Knee Pain From Injury
Damage to the muscles, ligaments, tendons, and cartilage of the knee can cause pain if these tissues are overused or receive a blow or other injury.
This is particularly true in the case of these common knee injuries:
- A tear in the knees anterior cruciate ligament
- A patellar tendon injury, also known as jumpers knee
- Damage to the tendon between the kneecap and femur , known as patellofemoral pain syndrome or runners knee
- A tear in the pads of cartilage in the knee known as the meniscus
Visit the knee injury section on Sports-health.com for in-depth, doctor authored and reviewed articles about these and other types of knee injuries.
Nerve Pain After Knee Replacement: Causes And Treatments
As the most common cause of nerve pain after a knee replacement, instability of the joint is the most common cause of nerve pain. The knee joint is a joint located at the top of the thigh that allows the thigh bone to move up and down as well as side to side. It is possible that the knee joint will not function as expected as a result of the knee replacement. The joint may become unstable, resulting in pain. The nerves that supply the joint are irritated, which is one of the causes of nerve pain after a knee replacement.
Infections Can Cause Joint Pain
Joint pain may be one symptom of an infection, and can begin within a few hours. This type of pain will likely also include redness, swelling, and the inability to move the joint. One common diagnosis is , which is usually caused by a bacterial infection. This type of infection can also be accompanied by fever, and requires immediate treatment in order to prevent permanent damage to the affected joints.
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Questions Your Doctor May Ask About Pain In The Back Of The Knee
To diagnose this condition, your doctor would likely ask the following questions:
- Is the knee pain affecting one or both knees?
- Do you often feel your knees buckling?
- Where is your knee pain?
- How would you explain the cause of your knee pain?
Self-diagnose with our free Buoy Assistant if you answer yes on any of these questions.
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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.
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What Causes Chronic Knee Pain
Temporary knee pain is different from chronic knee pain. Many people experience temporary knee pain as a result of an injury or accident. Chronic knee pain rarely goes away without treatment, and it isnt always attributable to one incident. Its most often the result of several causes or conditions.
Physical conditions or diseases can cause knee pain. These include:
- osteoarthritis: pain, inflammation, and joint destruction caused by degeneration and deterioration of the joint
- tendinitis: pain in the front of the knee that is made worse when climbing, taking stairs, or walking up an incline
- bursitis: inflammation caused by repeated overuse or injury of the knee
- gout: arthritis caused by the buildup of uric acid
- Bakers cyst: a buildup of synovial fluid behind the knee
- rheumatoid arthritis : a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disorder that causes painful swelling and can eventually cause joint deformity and bone erosion
- dislocation: dislocation of the kneecap most often the result of trauma
- meniscus tear: a rupture in one or more of the cartilage in the knee
- torn ligament: tear in one of the four ligaments in the knee the most commonly injured ligament is the anterior cruciate ligament
- bone tumors: osteosarcoma , most commonly occurs in the knee
Factors that may make chronic knee pain worse:
- injuries to the structure of the knee can cause bleeding and swelling and can create a chronic problem over time if not treated properly
Lose weight if you are overweight or obese.
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 arent 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.
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What Causes Swelling Behind The Knee
There are a number of different causes of swelling behind the knee. In most cases, back of knee swelling is caused by a build-up of fluid or an abnormal growth in the popliteal space the soft area at the back of the knee.
Here we look at five common causes of swelling behind the knee, the causes and symptoms of each, how to tell whether its something serious and the best ways to treat causes of swelling behind the knee.
Recovery From Quadriceps Tendonitis
If you treated quadricep tendonitis with nonsurgical therapies, the injury can heal with four to six weeks of physical therapy. The goal of the physical therapy is to reduce the pain and inflammation as well as improve function of the quadricep.
Physical therapy after surgery is rigorous and involves the full team of specialists, including your orthopedic surgeon. Your team will work together to develop a treatment plan especially for your case.
As you recover, the exercises will intensify to ensure you are fully healed before resuming your normal activity level.
