rays.

3. Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome

Most people know medial tibial stress syndrome as shin splints. This injury commonly affects runners and causes pain from knee to ankle. It occurs due to repeated trauma to your connected muscle tissue by the shinbone . If you ignore it, this issue can lead to a stress fracture.

4. Periostitis

When To See A Doctor About Pain In Outer Side Of Knee

We recommend you see a doctor if you have any of the following:

• outer knee pain after trauma
• pain that has not settled after a few weeks with simple treatments such as ice and oral NSAIDs
• mechanical symptoms such as locking or giving way
• nerve symptoms such as numbness or tingling suggestive of nerve damage

You May Like: What Is The Gel Injection For The Knee

Youre Not Moving Enough

Pain is a tool our bodies have to communicate. It tells us when were injured, when were moving too much, and yes when were not moving enough.

You see, apart from helping us move around, muscles also pump blood throughout our limbs. One of the many benefits of this is keeping our joints lubricated and healthy.

But, in a sedentary lifestyle, the liquid inside our joints stagnates.

This lack of movement can cause joint soreness at the end of the day.

Remaining sedentary makes this knee pain worse. Your muscles will get weaker after a while, thus pumping less blood and fluids, putting you in this vicious cycle of pain.

In the long term, this also increases your risk of heart disease and other chronic conditions.

What can you do about it?

The good news is that its an easy fix.

Include regular exercise during your day. Start by walking a little more this free app from the NHS called Active 10 can get you started.

If you have nighttime knee pain, you can also try tai-chi, yoga, or pilates these are great options for starters.

And, if youre short on time, start with one or two low-impact exercises, like glute bridges or air squats.

More exercises:Strengthen your knees with these 6 effective exercises

Lateral Collateral Ligament Sprain Or Strain

Causes & Symptoms

The Lateral Collateral Ligament connects the outside of your thigh bone to your fibula, a narrow long bone outside of your lower leg. The injury occurs when a large force presses on the inside of the knee, pushing the joint laterally outwards . The LCL resists against this pressure, however, if it is significant enough the fibers of the ligament begin to tear away resulting in pain and instability.

Treatment

An LCL strain can be suspected given pain on the outside of the knee after receiving a traumatic contact force to the inside of the knee. Your physician may order diagnostic imaging to assess the full extent of the damage. In cases of a complete tear, surgery may be required. Generally, symptoms resolve with rest and activity modification. However, depending on the severity, recovery times may vary A grade 1 tear taking 2-3 weeks, and a grade 3 tear taking 3-6 months.

• Grade I: The LCL has been overstretched, while there is no major damage, its function will be compromised until it has healed.

• Grade II: The LCL has been partially torn and may require surgery to repair depending on the extent of the damage.

• Grade III: A complete tear of the LCL requiring surgery to reconstruct the ligament.

Also Check: Latest In Knee Replacement Technology

Burning Pain When Sitting Still

Some people feel more pain at night than during the day.

You might feel more pain when youâre sitting still. Some of us are just too busy to monitor pain. We need debilitating pain to tell us to slow down and be still.

So when you sit down and take a break, do not be surprised if the little niggles of pain begin to visit you.

Your nightly knee pain can also come from reduced hormone signals. When you rest, your hormone signals are reduced. These reduced hormone signals give way for pain signals to reach the brain.

So youâll feel pain as you try to nod off.

Your blood vessels may also be the culprit for pain at night. When you sleep, your blood vessels increase in diameter. This is a natural process that allows more blood to come to muscles, allowing them to heal.

However, those expanding blood vessels can put pressure on your nerves. This will cause pain such as pain in your knee even as you try to sleep.

Read Also: How Do I Know If I Sprained My Knee

Treatments For Knee Pain On The Left Or Right Side

We will not leave you feeling panicked and scared after reading about knee pains numerous causes and risk factors. You do not have to run to another site to check out the treatments you can get to combat any knee complication that you might have.

We have enlisted some of the best treatments in all healthcare centers worldwide to help you alleviate knee pain. Though, you need to remember that the cure for each type of knee pain is different, so you need to go to the doctor and consult before implying one of these treatments in your daily life.

To get information about some treatments available worldwide to eradicate or at least minimize knee pain, continue reading this article!

