Hamstring Injury And Pain At The Back Of The Knee
An injury to your hamstring is a very common reason for sharp pains at the back of your knee.
Your hamstring starts at the bottom of your pelvic bone and crosses the back of the knee and ends at the lower leg. Doctors from the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons say that your hamstring helps you bend your knee.
Hamstring injuries can result in pulling the hamstring muscle or completely tearing it. This can result in pain at the back of your leg below your knee. You may also notice bruising of your leg and may find it difficult to walk for a few weeks.3
Dr. Tyler Wheeler on WebMD says that you can prevent hamstring injuries by warming up before exercising. You should also strengthen your glutes which make up your buttocks to prevent extra strain on your hamstring muscles.
At the end of the article, you can find out how to treat a pulled or torn hamstring and help ease the pain behind your knee.
How Is Patellofemoral Pain Diagnosed
The diagnosis is made from your symptoms, the history of the problem, plus an examination of your knee.
Tests, such as X-rays or scans, cannot diagnose patellofemoral pain and are often not helpful. However, sometimes they might need to be done to diagnose maltracking or look for other conditions. This might be the case if your symptoms aren’t the usual ones. Or they might be needed if you have injured your knee. It is very rare to have any other kind of tests for patellofemoral pain.
What Are The Symptoms Of Patellofemoral Pain
- Pain around the knee. The pain is felt at the front of the knee, around or behind the kneecap . Often, the exact site of the pain cannot be pinpointed instead the pain is felt vaguely at the front of the knee.
- The pain comes and goes.
- Both knees are often affected at the same time but one is usually worse than the other.
- The pain is typically worse when going up or, in particular, going down stairs.
- Running, especially downhill, squatting and certain sports can all set it off – anything that leads to the patella being compressed against the lower part of the thighbone.
- The pain may be brought on by sitting still for long periods. For example, after going to the cinema or for a long drive, when it will be worse when starting to move about again.
- There may be a grating or grinding feeling or a noise when the knee bends and straightens. This is called crepitus.
- Sometimes there is puffiness or swelling around the kneecap.
You May Like: What Is The Recovery For Knee Replacement
Key Points About Iliotibial Band Syndrome
- Iliotibial band syndrome causes pain on the outside of your knee.
- It often happens in athletes, especially distance runners. But anyone can get it.
- Using incorrect sporting equipment and having a poor running stance may increase your chance of having this condition.
- Most people respond to treatment such as pain medicines, ice, stretching, and strengthening exercises, and limiting the activity for a while.
- Some people may need surgery to treat the condition.
Knee Pain And Problems
Knee pain is a common complaint among adults and most often associated with general wear and tear from daily activities like walking, bending, standing and lifting. Athletes who run or play sports that involve jumping or quick pivoting are also more likely to experience knee pain and problems. But whether an individuals knee pain is caused by aging or injury, it can be a nuisance and even debilitating in some circumstances.
Also Check: How To Size Knee Sleeves
Tennis Leg Causing Muscle Pain And Swelling Behind The Knee
A condition called tennis leg can also cause pain in the back of your leg behind the knee.
Tennis leg is associated with damage to the gastrocnemius where damage to the muscle and the soleus muscle in the calf causes a buildup of fluid.
According to the journal Radiology Case Reports, tennis leg is often a result of sports injuries. Damage to the calf muscles can cause swelling and pain in the posterior knee.10
If You Feel A Popping Or Cracking Sensation Behind Your Kneecap:
If this sensation occurs during a knee injury – you most likely tore your meniscus. The meniscus is a piece of cartilage in your knee that cushions and stabilizes the joint. This type of tear is very common in contact sports like football and non-contact sports that require jumping and cutting like volleyball. Other symptoms include pain in the knee, swelling, difficulty bending your knee, pain behind your knee when straightening your leg, or a tendency for your knee to lock or get stuck.
Recommended Reading: How Much Swelling Is Normal After Knee Replacement
Pain Behind The Knee Faqs
Why do I have pain in the back of my knee when straightening my leg?
There are many different causes for pain behind the knee when straightening the leg, including jumpers knee , a Bakers cyst and chondromalacia.
Why do I have pain behind my knee when bending my leg?
You may have damaged a ligament, tendon or cartilage, which prevents full range of motion in your knee without pain.
Why do I have pain behind my knee when walking and after/during running?
There are many different causes for pain behind the knee on activity, such as arthritis or a Bakers cyst, as well as injuries, such as a meniscus tear, anterior or posterior cruciate ligament injury or hamstring injury.
Why do I have pain in the back of my knee after sitting?
There are several conditions that can cause pain in the back of your knee after sitting for a long time, including arthritis and chondromalacia.
