Side Of Knee Pain When Bending

Why Do My Knees Crack And Pop When I Bend Them

The term crepitus is used to describe the rubbing, clicking or popping sensations that we feel in or around our joints. It may occur in tandem with a joint disorder or completely on its own. Crepitus can occur when the roughened surfaces of two bones rub together, causing the physical grating of cartilage and/or bone. While this sensation is not normally or commonly painful, it can be quite alarming or concerning to patients. If crepitus is painful, it is usually related to joint damage and/or compression of tissues between the reduced joint spaces. There may also be observable swelling, redness, reduced joint movement or malformation.

Crepitus can also occur when tissues around the knee become inflamed. Many of the highly movable joints in our body have one or more bursa . The bursa can become inflamed due to trauma, repetitive use injury, or other disorders, resulting in bursitis. With increased fluid inside the joint, the inflamed surfaces can rub together and create the sensation of crepitus. In the knee, there are several bursae around the kneecap and hamstring tendons in the back of the knee.

Diagnosis Of Pain Behind The Knee:

A physical examination is of primary importance in the diagnosis of posterior knee pain caused by injury or arthritis. The doctor will manipulate the legs to check for rotation, flexion, and stability and to determine which movements are causing the pain.

The doctor may also use imaging procedures such as ultrasound, X-ray, CT, arthrography, and MRI. Sometimes the doctor takes fluid from the knee for laboratory testing. A doctor will use a physical exam, lab studies, and imaging if he or she suspects an infection, tumor, or DVT. A doctor can usually diagnose a Bakers cyst by sight but can confirm the diagnosis with an imaging procedure.

My Knee Hurts When Bending What Now

Pain behind knee when bending is usually the result of inflammation your immune systems natural response to damaged joint tissue. Pain and inflammation are completely normal and necessary for proper joint healing. Although joint inflammation is natural, it can negatively affect your quality of life. Your knee can hurt so much that it makes everyday tasks difficult. In such cases, reducing inflammation with NSAIDs, the R.I.C.E. method, and exercise are often used to manage pain in the short term.

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What Are The Symptoms Of Knee Pain When Bending

Some of the symptoms that you may experience when bending your knee may be just when you are lying in bed, when getting up from a seated position or when doing something as menial as tying your shoelaces. Its more than likely that you will experience slight pain and tenderness if this is the case.

In more extreme cases you may notice the knee-buckling when you attempt to stand up from a seated position or even notice significant swelling and stiffness.

It is important to look at the severity of the symptoms as well as what activities you are engaging in that cause pain. This will help determine where exactly the issue lies and what action you should be taking next.

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Why Does Bending Cause Knee Pain

Knee pain when bending can be split into two types:

Weight-Bearing:when there is weight going through the knee as you bend it such as when you squat down, go up and down stairs and as you sit down in a chair

Non Weight-Bearing:when there is no weight going through the knee when you bend it e.g. when sitting in a chair and moving the knee or standing but with the leg lifted off the floor as you bend it

Knee pain when bending tends to be worse when there is weight going through the knee as you bend it due to the compression and pressure on the different structures in the knee.

This should come as no surprise when we realise how large the forces going through different parts of the knee.

For example, when bending the knee to climb stairs, a force approximately three times body weight goes through the knee.

When squatting down the force is even greater at seven times body weight and when jumping, a huge force ten times body weight goes through part of the knee.

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Chronic Degeneration Of The Meniscus

The meniscus is a rubbery c-shaped piece of cartilage that cushions the knee. When the meniscus is torn abruptly it can cause your leg to lock up and impact your ability to walk, but more often than not the cartilage in your knee is damaged over time due to wear and tear. This is when standing knee pain can become a problem.

Chronic degeneration of the meniscus can occur from excessive standing or running. Acute meniscus tears are usually from sudden pivoting or twisting as seen in basketball or football. A torn meniscus normally produces localized pain that is worse during twisting and squatting motions.

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Complementary And Alternative Therapies

A number of mind-body therapies may be used to treat knee pain. These include:

These are especially common for knee osteoarthritis.

The once-popular supplements glucosamine and chondroitin have fallen out of favor for knee osteoarthritis due to a lack of scientific proof. Always talk to your healthcare provider before taking any supplements or medications.