1. Medications

For unthreatening knee pains that can cause exhaustion or have another mundane reason, the doctor might prescribe you one or more medications you must take for the specified time. Drugs are also given in case of arthritis.

2. Therapy

If the medications alone do not suffice or you have a severe injury to the knee, the doctor might suggest sessions with a physical therapist. The therapist will help you gain back mobility in your legs which will help to lessen the pain. Usually, a physical therapist assigns you several exercises under his surveillance to help you strengthen your muscles.

You might think that since you work out and carry out several physical activities, you might now need physical therapy. WRONG!

3. Surgery

4. Injections

You May Like: How To Get Rid Of Cellulite Around Knees

How Do You Describe Your Pain

I know, its a tough question sometimes, Dr. Burg says. But you probably can tell the difference between a dull, throbbing pain and a sharp, burning sensation.

Thats important. A sharp, burning sensation moreoften indicates an irritated nerve rather than a joint or ligament problem. Onthe other hand, you might describe pain from arthritis as more constant andachy.

What You Need To Know

• The most common causes of knee pain are related to aging, injury or repeated stress on the knee.
• Common knee problems include sprained or strained ligaments, cartilage tears, tendonitis and arthritis.
• Diagnosing a knee injury or problem includes a medical examination and usually the use of a diagnostic procedure such as an x-ray, MRI, CT scan or arthroscopy.
• Both non-operative and surgical treatment options are available to treat knee pain and problems depending on the type and severity of the condition.

You May Like: Sharp Pain On Top Of Knee

Inner Knee Pain Causes

There are a number of causes of inner knee pain, not all of which are as obvious as a direct blow to the knee. Often, what causes inner knee pain is not easy to identify, particularly when the pain has come on gradually.

A meniscus injury, for example, might happen during a sporting event. However, normal overuse of the cartilage can lead to a breakdown of the meniscus, particularly as we age.

Among the most common causes of inner knee pain are:

• Repetitive stress
• Poor technique during everyday activities, sports, or exercise
• Dysfunctional lower body or core mechanics
• Weak leg muscles

• People who are inactive or sedentary
• Weekend warriors

Three Reasons Your Knee Hurts When Straight But Not When Bent

Your knees are complex joints that bear a lot of your body weight and power your legs for a wide range of activities like walking, running and jumping. Its important to take care of your knees so you can live out your normal daily life and enjoy physical activities. However, despite your best efforts, injuries and conditions can affect your knees, which can limit their use.

Some conditions cause pain that only affects your knees when trying to straighten them but not bending them. Common conditions that cause this kind of pain include:

1. Torn meniscus

The meniscus is a small, flat piece of cartilage that rests between the thighbones and shinbones on each side of your knees. There are two menisci in each knee. They exist to absorb shock in the knees and keep the bones from grinding against one another.

A traumatic injury that causes the knee to violently twist can cause a meniscus to tear. A torn meniscus might fold on itself, which can keep you from fully straightening your leg and cause knee pain when you try to do so.

2. Runners knee

Runners knee is the common term for pain around the kneecap. This is a condition in which the tendon that connects your kneecap to your shinbone becomes inflamed from repetitive motions. This can make it painful around the kneecap when you try and fully straighten your leg.

3. Strained muscles

Recommended Reading: What Can Cause Your Knee To Swell

Common Peroneal Nerve Injury

This nerve passes from the back of the lower thigh and crosses the lateral knee before supplying the lower leg muscles.

Similar to LCL injury, common peroneal nerve damage can occur from a blow to the inside of the knee, stretching the knee outwards. This injury can pull or tear the nerve.

Generally, symptoms include pain, numbness, and tingling of the lower legs outer part and the foots top.

Donât Miss: What Can Cause Knee Pain

Urgent Advice: Get Advice From 111 Now If:

• your knee is very painful
• you cannot move your knee or put any weight on it
• your knee is badly swollen or has changed shape
• you have a very high temperature, feel hot and shivery, and have redness or heat around your knee this can be a sign of infection

111 will tell you what to do. They can tell you the right place to get help if you need to see someone.

Go to 111.nhs.uk or .

You can also go to an urgent treatment centre if you need to see someone now.

They’re also called walk-in centres or minor injuries units.

You may be seen quicker than you would at A& E.

