What Causes Knee Pain
Because of the use our knees get every day, there are many causes for pain: injuries, mechanical problems, arthritis and other conditions. Some of the more common conditions include ACL injuries, bursitis, arthritis, dislocated knee and a torn meniscus. You can also injure your knee if you have foot or ankle pain that affects your gait. Limping around can put excess wear on your joints, causing more pain.
Getting Rid Of Your Knee Pain
If you are lucky, your knee pain may get better on its own with rest. However, more than likely you will need to engage in rehab exercises to overcome the injury. Physiotherapists specialize in providing specific exercises and treatment regimes that increase the strength, stability, and mobility of your joint.
Q& a My Knee Hurts When Should I See A Doctor
Posted on: by Our Team
The knee is a hinge joint made of the thigh bone, the shin bone, and the knee cap. The bones are covered with cartilage to absorb shock and protect the knee. The knee joint is held together with ligaments, the Anterior Cruciate Ligament , the Posterior Cruciate Ligament , and the medial and lateral collateral ligaments. Additionally, the knee bones are held together by muscles and tendons. The two groups of muscles that allow a wide range of knee movement are the quadriceps and the hamstrings that are attached to the bone by tendons. If any one or more of these structures are damaged, knee pain can result. Knee pain can be caused by normal daily wear and tear, repetitive use, aging and injury.
Dr. Jorge Chahla is a renowned orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine expert in Chicago whose focus is on complex injuries of the knee, hip and shoulder. Below, he answers your questions about knee pain and when to see a doctor.
Read Also: Removing Scar Tissue From Knee
What Causes Pain On The Inside Of The Knee
MCL Injury – The most common cause of inside knee pain is an injury to the medial collateral ligament . The MCL is the ligament runs up the inside of the knee joint and it helps stabilize the inside of the knee. MCL injuries typically occur when impact happens on the outside of the knee, which overstretches or tears the inside ligament.
Meniscus Injury – The meniscus is the piece of cartilage that cushions the knee joint as we walk. Depending on where on the meniscus an injury has occurred, a patient may experience inner knee pain.
Other Causes of Inside Knee Pain – Weakness of the muscles around the knee or arthritis may also cause pain on the inside of the knee. There may also be other causes for inside knee pain, but the ones listed here are the most common.
What Are The Best Exercises For Knee Pain
To rehabilitate the knee area, we need to find the underlying cause of the problem. To do that, we carry out a thorough examination so we can understand the condition of your body and your individual needs. For some people, going straight into exercising an injured area is a very bad idea it can cause more harm than good. Instead, we recommend introducing gentle exercises once your condition has improved and exercises are tolerable. For patients whose injuries have been caused by sports or working out at the gym, we advise that they should stop their gym or training programme until their condition is well managed.
I was shocked at the difference after my first session.
Read Also: Stiff Knee Joints After Sitting
Common Causes Of Swelling After A Severe Knee Injury Include:
Over 70% of athletes with a swollen knee who felt a pop while running and pivoting will have an ACL tear or a patella dislocation. Patella dislocations are more common than you think. All of you dread an ACL tear. But most of you are surprised when we see you in the office and tell you that your kneecap dislocated. Most dislocated kneecaps will reduce spontaneously on the field. That means that the kneecap will go back into place on its own.
Patellar dislocations may hurt just as much as an ACL tear. Because patella dislocations are such a common sports injury we wrote this post to go into far more detail about them.
With any of the above issues, most of you will find it very difficult to walk without severe knee pain. Crutches, icing, and elevation are beneficial in these cases. These knee joint injuries need to be evaluated for an X-ray. Fractures are rare, but they do occur. Very few knee injuries will require a brace unless you want to use it for comfort. The most important reason for seeing a sports medicine physician after an injury that causes swelling is to look for these most common severe injuries.
Many of these severe knee joint injuries should be evaluated sooner rather than later. The initial treatment will be a reliable examination to arrive at a diagnosis, which will be followed with an MRI to confirm the diagnosis. Depending on what we think you injured, we may consider rest, physical therapy, or surgery.
Treatments For Knee Pain On Left Or Right Side
We are not going to leave you feeling panicked and scared after reading the numerous causes and risk factors of knee pain. You do not have to run towards another site to check out the treatments you can get to combat any sort of knee complication that you might have.
We have enlisted some of the best treatments which are available in all healthcare centers across the world to help you alleviate knee pain. Though, you need to keep in mind that the treatment for each type of knee pain is different so you need to go to the doctor and have a consult before implying one of these treatments in your daily life.