If You Feel Pain Behind Your Knee When Bending Or Squatting:
You may be feeling a symptom of Patellar Tendonitis . This is caused by repetitive activity like kicking, jumping or running. The repetitive exercise puts a lot of strain on the tendon resulting in tiny tears and inflammation along the patellar tendon. Other symptoms include pain just below the kneecap, pain with any pressure to the knee, aching and stiffness after activity, knee stiffness in the morning and thickening of the patellar tendon.
Read Also: What To Do For Knee Bursitis
What Can I Do To Prevent Iliotibial Band Syndrome
In some cases, iliotibial band syndrome is preventable. To help prevent a flare-up, take care to:
- Run on even surfaces.
- Replace your running shoes regularly.
- Ease up on your training.
- If you run on a track, make sure you run in both directions.
- Have an expert check your stance for running and other sporting activities.
- Stretch your outer thigh and hamstrings regularly.
If you’re new to exercise, start slowly and gradually increase your activity.
Ask your healthcare provider or trainer if they have additional advice.
What Causes Knee Pain
Pain behind the knee can be due to a fairly mild condition, such as a torn hamstring that responds well to rest and self-care measures. However, it can also result from a Bakers cyst. With this condition, you may have pain, swelling, and bruising behind the knee and calf.
Chronic degenerative conditions that cause knee pain include osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is also an autoimmune condition.
Recommended Reading: What Is Water On The Knee
What Causes Pain Behind The Knee
There are many different causes of posterior knee pain, including injury, inflammation or infection of the knee joint, overuse, wear and tear with age, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, cysts or in very rare cases, cancer.
Leg cramps
Leg cramps occur when your leg muscles tighten up. Symptoms include a sudden muscle spasm, with pain lasting from several seconds up to 10 minutes. After the spasm, your muscles may feel sore for several hours.
Leg cramps are most common during exercise and pregnancy. However, they can also be caused by:
- Problems with the nerves in your legs
- Toxins in your blood eg lead or mercury
Jumper’s knee
This is also known as patellar tendonitis and occurs when a tendon in your knee is injured, often while playing sport. The tendon develops tiny tears that cause swelling stiffness, weakness and difficulty bending and straightening your knee.
Biceps femoris tendonitis
Your hamstrings are three muscles that run along the back of your thigh and help you bend your knee. Hamstring injuries most often occur when playing sports, usually when the hamstring is overstretched . However, the hamstrings can also be torn, which can take several months to heal.
Baker’s cyst
A Bakers cyst is a fluid-filled sac that sits behind your knee that can develop if you have arthritis or sustain a knee injury, which causes your knee joint to become swollen and inflamed.
Symptoms include sudden pain and swelling, bruising and weakness in your leg.
Gastrocnemius tendonitis
Lateral Tibial Plateau Fracture
The tibial plateau is located at the top of the shin at the knee. A break on the outer or lateral part of the tibial plateau can cause considerable knee pain. A lateral tibial plateau fracture is often the result of a vehicle accident or a bad fall that impacts the outer knee directly.
If the bones are still aligned, surgery may not be required to treat the injury. If not, you may need surgery to place the affected bones in their proper position and secure them with screws or plates.
Read Also: How To Cure Arthritis In Knee
Symptoms Associated With Posterior Knee Pain
There are many different causes for pain at the back of your knee, with symptoms varying accordingly. Depending on the cause, symptoms include:
- A popping noise on injury
- Locking of your knee
- Sudden pain or muscle tightening at the back of your knee
- Stiffness and difficulty bending or straightening your leg
- Swelling, bruising, redness and/or warmth
- Weakness in your knee you may find it difficult to support your weight or stand on your tiptoes
Pain Behind Your Knee From Popliteal Cysts Or Baker’s Cyst
This is a fluid-filled cyst that creates a bulge on the back of your knee or the area specifically called the popliteal fossa. This occurs when a problem with your join causes your knee to produce too much fluid. Any type of condition that causes joint swelling can lead to a popliteal cyst.
Symptoms of a popliteal cyst:
- Muscle imbalance between adductors and abductors
- Repeated stress on knee joints
Don’t Miss: Crunching Sound In Knee With Pain Treatment
Causes And Treatment Of Pain Behind The Knee
There are many potential causes of pain behind the knee, ranging from minor issues like a muscle strain to more serious conditions like a meniscus tear or a Bakers cyst. Other possible causes of this type of pain include tendonitis, bursitis, and nerve compression. In some cases, the pain may be referred from another area, such as the hip or lower back. Treatment will vary depending on the underlying cause of the pain.
If you have pain behind your knee, you may be unable to walk or perform other regular activities. It is also true that back pain can interfere with your sleep. These are the most common causes, as well as their causes and how they develop. The most common causes are a Bakers cyst, a Ligament sprain, or a Posterior Cartilage tear. If you have pain behind your knee but not down in the calf region, you may be suffering from damage and tearing of one of your calf muscles. Calf strains are typically a result of running, such as when the speed or direction changes quickly. The joint can become inflamed on one or both sides of the joint, resulting in bone rubbing.