Recommended Reading: Kt Tape For Knee Stability

Causes Of Outer Knee Pain

Like the inside of your knee, the outside or lateral portion of the joint is a crossroads of many different anatomical structures. This can make getting to the bottom of pain in this area equally frustrating. If you have soreness near the lateral part of your knee, the most frequently seen causes are listed below.

Investigation Of Pain Inside The Knee

Your doctor will ask you about the type of pain you are feeling, and also note the size of your affected knee compared to your unaffected knee. Any discolouration and warmth will be noted as will the range of movement you are able to effect. The doctor may need further investigation in the form of medical imaging to detect fluid or a possible fracture, and perhaps a blood test to identify any rheumatoid factor or antinuclear antibodies. Fluid may also be drawn from the knee to test for uric acid or bacteria if an infection or inflammation is suspected.

Don’t Miss: How To Ease Knee Pain Arthritis

Anterior Knee Pain: The Basics

Pain in the front of the knee or anterior knee pain can affect people in all age groups. Approximately 25% of people will suffer from pain in the front of their knees at some time in their lives. I have seen teenagers who can longer participate in sports, and I have 70 years olds who can no longer walk downstairs without fear of their knee giving way. Why is our kneecap or patella so prone to bothering us like this?

The cause of anterior knee pain might vary based on your age, level of activity, and your chosen sports. We can see people who are inactive and suffer from pain in the front of the knee, and we can also see people who are highly trained and disciplined who are suffering from pain around the kneecap. The majority of people who have pain in the front of their knee do not recall any injury.

In the majority of cases of anterior knee pain, we do not find anything significant wrong with your X-rays or MRI scans. It seems that the pain in the front of the knee is often due to imbalances, weakness patterns, movement patterns, and complex issues that can take a while to figure out. Yes, some of you might have a cartilage defect or some early arthritis in the front of your knee but believe it or not, the majority of you will have pretty normal-appearing imaging studies. That has led to a significant change in our approach to anterior knee pain over the years.

Anterior knee pain is particularly common in young women and many runners.

Read Also: Right Knee Pain And Swelling

Monday August 31 2020

Pain on the outside of your knee can be debilitating and tough to treat. This pain is known as lateral knee pain, or in other words, any pain you might feel outside or around your actual knee joint.

Figuring out the cause of your lateral knee pain is a great place to start toward a treatment plan that works. So, what causes lateral knee pain? Lets dive into it.

Also Check: What Does Gout Pain In The Knee Feel Like

Don’t Miss: How To Remove Swelling From Knee

Diagnosis Of Inner Knee Pain

Mild knee injuries do not always need to be seen by a doctor or physiotherapist. However, you should seek medical attention if you:

• Are still in pain after three days
• Cant put weight on your affected leg
• Have a bluish discoloration, numbness, pain, swelling or tingling in your calf
• Have severe pain even when your affected leg is not bearing any weight

You should also see a doctor if your knee:

• Is deformed, red or swollen

Your doctor will perform a physical examination of your knee, and ask you questions about your symptoms and medical history. This will include:

• How active you are
• When your pain started and what you were doing at the time
• Whether you can think of any activity or injury that could be causing your symptoms
• Whether your pain comes and goes

If needed, your doctor may refer you for an X-ray or MRI scan.

If your doctor thinks the cartilage or ligaments in your knee are damaged, they may recommend a procedure to look inside your knee called a knee arthroscopy. This is a type of keyhole surgery, which means it involves making small cuts into your body, in this case into your knee, and inserting a thin, telescope-like tube with a camera and a light on the end . Your surgeon will then be able to see inside your knee and in some cases, may be able to repair or remove damaged tissue during this procedure.

Why Am I Getting Pain At The Back Of My Knee

Published on: 4th February 2020

When it comes to knee pain, we often tend to think first of the front and sides. But pain that comes from the back of the knee is probably every bit as common.

It would be helpful if there was a single likely reason for this! But in fact the causes of back-of-knee pain can be very diverse. You could experience it as a sudden pain or a gradual ache. There may be swelling and inflammation or none at all. You might find it difficult to fully extend your leg.

In other words we need to do some narrowing down to find out whats going on. One useful starting point is to think in terms of problems inside or outside the knee joint: in medical-speak, intra- or extra-articular causes. Lets have a look at the most common ones.

You May Like: What Happens If Your Knee Hurts When You Bend It