To get information about some of the treatments available around the world to eradicate or at least minimize knee pain, continue reading this article!
Don’t Miss: How To Get Rid Of Fat Around Knees
For Tendinitis Runners Knee Gout And Bursitis
The treatment for conditions that cause swelling, redness, and dull, burning pain usually starts with resting the joint. Ice your knee to control swelling. Elevate and stay off your joint to promote healing.
Your doctor may recommend or prescribe NSAIDs like ibuprofen. Lifestyle changes, such as wearing protective kneepads and going to physical therapy, can help you manage pain and experience fewer symptoms.
You may need to make changes to your diet, especially if youre treating gout.
What Are The Most Common Causes Of Knee Pain
Muscle imbalances around the knee and thigh, lack of mobility in the hip, impact injuries caused by sports can all cause knee pain. One of the most common causes we see at ProBack Clinics is arthritis, caused by degeneration of the cartilage in the knee. Knee conditions can also be brought on by other problems within your body. For example, an issue in the spine can make joints move incorrectly. Thiscan create more pressure on the knee as it bears the weight of the body.
Also Check: How To Stop Limping After Knee Surgery
When I Move My Knee I Can Hear A Popping Sound Is This Serious Should I See My Doctor
Noises within the knee joint are common. Crackling, clicking, or popping can occur, and it is important to differentiate the cause of its occurrence as they might mean different things. It may be from simple soft tissue catching or more serious damage to the bearing surface of the joint, the articular cartilage. Usually if it does not cause pain or swelling then it might not be as concerning.
One common cause for painless popping in the knee is something called a plica. Plicas are soft tissue connections within the knee that go over a bony lump and pop when they snap back into place. When the popping sounds are accompanied by swelling and pain, or they produce a catching sensation or the knee gives way, then those are times when you should contact a doctor sooner rather than later. Popping in these situations could be due to meniscus injuries, small pieces of broken cartilage or loose bodies within the knee. Painful popping could also be because of osteoarthritis, where the smooth cartilage has worn down and the bones cause friction when they rub against one another. This painful popping would be more persistent. If you felt a pop and your knee swelled while playing a sport it is unquestionably a cause for concern. This might represent torn ligaments anterior cruciate ligament, posterior cruciate ligament or medial collateral ligament or the meniscus or articular cartilage.
Diagnosing Inside Knee Pain
In order to treat pain on the inside of knee, it is very important to get an accurate diagnosis from your physician. If you had trauma or other injury to the knee, it is important to let your doctor know. Your age and activities may also play a factor in helping determine the cause of inside knee pain, so be sure to let your doctor know about your occupation or hobbies that may be affecting your knee.
Your physician will likely have an imaging test such as an MRI or X-ray to be able to see the structures in the knee and determine if there has been damage to the cartilage or ligaments which may be causing pain inside the knee. He or she can then determine if the MCL or meniscus has been stretched or torn.
Recommended Reading: Is Nano Knee Covered By Medicare
Recommened For Knee Pain
Meniscus Tear – The menisci of the knee are the pieces of cartilage that cushions the knee joint. When the posterior portion of the meniscus is torn, it may cause pain behind the knee .
Other causes – Direct trauma to the knee may also cause behind knee pain. Your doctor will diagnose whether it is a knee sprain or a ligament tear.
Severe Knee Pain & Instability
Severe knee pain is often accompanied by instability. There may be two things going on. Firstly, if the knee gives out completely i.e. collapses when you have weight on it so that you stumble or fall, it is most likely that you have ruptured one of the knee ligaments, such as the ACL.
The ligaments are the main stabilising structures in the knee, so if they rupture the knee will often give way, particularly when you are twisting or turning. Ligament ruptures typically occur during twisting injuries and are often accompanied by an audible pop or cracking noise.
The second possibility is that the body is trying to protect itself from further damage. When you take weight on the injured leg the pain can be so severe that it feels like the knee is going to buckle or give out, but it doesnt actually collapse. This usually means there is damage inside the joint, but it is unlikely to be ligament damage.
If the knee is giving way regularly, it is important to get it looked at by your doctor as each time it gives way, you risk further damage to the knee joint. You can find out lots more in the knee ligament injury section.
Don’t Miss: Dcf Compression Knee Sleeve
Severe Knee Pain: Common Causes And Treatment Options
If you suffer with bad knee pain, you are not alone. Severe knee pain is a common problem experienced by most people at some point in their lives.
