What Are The Signs & Symptoms Of A Knee Injury
The signs and symptoms of a knee injury depend on the cause. Most knee injuries cause pain. A knee injury may also lead to the knee feeling weak, “giving way,” or “locking.” Someone with a knee injury might not be able to fully bend or straighten the knee. The injured knee may be swollen or bruised.
Possible Causes Of A Burning Or Stabbing Knee Pain
Some knee pain is due to overstretching or excessive strain put on the ligaments and tendons of the knee, possibly by sporting exercise such as athletics or cycling. The ligaments and tendons can become overstressed, irritated and inflamed causing pain. A very common cause of this type of pain is a tear in the meniscal cartilage or surface cartilage of the knee.
When Should You Go To The Doctor
Knee injuries are prevalent, and you do not need to see a doctor immediately after an accident. Try not to bend your leg, don’t put pressure on it, and use an ice pack to reduce swelling. Rest for three days and do the following:
- Cover area with an elastic compression bandage
- Try walking with crutches for three days
- Ice the affected area three or four times a day for twenty minutes
- Do not bend your legs while sitting, and do not climb stairs
- Keep your knee slightly higher than your body when you sleep
- Take anti-inflammatory medications, such as Ibuprofen or Naproxen
However, if your pain does not decrease after three days and you have one or more of the following conditions, see your doctor.
- Severe pain and numbness in the legs even when there is no weight on it
- Swelling, redness, and deformity of the affected area
- Fever and bluish discoloration in your calf
Also Check: Inversion Table After Hip Replacement
The Problem No One Is Talking About
When youve had your pain more than 2 months and youve seen 3-5 other doctors without more than 50% relief, you and I can probably both agree that theres something else going on.
The pain on the inside of your knee can be caused by failed ankle or hip tests.
You would fail any of the following:
- Knee to Wall Test with your toes 6 away from the wall, can your knee touch it with your heel down?
- Thigh to Chest Test lying on your back, can your thigh touch your ribs?
- Lunge Stretch Test kneeling, can the front of your hip move 12 in front of your knee?
If you failed any of those tests, your knee would start as inflamed and get better with rest. As time went on and you didnt fix the failed test, youd be risking the meniscus, MCL, or arthritic damage you currently dont have.
In order to get the failed test fixed and passing so that your knee operates at 100%, you need to find a adhesion specialist to find out if you have adhesion for any muscles that are responsible for stopping the joint in the correlated test.
If all of those tests are passing, the adhesion specialist would look at the knee joint itself.
What Procedures And Tests Diagnose Knee Pain
A health care professional will begin by asking questions related to the person’s general health and then specifically to the nature of the knee pain .
Next, an examination of the knee will be performed. This will include bending the knee through the full range of motion, checking for stability of the ligaments, and evaluating for any tenderness and swelling. It is often helpful to compare the results of the examination of the painful knee with the other knee. Frequently, this is all that is required to make a diagnosis and start treatment. In several research studies, it has been found that an experienced examiner is as reliable as X-ray examination.
Sometimes the doctor might want to do further studies such as the following tests.
Radiologic tests
Plain X-ray can establish fractures and degenerative changes of the knee.
MRI is used to evaluate the soft tissues of the knee for ligament tears or cartilage and muscle injuries.
Blood tests
If gout, arthritis, or other medical conditions are suspected, a health care professional might order blood tests.
Removal of joint fluid
Read Also: How To Whiten Knees Fast
What Is The Treatment For Knee Pain
Treatments for knee pain are as varied as the conditions that can cause the pain.
Medications
Medications might be prescribed to treat an underlying medical condition or for pain relief.
If you are taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pain medications regularly for your knee pain, you should see your doctor to be evaluated.
Physical therapy
Sometimes physical therapy sessions to strengthen the muscles around the knee will make it more stable and help guarantee the best mechanical movements. Working with a physical therapist can help avoid injuries or further worsening of an injury.
Injections
Injecting medications directly into your knee might help in certain situations. The two most common injections are corticosteroids and lubricants. Corticosteroid injections can help arthritis and other inflammations of the knee. They usually need to be repeated every few months. Lubricants that are similar to the fluid already in your knee joint can help with movement and pain.
Other Causes Of Knee Pain
Sprain or strain to the knee
Injuries to the muscles and ligaments in the knee can lead to pain. Strains and sprains are often due to twisting your knee or a blow to the knee. Falling can lead to knee injuries like this. The symptoms of a sprain or strain include pain, swelling, and difficulty in walking.
Tendonitis
The tendons in your knee can get inflamed and painful. This is typically a result of over-use injuries. Activities like cycling, running, and jumping can be the cause of tendonitis. The symptoms include pain, particularly when you are using the knee in a way that aggravates inflamed tendons.