It is possible that arthritis, tears of the meniscus, or a meniscal problem are to blame for back knee pain. Swelling behind the knee should be reduced and exercises should be done to alleviate pain. Even if you have pain, it does not imply that there is a problem with your body consult a doctor if the problem persists.
Why Should You Not Sleep On Your Right Side
There is a good reason to not sleep on your right side if you suffer from heartburn, sleeping on your right side can actually increase your risk of developing the condition. This is because the stomach and small intestine are on the left side of the body and when they’re in direct contact with food or air, they can cause an upset stomach.
Recommended Reading: How To Remove Fluid From Knee Without Needle
The Anterior Cruciate Ligament And Your Tendons
When you injure your anterior cruciate ligament , the tendons that attach it to the shinbone may become strained. The area behind the knee, where strained tendons are located, may be painful and swollen. Its possible that you wont be able to fully straighten your knee, or that youll feel a creep or a pinching sensation when you try to move your leg.
If You Have Pain Behind Your Knee After Sitting:
It is likely you are experiencing a symptom of Chondromalacia Patellae. This is the most common cause of chronic knee pain. Chondromalacia Patellae is caused by your patella being pulled to the outer side of your femur, rather than in a straight line. This will cause discomfort when you stand up from sitting in a chair for a long period of time. In order to prevent this at work, taking microbreaks will help to keep your body loose. You may also feel discomfort after physical activity or a tightness or fullness in the knee area.
Recommended Reading: How Long Does It Take To Heal From Knee Surgery
First Elevate The Pain
Pay attention to the type of pain you experience, since some causes of pain behind the knee warrant a trip to the emergency room. Miho Tanaka, MD, associate professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Johns Hopkins Hospital says to watch out for blood clots, numbness and weakness in the leg. Additionally, watch out for fevers and redness associated with swelling. Blood clots should be quickly evaluated. Also, any tingling or numbness that makes it hard to walk is also a sign to go to the ER, Dr. Tanaka says.
Although swelling in the knee has many causes, in rare cases, it could be a sign of an infection. That said, its a good idea to seek immediate care. Steven Lyons, MD, for Florida Orthopaedic Institute, says knee pain experienced after a major trauma like a fall or car accident are also appropriate times for an ER visit. If the knee pain lingers longer than a week or two without any prior injury, Dr. Lyons recommends visiting a doctor instead.
Causes Of Inner Knee Pain
The inside or medial part of the knee contains a wide variety of bones, ligaments, and soft tissue structures, all contained within a relatively small area. Because of this, pain in this area of the joint can be tough to diagnose.
Several of the most common conditions that cause medial knee symptoms are listed below.
Also Check: What Can Cause Knee Pain
What Causes Patellofemoral Pain
It is probably due to a combination of different factors which increase the pressure between the kneecap and the lower part of the thighbone . This may happen during running, cycling, squatting and going up and down stairs. It is likely that the cause is not the same in everyone affected.
Situations where this can occur include:
- Overuse of the knee, such as in certain sports – particularly at times of increased training.
- Cycling when the saddle is too low or too far forward.
- Some people may have a slight problem in the alignment of the patella where it moves over the lower femur. This may cause the patella to rub on, rather than glide over, the lower femur . It may be due to the way the knee has developed. Or, it may be due to an imbalance in the muscles around the knee and hip – for example, the large quadriceps muscle above the knee and the muscles that stop the hips from tilting when standing on one leg.
- Weak hip muscles may cause patellofemoral pain by causing the thighbone to be slightly turned inwards, leading to the patella being pulled slightly to one side.
- Foot problems may also play a part – for example, where the feet do not have strong arches . This makes the foot roll inwards , which means the knee has to compensate for the inward movement. However, it is unclear whether this causes the knee problems or may be caused by the knee problems.
- Injury to the knee – including repeated small injuries or stresses due to sports, or due to slack ligaments .
Lateral Collateral Ligament Injury
The lateral collateral ligament is one of the four main ligaments of the knee. It connects the outer side of the femur and tibia and is primarily responsible for stabilizing the outer aspect of the knee.
An LCL injury is often the result of a blow to the inside part of the knee this causes the LCL to stretch beyond normal and can result in partial or complete tearing of the ligament.
Symptoms may include soreness on the outside of the knee, swelling, and stiffness. You may experience instability a feeling that the knee is unstable and going to buckle or give out.
32 million adults in the United States.
With aging, the cartilage that helps cushion the ends of bones in the knee joint can wear thin and eventually allow the bones to rub together. Pain, stiffness, and loss of joint movement can follow.
Some people have more significant wearing of the cartilage in the outer compartment of the knee joint and this can lead to lateral sided knee pain.
Also Check: How Long Is Recuperation From Knee Replacement Surgery