Whilst Squatting With A Heavy Load I Heard A Pop And Experienced Sudden Pain Should I Go To My Gp
A popping or cracking sound on its own is not unusual and nothing to be worried about. However, if accompanied by sudden pain you may have damaged one of your knee ligaments , or torn a meniscus. You should consult your doctor. If the problem does not clear up I would be happy to see you and assess things further.
When To See Your Doctor
Don’t wait if your knee pain is sudden and intense. Pick up the phone if it won’t go away or gets worse.
To make a diagnosis, your doctor might take X-rays or other images of your knee. Blood or knee fluid samples can help confirm or rule out certain conditions. Treatment may include medication, special exercises, braces, or in some cases surgery. Losing weight could help lessen pressure and strain on your knees.
1
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: Does Neck Pain Cause Nausea
Recommended Reading: Whiten Knees Fast
What Does Pain Behind Knee Mean
You may be asking what can cause pain behind the knee after sitting but you have not get answers. In this article we are going to know about, Pain behind the knee is discomfort or pain in the back of the knee. It can occur with or without movement and can be strong enough to prevent movement. People may describe back pain in the knee as discomfort, swelling, fever or burning, pain, stiffness, or pain.
Your knees have a lot of moving parts, and you use them a lot, so a lot of things can go wrong. Too much movement, especially if you do not work, can lead to excessive injuries. Simple wear is a problem, especially in old age. Accidents can break bones and produce tears. Among other things, your body attacks its organs. Your doctor can help you resolve what is going on with your knee when it does not feel right.
Back pain in the knee is a common sign of Bakers cyst, which is a collection of synovial fluid behind the knee. Synovial fluid forms joints and reduces friction between joint oats. Symptoms associated with Bakers cyst tend to come and go, and the condition will not cause any long-term damage to the knee.
However, back pain in the knee can be a symptom of deep vein thrombosis , which is a serious and life-threatening condition. A blood clot can break down and lead to lung disease, heart attack, or even a stroke. Deep vein thrombosis has symptoms similar to Bakers cyst.
What are the conditions associated with back pain in the knee?
Pain In Back Of Leg Behind Knee Causes And Tips For Quick Relief
Bothering knee pain is no pleasure to you. The knee joint is the most frequently injured area of your body. It considers a lot of force from even effortless daily activities. Strong knees allow you to perform several activities easily. Back knee pain can be a pretty common complaint of clients getting medical attention for muscles & joint pain. This type of pain can have severely adverse effects on the standards of your living. Constantly in a few clients knee pain may be primarily detected over the back of the knee. Back knee pain is unpleasant or aching behind your knee joint. It can happen with or without moving & may be serious decent to reduce movements. You can explain back knee pain as pain, irritation, inflammation, increase heat or burning, soreness, or stiffness.
Read Also: How To Use Ginger For Knee Pain
Rice To Find Back For Knee Discomfort Relief
Effective recuperation from damage to the ligaments, ligaments, or muscle mass of the knee joint relies on correct emergency treatment treatment. The very best first aid therapy for muscle mass splits or drew tendons is the rice method.
Dr. William Blahd on WebMD states that the RICE technique can be used to eliminate discomfort behind the knee, as well as swelling and stiffness. Rice is a phrase for R est, I CE, C ompression as well as E levation.
Exactly how to make use of the RICE approach to eliminate pain behind the knee:.
Belows exactly how to ease pain in the back of the knee with the RICE approach:.
Relax the damaged knee by stopping any type of activity that triggers discomfort or discomfort. Placing a tiny pillow under the knee can help in reducing knee discomfort when relaxing. Ice the affected knee with a cold pack instantly after receiving a knee injury. Obtain 10 to 20 minutes, 3 or 4 times a day to decrease inflammation and also avoid wounding. Compress the damaged knee joint by placing an elastic bandage around the knee. The bandage must not be so strong that there is prickling or swelling under the plaster. Boost the hurt knee to keep the knee above the degree of the heart. Dr. Blahd says that ice must be utilized for the initial 48 to 72 hours to lower swelling. When inflammation has actually been decreased, warmth can be put on aid increase blood flow and rate healing.
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.
Also Check: Inversion Table Knees
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.
Hamstring And Calf Muscle And Tendon Injuries
The hamstrings muscles are a group of large muscles that run the length of the upper legs, ending at the knee. The calf muscles are the beefy muscles that run behind the lower legs, starting at the knee.
There are tendons in the hamstrings and calf muscles that connect these muscles to the bone just behind the knee. So your back of knee pain could be caused by an injury or problem in these muscles or tendons. An additional sign of this problem might be chronically tight hamstrings or calf muscles that you constantly feel like you need to stretch or roll out .