Cartilage damage
The cartilage in your knee protects the ends of the bones and provides stability to the joint. If you have a knee injury, you might do damage to the cartilage and cause additional pain and swelling in the area.
Recommended Reading: My Knees Crack When I Squat
What Does Inner Knee Pain Mean
It may be important for you to know what parts of the knee are most affected by medial knee pain. So to make this clear, you first need to know where the medial side of the knee is. The medial sides of your knee point to your left knee’s right side and the left side of your right knee to the middle of your body. So you will feel pain in these areas, which will usually affect your daily activities. To better understand, it is better to have an overview of the anatomy of the knee’s inner parts.
- The Quadriceps tendon connects the Quadriceps muscles to the kneecap
- Medial collateral ligament
- The medial meniscus is thick, elastic bands of cartilage in the shape of a crescent attached to the tibia.
- A plica is a fold in the thin tissue that forms the joint of your knee.
- Between your bones and tendons, the bursa operates as a cushion and decreases friction.
These areas are among the most susceptible and vulnerable areas where inner knee pain is typically caused by damage or complications in one of these areas. Accidents, sometimes a bit of carelessness and a wrong lifestyle, can easily damage your knee health. Who do you think is most likely to experience medial knee pain?
Diagnosing Inner Knee Pain
If you experience consistent pain, speak to your doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor will ask questions about the pain and other symptoms and will perform a physical examination with special tests specifically for the knee.
He or she may also order a diagnostic test, such as an MRI or X-ray for more conclusive results or ruling out certain injuries. It is also important for your doctor to rule out other possible issues such as a low back injury-known as lumbar radiculopathy.
Recommended Reading: Does Tommie Copper Knee Sleeve Work
Investigation Of Pain Inside The Knee
Your doctor will ask you about the type of pain you are feeling, and also note the size of your affected knee compared to your unaffected knee. Any discolouration and warmth will be noted as will the range of movement you are able to effect. The doctor may need further investigation in the form of medical imaging to detect fluid or a possible fracture, and perhaps a blood test to identify any rheumatoid factor or antinuclear antibodies. Fluid may also be drawn from the knee to test for uric acid or bacteria if an infection or inflammation is suspected.
When To Call The Doctor For Knee Pain
When you are deciding whether to call the doctor about your knee pain, a good rule of thumb exists for most long-term knee injuries. If your symptoms have not gone away after trying a week of PRICE therapy and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pain meds, you should set up an appointment with your doctor, physical therapist, or a sports medicine orthopaedic specialist to further evaluate the pain. This rule can also be applied to new knee injuries that are not disabling. Remember, however, that this rule should only serve as a guide. If you are concerned about the pain, you should call the doctor.
Don’t Miss: How Do I Get Rid Of Fat Around My Knees
Inner Knee Pain Causes
There are a number of causes of inner knee pain, not all of which are as obvious as a direct blow to the knee. Often, what causes inner knee pain is not easy to identify, particularly when the pain has come on gradually.
A meniscus injury, for example, might happen during a sporting event. However, normal overuse of the cartilage can lead to a breakdown of the meniscus, particularly as we age.
Among the most common causes of inner knee pain are:
- Repetitive stress
- Poor technique during everyday activities, sports, or exercise
- Dysfunctional lower body or core mechanics
- Weak leg muscles
- People who are inactive or sedentary
- Weekend warriors
Conditions Associated With Inner Knee Pain
There are several types of knee injury and other conditions that can cause inner knee pain.
Medial collateral ligament injury is a tear of the ligament that runs down the inner side of your knee. A ligament is a band of tissue that connects one bone to another. Your medial collateral ligament connects your thigh bone to your shin bone, helping to stabilise your knee. A tear can happen if you have a direct blow to your knee, if you twist your knee or if you overuse your knee.
Anterior cruciate ligament injury is a tear to one of the ligaments that runs across the inside your knee, connecting your thigh and shin bones. You might completely or partially tear your anterior cruciate ligament. Its a sudden injury caused by twisting or overextending your knee. It can happen if you suddenly slow down, stop or change direction and is nearly always associated with sports.
Meniscal injury is a tear to one of the cartilage shock-absorbers in your knee. These are known as the menisci . You could tear a meniscus if you twist your knee. This type of injury is common in sports where you have to change direction suddenly for example, football or basketball. It can also happen if you work in a job that involves heavy lifting and twisting, such as construction or manual labour. Youre also more likely to tear your meniscus without any particular injury as you get older, through wear and tear.