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Knee Pain With Locking In The Joint

There are 2 C shaped cartilage pieces known as menisci located inside the knee joint. The role of cartilages is to maintain the surfaces of the upper& lower leg bones from grinding against each other. The cartilage is frequently damaged due to trauma, such as landing a jump or twisting your knee.

You can even experience difficulties moving around, having trouble walking, or even feel like a joint is locking.

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.

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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.

Types Of Knee Pain When Bending

Pain in the Knee, with Locking in the Joint

Inside the knee joint, there are two C shaped pieces of cartilage called menisci, which keep the surfaces of the upper leg bone and lower leg bones from grinding against each other. Injuries to this cartilage usually result from a trauma, like landing a jump or twisting your knee. You may also notice problems with range of motion, walking, or even a locking sensation in the joint. Resting the knee and managing inflammation will help heal minor tears, while physical therapy can help strengthen and stabilize it.

Pain Behind the Kneecap

Patella-Femoral Syndrome is a term that describes joint pain between the kneecap and upper leg bone. Under the kneecap is a smooth cartilage lining that creates a gliding surface between the bones, and if it softens or wears away it can result in pain and inflammation. According to Neuromuscular Specialist and co-founder of the Performance Institute in New York City, major contributing factors to this knee pain are poor alignment when landing, as well as imbalanced quadricep muscles, which can pull the kneecap side to side. Strengthening the quads and stretches to lengthen hamstrings and calfs will help reduce the risk of injury.

Pain and Tenderness on the outside of the Knee

Pain with a Pop

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Knee Clicking With Pain

If thereâs a clicking sound accompanied by swelling and pain, a sensation of catching in the joint, or if the knee gives out, the following causes may apply:

Unnecessary tissue around the knee: After a serious injury to the knee, if it is not treated or if it does not heal properly, you can develop unnecessary tissue around the knee. When this happens, the tissue gets tangled between certain parts of the joint, which causes the clicking noise when you extend the joint.

Runnerâs knee: You might think that constant running is beneficial for your health, but if you put a lot of stress on the tibia, you can develop runnerâs knee. This occurs when the kneecap is out of line and does not track properly along the femur. The tibia and lower bones in the leg protect the kneecap, but when these bones are not aligned properly, the knee will click when you bend it.

Once known as chondromalacia, this unevenness of the patella is now referred to as patellofemoral pain syndrome. Many will feel this type of knee clicking when squatting.

Severe damage to the meniscus and shock absorber: The meniscus is a cushion between the bones of your knee, and if it is damaged and does not heal properly, the balance of your knee is thrown off. This damage can also cause the knee to turn when you put force on itâand this can cause the knee to develop a clicking sound.

A Look At The Knee Joint

The knee works like a large hinge. It consists of bones, cartilage, the synovium, and ligaments.

Bones: The knee joins the thighbone to the long bone of the lower leg . The fibula, a bone in the lower leg, is also connected to the joint. The kneecap is the small, convex bone that sits at the front of the knee, shielding the joint.

Cartilage: Two thick pads of cartilage called the menisci cushion the tibia and femur, and reduce friction where they meet.

Synovium: A specialized connective tissue that lines joints and tendon sheaths. Synovial fluid serves to lubricate the joints.

Ligaments: Four ligaments tough, flexible bands that stretch across the uneven surface of the joints connect the bones.

Crepitus happens for various reasons, apart from osteoarthritis. Here are some of them:

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It Hurts To Walk Up Stairs

After a strenuous workout, it can be difficult to move around. Your legs may be sore, and even simple tasks like walking may feel like a challenge. Knee injuries are a little different, though. Instead of soreness, it may feel like dull to sharp pain especially when taking the stairs. This often happens when the cartilage underneath your kneecap is damaged. While osteoarthritis can be the leading cause of this, chondromalacia patellae also plays a role. In addition to your knee hurting while taking the stairs, other signs of runners knee include:

• Grinding or cracking sensations when bending or extending your knee
• Pain that worsens after prolonged periods of sitting, standing, or exercising
• Swelling or tenderness

Can Knee Pain In Teens Be Prevented

Most knee pain that is caused by injury or overuse can be prevented with some attention and work by your teen, including:

• Make sure your teen wears proper shoes for the activity/sport and wears knee pads and leg guards . Replace worn out footwear and gear.
• Engage in muscle strength training exercises. Check with a trainer to make sure proper form and body alignment are being followed. Always do warm up and cool down exercises before and after workouts.
• Keep your muscles flexible by proper stretching exercises or yoga.
• Dont engage in activities that cause or worsen knee pain.