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Is It Normal To Have Knee Pain Years After Surgery
While it is extremely rare, a small percentage of patients who have had knee replacement continue to experience chronic pain after the procedure. Nonetheless, when this happens, you donât have to give up. If your situation is unsatisfactory, it is best to have it evaluated. Additional treatment options may be beneficial after knee replacement for patients who suffer from chronic knee pain.
Your pain level and recovery time will differ depending on whether or not you have a total or partial knee replacement. The average time required for total knee replacement after a walker or cane is one to three months. Patients who have a partial knee replacement have fewer invasive procedures, and they typically walk without assistance within two weeks. When you have a knee replacement, there are several different types of pain. It is expected as a result of the surgery itself, which entails swelling, bruising, and the use of prosthetics. There is also the possibility that you may experience pain in other parts of your body, such as your hips. Chronic pain is defined as pain that persists for three months or longer.
If you have knee pain or swelling, a Corticosteroid injection is a viable option. An anesthetic is injected into a genicular nerve block to interrupt pain signals being sent to the brain. There is a chance you will need to undergo revision surgery for your knee replacement.
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.
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Knee Pain Years After Knee Replacement: Causes And Treatments
Knee pain years after knee replacement can be caused by a number of different things. The most common cause is wear and tear on the new joint, which can lead to pain, stiffness, and swelling. Other causes include infection, loosening of the implant, and damage to the surrounding tissue. In some cases, knee pain years after knee replacement can be caused by a combination of these factors.
Many patients who had knee replacement surgery still suffer from chronic pain six months after the procedure. The percentage of patients who had chronic knee pain following surgery was studied in a recent study. There were reports of pain ranging from 3 out of 10 to 5 out of 10 in the average pain rating . Non-surgical Regenexx solutions are available in 78 clinics across the country. A study of nearly 2,000 French patients who had knee replacement surgery found that they were no more likely to require rehabilitation than those who had not had surgery. Almost half of patients started taking new pain relievers within a year of surgery. It has been discovered that knee arthritis does not always cause pain.
Your Knee Is Clicking Or Popping

Whether your knee is clicking, locking, or popping, these are all indications that something is not quite right. In some cases, popping may be an indication of a ligament injury such as an anterior cruciate ligament , posterior cruciate ligament , or medial collateral ligament tear. Knee ligament injuries are common sports injuries, but can also occur from high-energy accidents. In addition to popping or clicking, symptoms often include:
- Sudden, severe pain in the knee
- Pain that persists while walking
- The knee abruptly giving out, causing you to fall and feel unstable while walking
- Swelling within 24 hours after the initial injury
Another reason your knee may be popping is because of a meniscus tear. This can often occur along with a knee ligament injury and occurs when the medial meniscus tears. Similar to ACL, PCL, or MCL tears, a meniscus tear occurs from a single, sudden movement such as sports injuries or twisting suddenly. In addition to popping, other symptoms include:
- Initial pain and discomfort but still able to walk
- Worsening pain and stiffness
- Deformity and weakness
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What Are The Risk Factors For Sudden And Sharp Knee Pain
Several risk factors may also induce sharp and sudden knee pain:
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Excess Weight: Increased weight puts more weight and stress on the knees, which increases the wear and tear of the knee.
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Sports and Occupations: Certain sports and occupations increase the risk of knee pain due to increased stress on the knees.
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Old Injuries: Developing pain in old knee injuries is a common cause of sudden and sharp pain in the knee.
Sudden and sharp knee pain is a very common problem occurring in people of all ages. Sudden knee pain may be due to general everyday activities, or it can be a symptom of a severe underlying condition. In any case, sudden and sharp knee pain is a very discomforting condition, and consulting a doctor should be the first step in treating them. Several home remedies like exercise, physiotherapy, cold compression, and over-the-counter drugs may help provide relief. However, if the sudden knee pain is due to some serious condition like fracture, arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, knee tumor, osteonecrosis, etc., then immediate medical help should be taken.
What Other Symptoms Might Occur With Behind Knee Pain
Behind knee pain often occurs along with other symptoms that vary depending on the underlying disease, disorder or condition. These symptoms include swelling or , inflammation and redness, soreness, or . If you are experiencing other symptoms along with your behind knee pain, be sure to tell your health care provider. This additional information can help your doctor make a diagnosis.
