Treating Back Of Knee Pain
So what’s the best back of knee pain treatment? The best treatment for pain behind the knee will depend on what’s causing the pain. Generally, the first step is to reduce any swelling, then work on knee exercises to improve the strength and stability of the knee to reduce the force that goes through the knee joint.
Just because there is back of knee pain, it doesnt necessarily meanthe problem is there. Pain can refer to different places so a problem around the front of the knee can produce a feeling of posterior kneepain. For more help, visit the knee symptoms diagnosis guide.
Remember, the best way to accurately diagnose the cause of your pain behind the knee is to see your doctor.
Page Last Updated: 11/30/22
I Only Have Pain Behind My Knee When Walking Up Or Down The Stairs What Should I Do
The act of walking up and down stairs involves straightening the knee whilst it is bearing weight, and the the most common cause of pain in this case is chondromalacia patella. This condition is brought about by the cartilage on the underside of the kneecap deteriorating and softening. Some people can ignore the condition, but in the end it will probably need to be surgically addressed. It may be that a flap of cartilage has become unstable, in which case it can be treated by a chondroplasty, repairing the damaged cartilage using keyhole surgery.
Redness Inflammation Or Varicose Veins
Swelling often occurs at the site of the blood clot in the body. If its in the arm or leg, the entire limb could swell up. In addition to swelling, it will usually become discolored, either red or blue, and become warm and itchy. When a clot forms in the leg its called a DVT. This scenario is serious because the clot can travel through the bloodstream into your lungs and become a pulmonary embolism. If a clot forms in the leg, it often begins in the calf and typically feels like cramping or soreness.
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Asymptomaticor Experiencing No Symptoms
One of the reasons a DVT is so scary is because it often shows no symptoms at all. At least with a showcase of symptoms we know to seek medical attention, but sometimes the damage is done before we even know its happening. Therefore its important to take preventative measures so that it doesnt happen in the first place. Try to avoid sitting for lengthy periods of time, because a person is more likely to get DVT if they havent moved around, like during a long flight, work day, or surgery.
Pain And Stiffness A Grinding Sound When The Knee Is Bent Perhaps Swelling Of The Knee And A Feeling Of Instability
These are often the symptoms of arthritis. Although there are many different forms of arthritis, osteoarthritis is the most common. It is more likely to affect women than men, and, if it occurs, it is more prevalent after middle age. It is caused by erosion of the articular cartilage within the synovial joint, so that the bone of the femur and tibia come into contact and rub against each other causing pain and inflammation. Osteoarthritis is often due to normal wear and tear over a period of time, although injury, repetitive activity, obesity and genetics can also be factors. There is no cure for osteoarthritis, and, although various methods can temporarily mollify the symptoms, surgery is the only permanent solution to eliminate pain and increase mobility.
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If The Back Of Your Knee Hurts While Running Or Walking:
This could be a symptom of hamstring tendonitis. The hamstring tendon connects the hamstring muscle to the outer aspect of the knee. This is caused by overuse in running or jumping or insufficient warm-up exercises. If you are an individual who has just started working out or increased your level of fitness, you are at risk for this injury. Pain can be felt when putting strain on the muscle or tendon.
Front Thigh Pain Above Knee
The most common symptom of quadriceps tendonitis is pain at the bottom of the thigh above the kneecap . If you move your knee, the pain will intensify. Other symptoms of quadricep tendonitis, such as swelling around the quad tendon, may also be present.
In addition to pain in the front of the thigh, anterior thigh pain can be felt in the back of the thigh. Injuries caused by sudden onset are frequently the result of overuse or injury that has not healed properly. A dead leg is a bruise or contusion on the inside of your leg caused by direct impact or trauma. Perthes disease affects the most children, especially those aged four and eight. It is a condition that occurs when the muscles become overly pressurized. Tumors can also cause severe pain in the front thighs.
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Knee Pain: When To See A Docto
A sharp pain in your knee that radiate to the shin or thigh may indicate a serious injury to one or more of your ligaments. Resting, icing, and elevating the joint are some of the methods used during treatment, which usually include anti-inflammatory medication to reduce pain and swelling. If you are experiencing persistent pain without relief or are experiencing symptoms that worsen over time, you should consult a physician.
Knee And Thigh Pain When Sitting
It is possible that you will suffer from venous insufficiency if you experience thigh pain after sitting or standing for an extended period of time. A leaky valve in the leg veins is the cause of this condition, which prevents blood from flowing properly from your legs up to your heart. As a result, fluid accumulates in the veins.