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Brief Anatomy Of The Knee

The knee is a vulnerable joint that bears a great deal of stress from everyday activities, such as lifting and kneeling, and from high-impact activities, such as jogging and aerobics.

The knee is formed by the following parts:

• Tibia. This is the shin bone or larger bone of the lower leg.

• Femur. This is the thighbone or upper leg bone.

• Patella. This is the kneecap.

Each bone end is covered with a layer of cartilage that absorbs shock and protects the knee. Basically, the knee is 2 long leg bones held together by muscles, ligaments, and tendons.

There are 2 groups of muscles involved in the knee, including the quadriceps muscles , which straighten the legs, and the hamstring muscles , which bend the leg at the knee.

Tendons are tough cords of tissue that connect muscles to bones. Ligaments are elastic bands of tissue that connect bone to bone. Some ligaments on the knee provide stability and protection of the joints, while other ligaments limit forward and backward movement of the tibia .

Real Worry: Loud Pop At Time Of Injury Followed By Swelling Instability And Giving Way

When a patient says to me, Doc, I heard a pop and my knee swelled, it is definitely a cause for concern. If there is a pop at the time of injury, the knee has almost certainly been damaged. You have most likely injured either your ligaments anterior cruciate ligament, posterior cruciate ligamentor medial collateral ligament or the meniscusor articular cartilage. The knee will usually swell up after these kinds of injuries.

If there is pain, swelling, or giving way of the knee, we will do a careful exam, history, X-ray, and MRI. By studying the cartilage and soft tissue within the knee, we can determine which tissues need to be repaired. Sometimes careful physical therapy, combined with injections, can fix the problem and help you avoid surgery.

So remember: If you hear clicks and pops in your knee but feel no pain or swelling, dont worry. It is normal. If you have pain, instability, or swelling, make sure you check it out to avoid further damage to the joint. The philosophy on this has changed from rest your knee and wait until you are older for a joint replacement to fix the problem ASAP by repairing, regenerating, or replacing the missing tissue and cartilage so that you may never develop arthritis or need a knee replacement.

While it is always best to hear the sounds of silence, snap, crackle, and pop sometimes need to be listened to as well.

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Common Causes Of Inner Knee Pain

There are a variety of causes of inner knee pain. Many of them can be linked to an injury. Some of the most common incidents that cause knee injury and pain include falls, sports injuries, or increased activity.

Adults particularly those older than 60 are most likely to experience knee pain. However, inner knee pain can also occur in children and adolescents.

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, the most common causes of inner knee pain in children are:

• patellar subluxation

Knee Pain And Popping Causes

Knee popping and clicking can be caused by a number of things. It may be something simple like the ligaments catching on a bony lump and snapping back in to place or gas bubbles popping. But in some cases, knee popping is linked to a more serious injury such as ligament or cartilage tear.

Knee clicking and popping noises in the knee usually fall into one of three categories:

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Can You Still Walk With A Torn Mcl

If the MCL or ACL tears, the result is usually pain, swelling, stiffness, and instability. In most cases, the injured person can still walk with the torn knee ligament. But the movement will be severely limited, not to mention painful. Surgery may be the best route to a pain-free life, with amazing success rates.

Symptoms & Signs Of Crepitus

Crepitus, or joint sounds and bone cracking can be a normal part of movement. Many people experience popping joints, especially as they get older. You may notice:

• Sounds of knee popping or knee cracking when you bend your knee
• Popping or cracking when you bend your elbow
• Crunching sounds in your knee when you go up or down stairs or kneel
• Crackling or grinding sounds or a crunching sensation when you move your shoulder
• Occasional or continual swelling around the joint

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