Whether the pain has been developing over time or youre experiencing sudden knee pain, it is not a condition you should ignore or try to endure without at least knowing the cause and your treatment options.
The Top 5 Causes Of Knee Pain
Published on: 12th August 2021
Knees are incredibly complex. Dozens of finely-tuned muscles, ligaments and sections of bone come together in a knee joint to provide those daily movements we all take for granted.
But, rather like fine pocket watches, complex objects with lots of moving parts can also run into problems. And where knees are concerned, that often means pain. So what are the most common root causes of a new, unexpected knee pain? Here are five possible options.
Recommended Reading: Rebuild Cartilage In Knee Naturally
Nighttime Knee Pain In Adolescents
Many teenagers and adolescents suffer from a condition thats called anterior knee pain. This causes pain in the front or center of the knee and can often be worse at night.
Doctors from the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons describe this type of knee pain as dull and achy. The pain may come on gradually, and physical activity can make the knee pain worse. The other symptoms of adolescent anterior knee pain include:15
- Popping noises in the knee when climbing stairs
- Nighttime knee pain
- Pain when bending the knee
- knee pain during intense physical activity
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
Don’t Miss: Is Nano Knee Covered By Medicare
Knee Pain Can Get Better
You dont have to live all your life with knee pain. At some point, somethings gotta give and it doesnt have to be your knee. You cannot be dependent on pain medications forever. At Injurymap, we work closely with doctors and therapists to create a program for individuals with joint pain. Since knee pain is so common, we designed the app to answer all your pain questions and make it easier for you to get physical therapy without breaking the bank.
At present, physical therapy is one of the cornerstones of therapy for knee pain. The Orthopedic Section of the American Physical Therapy Association lists physical therapy as a guideline in the treatment of knee pain. So much so they call them therapeutic exercises. Studies have confirmed that physical rehabilitation of the knee joint, improves the range of motion of the knee, quadriceps strength, reduces pain and functional disability.
Traditional physiotherapy, while great, is time constricted. Injurymap is quick, available and has programs designed by doctors with your knee pain in mind. So take the first step towards getting rid of that knee pain and sign up for a low cost program. Knee pain shouldnt last forever and we can help you do that.
What Causes Severe Knee Pain
In most cases, severe knee pain comes on suddenly. It is typically accompanied by other symptoms such as swelling, instability, hot, red skin or there may be an obvious deformity of the leg, depending on the underlying cause.
Here we will look at the common causes of severe knee pain. We will look at how they present to help you work out what is going on and then what you can do to treat it.
We will also look at what signs to watch out for that indicate there is something serious going on that requires immediate medical attention.
You May Like: Rebuilding Knee Cartilage Naturally
Preventions For Knee Pain In Left Or Right Side
There are a few ways you can make sure that you do not encounter knee pain or minimize any pain you are certainly suffering from.
For Ligament Cartilage And Joint Tears
Ligament, cartilage and joint tears in your knee will need to be addressed by your doctor.
After imaging diagnostics and a clinical assessment, your doctor will let you know if your treatment will include physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medication, or if youll need to undergo surgery to repair the injury.
Recovery from knee surgery can take some time. It may take anywhere from 6 months to a year to resume your normal activities.
Read Also: How To Whiten Knees And Elbows
What Causes Kneecap Clicking
There are 2 main reasons for getting kneecap noises – its either from bubbles of gas popping or the kneecap not tracking in the knee joint groove properly.
Gas Bubbles: Sometimes tiny air bubbles build up within the fluid inside your joints. These bubbles make a noise when they burst during joint movement. The gas gets pushed through a very narrow joint space making a noise By the way its a Myth youll get arthritis from clicking your knuckles!!!
Kneecap tracking: anatomy wise – Your kneecap is held in place on top of the knee joint by muscles, tendons and ligaments. If these soft tissues get tighter on 1 side of the knee more than the other, the kneecap can get pulled out of alignment slightly as you move, creating a noise.
Both of these 2 causes are fairly normal and occur in everybody every single day.
Kneecap clicking is not often painful and people are used to living with it for years. Hearing unusual noises from the knee can worry people, as you fear the worst when you cant see whats going on inside. Dont panic! Noise doesnt always mean damage.
We do know that Kneecap clicking/crepitus is more common in women than men. This is possibly due to the biomechanics of women having a wider pelvis , and theres also hormonal differences in women that can increase soft tissue laxity Some people are also born with shallow grooves under their kneecaps too which mean the kneecap hasn’t got a deep groove to sit in either?