How To Relieve Pain Behind The Knee
You can efficiently treat some of the mentioned conditions at home. However, more severe conditions should be treated by your doctor. For example, suppose the pain behind the knee becomes more intense and starts to interfere strongly with your daily activities. In that case, you should immediately visit the healthcare provider and get proper treatment of the condition that causes the pain.
But, when we talk only about the sense of the pain, you may wonder what can help you at the moment when youre feeling it? How to relieve pain behind the knee by yourself?
The first thing you should do is to get off your feet and get proper rest. The RICE rest, ice, compression and elevation treatment can be very helpful. First, lay down and raise your leg high, above the level of your heart. Then, put a cold pack in a cloth or towel and leave it on your knee for 10-20 minutes at a time, several times a day. Cold packs can help decrease inflammation of joints. When youre up, make sure you have snugged an elastic bandage around the knee.
If you have a problem with tight muscles, you can relax them with warm showers, hot packs, or a heating pad. Important notice: dont put the heat on an inflamed joint.
You could also massage the affected area with sports creams that cause a cold or hot effect. The massage will also relax the muscles.
Knee Cysts And Bursal Injury
Injury to bursae is usually the result repetitive motions and will elicit pain and tenderness. Cystic lesions of the knee can be caused from a diverse group of entities from benign etiologies to complications of arthritis, infection, and malignancy. The classic cystic lesion causing posterior knee pain is the Bakers cyst. A Bakers cyst is caused either by a herniation of the synovial membrane through the posterior capsule or by an escape of fluid through an anatomic bursa next to semimembranosus or gastrocnemius. Fluid seeps in to the popliteal bursa, located at the back of the knee causing it to swell. It often feels like a squashy orange. A Bakers Cyst typically causes pain behind the knee when bending the knee as the bursa gets squashed.
These include popliteal artery entrapment syndrome, aneurysms, and deep venous thrombosis .
There is minimal literature available on neurological causes of posterior knee pain as there are few case reports, randomized control trials, or meta-analyses that discuss the neurological causes of posterior knee pain. However, referred pain has been implicated as a cause of posterior knee pain. The patellofemoral joint and lumbar spine may both refer pain to the posterior knee. Pain can also be caused by entrapment of nerves in the popliteal fossa.
What Is The Prognosis For A Knee Injury
The goal for treating knee injuries is to return the patient to their previous level of activity. The prognosis for an individual injury depends upon the type of injury, the underlying health of the patient, and their willingness to work with their care provider and therapist to maximize their outcome.
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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.
Damage To The Ligaments Of The Knee
Ligaments are strong, flexible, fibrous and elastic connective tissue which connect one bone to another, provide stability and support joints. They do not connect muscles to joints, that is done by the tendons.
The ligaments of the knee comprise the medial and lateral collateral ligaments, on the inside and outside of the knee respectively, which give sideways stability to the knee joint, and the anterior and posterior cruciate ligament at the front and back of the knee. There is also a patellar tendon, which is really a ligament, which attaches the bottom of the patella to the top of the tibia.
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But What Caused All Of These Issues In The First Place
With the vast majority of acute & chronic issues, its worth playing devils advocate & really diving deep into asking: what actually caused the issue in the first place? In the large majority of cases, there was a series of underlying factors that set the individual up towards experiencing their acute issue in the first place.
Take the example of the meniscal tear. More often than not, there are a whole host of factors that go into the injury occuring. Weve come up with a shortlist of some of the common factors below.
This is simply a shortlist of some of the key factors that we see going into someone experiencing an injury.
The bottom line is that in almost all cases, when someone comes to us with an injury their movement was not as good as it could have been, they didnt have the tissue strength to tolerate the activity they were doing & overall they had a lot of room to improve the way they moved.
If most people took this into consideration, found themselves a movement practice they enjoyed & focused on improving the way they move then injury would never be a problem.