And even further up the line, if you have hamstrings or calf muscles that wont let go and are always tight, it could be your back, not your hamstrings or your knee, thats the true cause of the problem . How does that work? Check out the video which explains the connection.
Recommended Reading: What Is The Best Knee Walker
Risk Factors For A Meniscus Tear Or Strain
- Age the meniscus gets worn as you age, so people over the age of 30 are at a higher risk for suffering from a meniscus tear.
- Athletes athletes who play sports such as football, basketball, soccer and tennis are at a higher risk for suffering from a meniscus tear because of the sudden stops and turns involved in playing the game.
- Osteoarthritis people who suffer from osteoarthritis are at a higher risk for suffering from a meniscus tear or strain.
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.
Read Also: Nano Knee Cost
What Should I Do When I Feel Pain Behind My Knee When I Straighten It
Pain in the back of the knee, often called posterior knee pain, can result from a variety of reasons. The structures of the knee, consisting of muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage and vascular system, can each be affected, resulting in a variety of injuries.
Some conditions may only require rest, pain medication, knee elevation above the heart and a warm compress to get better. However, others may need surgical interventions and may become worse over time if left untreated.
It is always best to seek a doctor if the pain does not resolve with rest and pain medication, if the swelling worsens, if there are considerable changes in the appearance of the knee, or if daily activities involving the knee become difficult.
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.
Recommended Reading: Bioknee Cost
If The Back Of Your Knee Feels Tight Or Stiff:
You may have Osgood Schlatters Disease. This is an inflammation of the area just below your knee where the tendon of the kneecap attaches to the shinbone. It occurs during growth spurts or times when bones, muscles, and tendons are changing rapidly. Other symptoms include knee pain and tenderness or swelling.
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.
Recommended Reading: Bleach Dark Knees
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.
Sciatic Nerve Links The Back To The Legs
The most common back ailments that cause pain in the knees are related to the sciatic nerve. If you have back pain and feel a shooting sensation originating from your lower back running down your leg and through your knee, your sciatic nerve is to blame.
As the longest and largest nerve that runs through the body, the sciatic nerve if damaged or compromised can cause debilitating pain. The condition is called sciatica, and it is often the byproduct of a degenerative nerve condition or an injury .
When any part of the spine puts pressure on the sciatic nerve, the result may be shooting pain or a tingling sensation that travels from the back down to your hips, buttocks, knees, and feet.
You May Like: How Do I Get Rid Of Fat Around My Knees
What Are Knee Injury Treatments
Almost all knee injuries will need more than one visit to the doctor. If no operation is indicated, then RICE with some strengthening exercises and perhaps physical therapy will be needed. Sometimes the decision for surgery is delayed to see if the RICE and physical therapy will be effective. Each injury is unique, and treatment decisions depend on what the expectation for function will be. As an example, a torn ACL would usually require surgery in a young athlete or a construction worker, but the ACL may be treated nonoperatively with physical therapy in an 80-year-old who is not very active.
With the technology available, many knee injuries that require surgery can be treated surgically with an arthroscope, in which a camera is used to visualize the damage and small punctures are made in the knee to insert instruments to make repairs. Patients usually begin their post-op rehabilitation within days of the surgery.
If there is no rush to operate, then opportunity exists to pre-hab or strengthen the quadriceps and hamstring muscles beforehand. When a joint like the knee is injured, the muscles around it start to weaken almost immediately. This is also true after the surgery, which can also be considered a further injury. Strong muscles in the preoperative state allow the potential for easier postoperative therapy.
Achilles Tendinitis Or Rupture
The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the body. It is located on the back side of your leg and connects your calf muscle to your heel bone.
When the tendon becomes irritated, usually due to overuse, you may feel a burning pain in the back of your leg, usually just above your heel. You may also have calf pain and stiffness. This is known as Achilles tendinitis.
A torn Achilles tendon is referred to as a rupture. When the tendon tears, you may have severe, sudden pain in the back of your leg. You may also have difficulty bearing any weight on your leg at all.Some people also hear a “pop” when the injury happens.
Don’t Miss: My Knees Crack When I Squat
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury
The anterior cruciate ligament is a band of tissue that runs through the front of your knee joint. It connects your thighbone to your shinbone and helps stabilize and provide movement to your knee.
Most ACL injuries happen when you slow down, stop, or change direction suddenly while running. You can also strain or tear this ligament if you land a jump wrong, or you get hit in a contact sport like football.
You might feel a pop when the injury happens. Afterward, your knee will hurt and swell up. You might have trouble fully moving your knee and feel pain when you walk.
Rest and physical therapy can help an ACL strain heal. If the ligament is torn, youll often need surgery to fix it. Heres what to expect during ACL reconstruction.
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.
You May Like: Flying After Knee Replacement Surgery