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Why Does My Knee Hurt When I Straighten It
Your knee is made up of bones, cartilage, muscles and tendons. When you extend your knee, your quadriceps muscles tighten, and your hamstrings relax. Pain on knee straightening is usually indicative of damage or overuse of the quadriceps muscles, leading to tiny tears in its tendon. Pain may also occur due to any damage to the joint itself. You may get pain specifically in the back of the knee due to cyst formation following injury of the joint.
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Other Inner Knee Pain Treatments
If your inner knee pain worsens after several days, or if basic at-home remedies dont alleviate symptoms, you should go see your doctor.
Some treatment methods for more serious knee injuries include:
- Steroid injection. This injection is used to treat pes anserine bursitis.
- Physical therapy. Therapy often involves stretching, exercises, and ultrasound therapy.
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The Risks Of Artificial Knees
The wear and tear of artificial knees can lead to their failure. This can cause pain, inflammation, and even joint destruction. Furthermore, infections can cause the implant to fail, which is a major concern with artificial knees. If you fall on your newly replaced knee, there is a risk of damaging the implant, necessitating revision surgery. It is critical that you use a cane, crutches, or a walker until you have regained your balance, flexibility, and strength.
What Is Knock Knee
Knock knee is a condition in which the knees bend inward and touch or knock against one another, even when a person is standing with their ankles apart. This places excessive force on the outer side of the knee, which can cause pain and damage over time.
Knock knee is usually bilateral affecting both legs but in some cases, it may only affect one knee.
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What Is The Knee Joint And Why Is It Vulnerable
The knee is the largest joint in the human body, and by its structure and functionality, it is also extremely vulnerable and susceptible to injuries and other problems that can cause pain in them. The knee is the joint that connects the bones of the upper part of the leg to the bones of the lower part of the legs. In more technical words, the knees are made up of two types of joints, which are the tibiofemoral joint and the patellofemoral joint. The tibiofemoral joint connects the tibia with the femur, and the patellofemoral joint connects the patella with the femur. These joints are a type of modified hinge joint which implies that the joining surfaces are shaped with each other in such a way that there will be movement in only one plane.
The knee joint can permit flexion movement , extension, and internal and external rotation to some extent. The knees have a range of motions they carry the whole weight of the body, they are constantly under stress, there is a production of torque from the twisting motions of the two bones, etc. All these points act as predisposing factors which can cause sharp and sudden pain in the knees.
Is The Sound That My Knee Makes Bad

As we reviewed in a popular post about the sounds that our knees make, we discussed that the majority of these sounds are not mechanical or dangerous! That means that you are probably not bone on bone or grinding away the insides of your knee when you bend it. Yes, these sounds can be annoying or even embarrassing, but they are rarely dangerous. The most common cause of this grinding sensation or sound is actually due to inflammation of the tissues inside the knee. You do not need cortisone or lubricating injections to treat these sounds or sensations.
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Tendinopathy And Muscle Complex Injuries
Tendon injuries are associated with repetitive mechanical stresses that cause degenerative lesions. Hamstrings, gastrocnemius, and popliteus tendon typically cause posterior knee pain.
The hamstrings are frequently injured in sports that require sprinting. Semimembranosus tendinopathy usually presents as an aching pain localized to the posteromedial knee with tenderness on palpation inferior to the joint. Some of the possible risk factors for hamstring injury include body mechanics, flexibility, balance, hamstring strength, improper warm-up, fatigue, specific activities, running techniques, and psychosocial factors.
The gastrocnemius muscles superficial location and action across the knee and ankle make it susceptible to injury. Pain in the gastrocnemius occurs during knee flexion with resistance and during calf raises.
The popliteus muscle can also be a significant source of posterior knee pain. Both the muscular and tendinous aspects of the popliteus can be injured. Injuries to the popliteus may promote injuries to other structures in the postero-lateral complex and to ligaments of the knee. The mechanism of injury is thought to occur from direct stretch or when overused to maintain posterolateral stability. Guha et al. suggested that a stable knee with posterolateral pain and hemarthrosis on exam indicates a rupture of the popliteus tendon.
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