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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What Is Pain Behind The Knee
Since the knee is the largest and most complex joint in the body, it makes sense that it might hurt sometimes. Although knee pain is a common complaint, it is less common behind the knee.
Pain in the back of the knee is called posterior knee pain, and it can have a variety of causes. Occasionally, posterior knee pain is “referred” from the front of the knee or the spine.
Pain Tenderness Warm Or Red Skin Or A Swelling Behind The Knee
May be the indication of a blood clot in the popliteal vein. This is also called a thrombosis, and the block would restrict the circulation of blood in your leg. More importantly a clot could form an aneurysm, which is an abnormal bulging in the vein walls, and could lead to a pulmonary embolism. If you suspect you have a blood clot it is imperative that you see a doctor as soon as possible. Your body can eventually break up small clots, but you may be sent for a CT scan to investigate the blood clot and given a prescription for blood-thinning medication.
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Pain Behind The Knee Causes: Popliteal Injury
Do you feel discomfort in the knee area when walking, pain behind the knee when bending and stretching or just a general burning sensation in this area? It is possible you are suffering from a popliteal injury. This can also be recognized if, when palpating, there is a muscular bulge or contracture in the subsidence of the area.
The popliteus is a muscle that is located just above the calf and behind the knee. It is a very small and short muscle and not many people know it exists until injured. However, this small muscle, sometimes forgotten, has its function. For example, when the knee is extended, the popliteus is responsible for initiating the flexion. In addition, it maintains balance of the knee allowing for stability.
If you go running regularly you will know that this exercise type can impact the legs greatly. This muscle also intervenes in this striding movement. The impact receives by constantly hitting the ground can cause the popliteal muscle to overload, which can cause stiffness and lack of elasticity in the knees. This can then cause the tendon to swell and result in tendinitis. Popliteal tendonitis can result as pain in the knee, specifically in the back of the knee. Do you feel pain behind the knee after exercise, especially after or while doing squats or running downhill? Then it is possible that you are suffering from this injury.
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.
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Discomfort Aching And Tightness In The Knee Grating And Pain Behind The Kneecap When Bending The Knee Or When It Is Exercised After A Period Of Rest
May be due to chondromalacia patella. In this condition the cartilage on the underside of the patella softens and deteriorates. Some people are able to ignore the condition, but it will not improve and will probably need surgery. Sometimes an unstable flap of surface cartilage may cause this pain, and may be curable with simple keyhole surgery and a chondroplasty.
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Anatomy Of The Posterior Knee
Okay, before we get ahead of ourselves, lets first review the anatomy for the back of the knee.
Lets start by looking at the large muscle anatomy of the posterior knee. In the image above, you can visualize the two heads of the calf muscle and the multiple muscles that make up the hamstrings.
Another feature of the posterior knee is the gap behind the knee, where theres a distinct lack of soft tissue this is known as the popliteal fossa. In the deeper muscle layer of the posterior knee, youll find the popliteus and plantaris muscles.
Deeper still, youll find the posterior capsule of the knee joint and some important nerves that run along the back of the knee.
Alright! With that brief overview of the anatomy of the back of the knee, we can explore some of the most common diagnoses for posterior knee pain.
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If You Have Pain Behind Your Knee After Sitting:
It is likely you are experiencing a symptom of Chondromalacia Patellae. This is the most common cause of chronic knee pain. Chondromalacia Patellae is caused by your patella being pulled to the outer side of your femur, rather than in a straight line. This will cause discomfort when you stand up from sitting in a chair for a long period of time. In order to prevent this at work, taking microbreaks will help to keep your body loose. You may also feel discomfort after physical activity or a tightness or fullness in the knee area.
How Is Knee Pain On The Outside Of The Knee Diagnosed
When you see a doctor about lateral knee pain, theyll first ask you to describe the location and type of pain, for example is the pain sharp or aching? Theyll also ask you when the pain started and what activity you were doing when your symptoms began.