You May Like: How To Use Ginger For Knee Pain
What Is The Groin What Is The Groin Pain
Your groin is a complex area where your stomach ends and your legs begin. The network of muscles, bones, nerves, and blood vessels around the groin can make diagnosing the cause of groin pain a particularly difficult task. It should be noted Groin pain is a common problem in both men and women.
Athletes often feel pain in and around the groin, perhaps after taking a wrong step or suffering a sports injury. The muscles in the area receive a lot of stress during physical activity and are particularly vulnerable to stretching and pulling.
Inner Knee Pain Symptoms
The exact location of inner knee pain varies from person to person and depends on the underlying condition. The severity of the pain will also vary.
Among the most common symptoms of inner knee pain are:
- Pain in the inner side of the knee
- Inner knee pain while running
- Inner knee pain while walking
- Inner knee pain when bending, cycling or squatting
- Weakness of the thigh muscles
- Loss of knee range of motion
- Poor coordination with lower leg movements
Treatment for these symptoms will likely include rest, ice, exercise and even the use of knee braces.
Although inner knee pain is not always accompanied by swelling, you may have a number of other symptoms, including swelling, discomfort, and stiffness.
Recommended Reading: Bleach Dark Knees
When To Seek Medical Help
If the injury is mild, you can handle it yourself with some home treatments and care. But if your knee gets stuck, locks, or clicks while being hot, red, or swollen, and you
Then in such cases, you should immediately go to a doctor or physiotherapist.
Diagnosis Of The Inside Of Knee Pain
Whenever an injured person sees the doctor for knee pain, the first will examine the knee and then likely questions like
- How did the pain start?
- How long have you been suffering inside knee pain?
- Did you suffer an injury?
- At what times do you feel it worse?
- What are your daily activities involving the knees? And many more.
Also Check: Roller Knee Walker
What You Need To Know
- The most common causes of knee pain are related to aging, injury or repeated stress on the knee.
- Common knee problems include sprained or strained ligaments, cartilage tears, tendonitis and arthritis.
- Diagnosing a knee injury or problem includes a medical examination and usually the use of a diagnostic procedure such as an x-ray, MRI, CT scan or arthroscopy.
- Both non-operative and surgical treatment options are available to treat knee pain and problems depending on the type and severity of the condition.
What Can You Do For The Pain
Your plan will depend on your specific injury. Mild to moderate issues will often get better on their own. To speed the healing, you can:
- Rest your knee. Take a few days off from intense activity.
- Ice it to curb pain and swelling. Do it for 15 to 20 minutes every 3 to 4 hours. Keep doing it for 2 to 3 days or until the pain is gone.
- Compress your knee. Use an elastic bandage, straps, or sleeves to wrap the joint. It will keep down swelling or add support.
- Elevate your knee with a pillow under your heel when you’re sitting or lying down to cut down on swelling.
- Take anti-inflammatorymedications. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or naproxen will help with pain and swelling. Follow the instructions on the label. These drugs can have side effects, so you should only use them now and then unless your doctor says otherwise.
- Practice stretching and strengthening exercises if your doctor recommends them. You may want to do physical therapy, too.
Make an appointment with a doctor if you still have pain after 2 weeks of home treatment, if the knee becomes warm, or if you have fever along with a painful, swollen knee.
Some people with knee pain need more help. For instance, if you have bursitis, your doctor may need to draw out extra fluid from the bursa in your knee. If you have arthritis, you may need an occasional corticosteroid shot to settle down inflammation. And if you have a torn ligament or certain knee injuries, you may need surgery.
Also Check: Flying After Knee Replacement Surgery
Facts You Should Know About Knee Pain
- Knee pain is a common problem with many causes, from acute injuries to complications of medical conditions.
- Knee pain can be localized to a specific area of the knee or be diffuse throughout the knee.
- Knee pain is often accompanied by physical restriction.
- A thorough physical examination will usually establish the diagnosis of knee pain.
- The treatment of knee pain depends on the underlying cause.
- The prognosis of knee pain, even severe knee pain, is usually good although it might require surgery or other interventions.
How To Fix The Pain Inside Of Your Knee
When you get the adhesion removed from your knee, you can expect flexibility changes like this:
This gentlemans heel-to-butt flexibility went from 3 to 0.75 in 5 minutes.
Treatment to get this type of quick and permanent change requires an expert who is able to feel exactly where the adhesion is:
The coolest thing about this type of treatment is that youd notice relief immediately afterwards.
Also Check: Inversion Table For Knee Pain
How Do You Describe Your Pain
I know, its a tough question sometimes, Dr. Burg says. But you probably can tell the difference between a dull, throbbing pain and a sharp, burning sensation.
Thats important. A sharp, burning sensation moreoften indicates an irritated nerve rather than a joint or ligament problem. Onthe other hand, you might describe pain from arthritis as more constant andachy.