If you are inactive for an extended period of time, you may experience knee pain. Because of the strain caused by sitting for a long period of time, your muscles and tendons may stiffen. When you feel uncomfortable while sitting, it could be the result of arthritis or patellofemoral pain . People over the age of 50 are most likely to be affected by osteoarthritis. A person suffering from PFP may also experience knee discomfort when walking up and down stairs. When seated at a workstation, the chair is frequently too low or positioned so that your knees keep bending for an extended period of time.
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Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries
The posterior cruciate ligament plays a similar role to the ACL, though it is less likely to become injured than the ACL.
PCL injuries may happen during traumatic events, such as falling directly onto the knee from a height or being in a vehicle accident. With enough force, the ligament may tear completely.
PCL injuries cause symptoms such as:
- stiffness in the knee if bending
- difficulty walking
- swelling in the knee
Completely resting the knee may help a PCL strain heal. However, a severe PCL injury may require surgery.
Problems Due To Blood Vessels
The popliteal artery and its accompanying vein are major blood vessels at the back of the knee. The artery branches off from the large femoral artery which runs down from the top of the leg, and divides into several other significant blood vessels around the distal end of the femur and proximal ends of the tibia and fibula. The popliteal vein follows the path of the artery and carries blood back to the heart.
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I Feel Numbness Behind My Knee Is This Serious
Temporary numbness may be because you have been sitting for a while in a position which has compressed the nerves in the back of your leg or reduced the blood flow. This is called paresthesia and will dissipate when you start walking around again. However, if the numbness persists it could be due to many different causes, for example it may be a sign of an underlying condition such as a back problem, diabetes or a nerve disorder. You should visit your doctor to discover the reason for the numbness.
Because your knees bear the bodys weight and are subject to movement in a number of planes they can be quite vulnerable to trauma and to conditions resulting from trauma and wear and tear.
There are a number of different types of condition which can cause pain to the back of the knee. These include strains or tears to the muscle or tendons, damage to the ligaments, damage to the cartilage within the knee joint, excess fluid in the knee or blood vessel problems.
The information given below will give you an indication of the problem you may be having, but is not intended that you diagnose yourself. Also this guide is intended for pain behind the knee itself if your pain is part of general joint pain there will be other reasons for this and you should consult a doctor.
Posterolateral Corner Injury Causing Behind The Knee Pain
Experiencing stiffness and pain behind the knee could be due to injuries to the delicate structures in the knee. These types of injuries are referred to as posterolateral corner injuries.
According to the journal Revista Brasileira de Ortopedia, PLC injuries are common if the ligaments of the knee have been damaged by trauma. This can result in severe pain and inability to put pressure or weight on the damaged knee. In some cases, PLC injuries occur without damaging any of the knee ligaments.5
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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
Calf Or Hamstring Strain Or Cramp
Sudden activity and overuse are two leading causes of pain behind the knee. This is due to a calf or hamstring strain or cramp, according to Dr. Tanaka. Movements that require pushing off or severe knee bending cause this calf and hamstring pain, respectively. Both can be managed with ice, rest, gentle stretching and anti-inflammatories however, one should seek care if there is swelling or persistent pain associated with this to rule out blood clots, Dr. Tanaka says. Dr. Lyons adds that although an orthopedist could treat this, if you cant bear weight on the knee or are at risk of falling, then its time for the ER.
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Serious Symptoms That Might Indicate A Life Threatening Condition
In some cases, pain behind the knee may occur with other symptoms that might indicate a serious or life threatening condition that requires immediate evaluation in an emergency setting.
Symptoms that may indicate a serious or life threatening condition include:
- bruising on the back of the knee or calf
- difficulty breathing
- redness or other discoloration behind the knee of one leg
- warmth behind the knee of one leg
- painful swelling on the back of the knee or calf
Knee Pain Caused By Nerve Aggravation
This is an incredibly common cause for pain in the back of your knee. As an official diagnosis, it refers to aggravation or compression of the sciatic nerve .
Most often, sciatica is caused by compression of the nerve roots in either your lower back or from soft tissue in the buttocks. People often describe the sensation as a pain that travels or shoots down their limbs, commonly hitting that tender spot behind the knee.
Sciatica is typically diagnosed in your 50s, though its possible for it to start as early as your 20s or 30s. Research estimates that, on average, you can have up to a 40% chance of experiencing sciatica at some point in your life.
Luckily, though, since its a common diagnosis that afflicts a wide population, theres plenty of research surrounding methods for alleviating that radiating pain.