Theyll then perform a physical examination that will typically involve extending and flexing your knee, as well as moving it gently from side to side. This may reveal whether theres any swelling, areas of tenderness, or looseness in any of the ligaments.
Imaging tests may also be appropriate, including one or more of the following:
- X-ray to see bones
- Magnetic resonance imaging to get detailed images of ligaments, tendons, muscles, and cartilage
- Computed tomography scan provides a more detailed image of the bone than is possible with a standard X-ray
Based on your symptoms, the physical exam and imaging, a doctor should be able to diagnose the cause and severity of your knee injury and propose a treatment plan.
For minor lateral knee injuries, rest and conservative measures are all that are needed to allow them to heal. However, ligament tears, meniscus tears, and advanced arthritis may require surgery.
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Who Gets Pain In The Back Of The Knee
Pain behind the knee is most often found in adults as a result of wear and tear from daily activities such as walking, standing, bending, and lifting. Additionally, athletes who run and engage in sports that involve running, jumping, and quick pivoting of the knee may experience this type of knee pain. It is important to seek medical attention for any acute and/or long-term knee pain you may be experiencing.
Five Common Reasons For Inside Knee Pain
Pain on the inside of the knee can happen to anyone, whether youre a runner, footballer or casual gym-goer. Today, Bodyset Senior MSK Physiotherapist, Matt looks in detail at five of the most common causes of medial knee pain. He also shares tips on how to avoid a knee injury and what to do if you it happens to you.
Medial collateral ligament strain
The MCL is one of the four major ligaments of the knee. The others are the ACL , PCL and LCL . The role of these ligaments is to maintain the stability of the knee joint and prevent forces from moving the thigh and shin bones apart. The MCL runs vertically along the inside of the knee from the thigh bone , across the knee joint to the shin bone . Ligament injuries often occur due to an obvious mechanism of injury, such as a twist or a force hitting the outside of the knee . Dependent on the severity of the injury, there may be swelling, bruising and pain on the inside of the knee. You may also experience difficulty walking and a feeling of instability in the knee.
Medial meniscus injury
Wear and tear
Pes anserine bursitis
Plica syndrome
What can you do to reduce knee pain?
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Diagnosis For Pain In The Back Of Your Knee
To diagnose the cause of pain in the back of your knee, a medical doctor may give you a physical exam. The doctor may also run additional tests, including:
- An X-ray, which is an invisible magnetic energy beams to create images of internal bone and tissue
- Magnetic resonance imaging , which is an electric transmission of energy, magnet, and computer that is used to detect damage or disease in the body
- Computed tomography scan , which is an electric transmission of energy and computer that creates extremely detailed images of bones, muscles, and organs
- Arthroscopy, which is a medical procedure using a small tube inserted through a small incision into the joint. Images from inside the joint are projected onto a screen and used to determine the pain source
- A radionuclide bone scan, which is a medical procedure where a tiny amount of radioactive material is injected into the bloodstream. A scanner is used to see the blood flow and determine the source of the pain
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Pain Behind Knee: What Should You Do
In general, pain behind the knee is one of the more challenging musculoskeletal problems. There are so many possible causes muscle tear, tendon, nerve damage, and blood clots. Like most other problems, the key to managing it correctly is an early and accurate diagnosis. So, what are the causes of pain behind the knee, and how do sort out what is causing the problem?
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Hamstring Pain Behind Knee
Hello to all the sports playing individuals reading this.
Doesnt seem uncommon, right?
Hamstrings are the set of tendons present at the back of the thigs that attach the thigh muscles to the bone. It includes 3 muscles:
- Semimembranosus muscle
- Bicep femoris muscle
- Semitendinosus muscle
Now, if any of the above muscles are stretched above their optimal limit, you will incur hamstring strain. It could be during running, jumping, rolling, bending the knee, etc.
If your bicep femoris muscle is injured, then you are most likely to encounter pain behind knee.