The most effective solution is to seek physical therapy. Your treatment will likely focus on improving movement patterns that is, working on your movement during activities that compress or load the lower back. Depending on your general lifestyle habits, this could include anything from stretching to core strengthening, or lifting education and manual manipulation of the tissues.
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Why Do I Have Pain Behind The Knee Common Diagnoses And Prognoses
The knee is a highly complex joint built up of multiple bones, muscles, tendons, and other tissues. And because there are so many moving parts, its extremely common for people to experience different kinds of pain in and around the knee joint.
Many individuals experience pain directly behind the knee, but they often receive incorrect diagnoses because of how many potential issues can occur.
If youve ever Googled pain behind the knee, you probably know what we mean searching such a broad category of pain often pulls up severe and frightening results, like deep vein thrombosis or a posterior cruciate ligament tear.
And of course, while those results are possible concerns, they dont represent the most common pathologies for pain behind the knee.
So, what are the most common problems, and what differentiates one from the other?
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury/tear
Detailed analysis of posterolateral knee pain cases has revealed ligament injury and tear to be a major underlying cause.
Anterior cruciate ligament injury is yet another prevalent sports activity consequence that can cause pain in the extension of the leg.
In severe cases, there might be tearing of the ACL. The most evident symptoms of an ACL injury include pain on stretching/straightening the leg which interferes with walking. Swelling due to ligament injury is also evident.
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What Does It Mean When Your Knee And Thigh Hurts
There are many potential causes of knee and thigh pain. It could be a result of an injury, overuse, or arthritis. It could also be a symptom of a more serious condition, such as a blood clot. If you are experiencing knee and thigh pain, you should see a doctor to determine the cause.
You may experience frequent highs and lows depending on your lifestyle. Diabetes, obesity, and scar tissue are just a few of the conditions that can cause burning thigh pain. While cellulitis is common, it can quickly become a serious infection. Deep vein thrombosis is a serious condition that can cause thigh pain. Leg tingling and burning can occur in the outer part of the thigh as a result of peripheral neuropathy. Compression or inflammation of the sciatic nerve or the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve are two causes of nerve-related thigh pain. It is possible that you will require immediate medical attention if you are suffering from visible trauma to your thigh.
There is an increased risk of pain from ongoing inflammation and irritation of the muscles, ligaments, and tendons as a result of overpronation. A swollen, twisted, or knotted vein is referred to as a varicose vein. There is a chance that your veins will cause achy, burning, throbbing, achiness, or heaviness. If you have thigh pain or discomfort, consult with your doctor. Other possible causes of discomfort include pregnancy, depression, and diabetes.
Arthritis Of The Knee Causing Pain Behind Knee
Osteoarthritis is a common cause of pain behind the knee. Typically, arthritis causes bone spurs leading to inflammation at the back of the knee. Often, you feel tight and restricted in the movement of the knee joint.
Generally, the best form of treatment for knee arthritis is exercise and load management. Also, wearing a knee sleeve can help. Occasionally, we use injection therapy to help with arthritis such as cortisone or platelet-rich plasma.
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Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries
The anterior cruciate ligament is a band of tissue that runs through the front of the knee joint, connecting the bones and helping keep the knee joint stable.
ACL strains often happen due to sudden stops or changes in direction. Similarly to meniscus tears, a strain in the ACL may cause a popping sound, followed by pain and swelling.
A torn ACL is a well-known, serious injury, often side-lining an athlete for a long time. Torn ACLs usually require reconstructive surgery.
What You Can Do
Take over-the-counter NSAID drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen to ease pain and swelling. RICE — rest, ice, compression, and elevation — can often help, too: Get off your feet. Raise your leg so it’s higher than your heart. Put a cold pack in a thin cloth or towel on your knee for 10-20 minutes at a time, several times a day. Wrap an elastic bandage around your knee when you’re up and about, snug but not tight.
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Back Of The Knee Pain Caused By Bakers Cyst
A Bakers cyst will cause a lump at the back of your knee along with pain and discomfort.
The cyst that forms at the back of your knee is usually caused by arthritis or tearing a cartilage. This results in a buildup of fluid that causes a lump behind your knee.
Doctors from the Mayo Clinic say that the swelling behind your knee can be a cause of knee pain. You will probably find it difficult to flex the knee and your symptoms may be worse after physical activity. To treat a Bakers cyst, doctors usually drain the fluid to reduce the swelling and ease knee discomfort.8