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What Is Wrong When The Back Of Your Knee Hurts

Patellar Tendonitis And Tear

Back of Knee Pain : What’s Wrong?

Patellar tendonitis is inflammation of the patellar tendon. That’s a large tendon connecting your kneecap to the top of your tibia.

Patellar tendonitis is most common in athletes who do a lot of running and jumping. It’s often described as a constant dull pain that becomes sharp when you’re active.

In some cases, a weak patellar tendon can tear. A patellar tendon tear causes:

  • Severe pain
  • Swelling over the knee
  • A tearing or popping sensation

If it’s a bad tear, you might notice an indentation at the bottom of your kneecap. The knee may give out when you walk.

Torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament

You hear a pop and can’t move after you suddenly change direction — often while playing soccer, football, or basketball. You may have torn your ACL, which connects the femur and the tibia and prevents the tibia from moving too far forward. Your knee will hurt and swell and feel unstable.

You can tear or strain any of the tissues that hold your knee together: Ligaments connect bones to each other tendons connect muscle to bone. Irritated tendons from using them too much? That’s tendinitis.

Arthritis Of The Knee Causing Pain Behind Knee

Osteoarthritis is a common cause of pain behind the knee. Typically, arthritis causes bone spurs leading to inflammation at the back of the knee. Often, you feel tight and restricted in the movement of the knee joint.

Generally, the best form of treatment for knee arthritis is exercise and load management. Also, wearing a knee sleeve can help. Occasionally, we use injection therapy to help with arthritis such as cortisone or platelet-rich plasma.

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How Lifestyle Affects Arthritis Pain

Living a healthy life may help reduce your risk of developing certain types of arthritis. It can also reduce the severity of your symptoms.

Being overweight or obese, for example, increases the pressure on your joints. It may also contribute to generalized inflammation that can increase arthritis symptoms. Losing weight in a healthy way may help ease these symptoms.

Healthy lifestyle changes are often the first steps in managing arthritis symptoms. You should try to improve your sleep, exercise regularly, and eat a low-fat, high-fiber diet.

Exercise may be particularly useful in helping with arthritis symptoms. Low-impact exercise has been shown to:

  • improve joint mobility
  • reduce pain and fatigue
  • strengthen muscles and bones

Staying in motion actually helps to keep pain away, says Dr. Moshe Lewis, MD, MPH. Exercise, such as brisk walking, is critical in treating pain and stiffness associated with arthritis. It extends the life of your joints.

How Do You Treat Weak Knees

Posterior knee pain (pain behind your knee)

Treatment for knee instability will vary depending on the specific cause. Treatments may include rest, ice, compression, and elevation, better known as the RICE method, as well as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications for pain.

Conditions such as a torn ACL or arthritis may require knee surgery, but other conditions may benefit more from physical therapy and knee rehab exercises.

A knee brace may also be used in some cases.

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Lateral Collateral Ligament Injury

The lateral collateral ligament is one of the four main ligaments of the knee. It connects the outer side of the femur and tibia and is primarily responsible for stabilizing the outer aspect of the knee.

An LCL injury is often the result of a blow to the inside part of the knee this causes the LCL to stretch beyond normal and can result in partial or complete tearing of the ligament.

Symptoms may include soreness on the outside of the knee, swelling, and stiffness. You may experience instability a feeling that the knee is unstable and going to buckle or give out.

32 million adults in the United States.

With aging, the cartilage that helps cushion the ends of bones in the knee joint can wear thin and eventually allow the bones to rub together. Pain, stiffness, and loss of joint movement can follow.

Some people have more significant wearing of the cartilage in the outer compartment of the knee joint and this can lead to lateral sided knee pain.

How To Prepare For Acl Reconstruction

You will have appointments with your doctor and surgeon prior to surgery. Youll discuss treatment options, undergo several knee examinations, and make a decision about which type of anesthesia to use during surgery. During these meetings, its important to ask questions.

Discuss with your doctor where the surgically-implanted tendon will come from. Typical sources for these tendons include:

  • patellar tendon: the tendon that attaches the bottom of your kneecap, or patella, to your tibia
  • hamstring: the tendon that connects the long muscles in the back of your leg to the back of your knee
  • quadriceps: a tendon from the front of the thigh. This type of graft is typically reserved for taller or heavier patients, or for people who have had previous unsuccessful grafts.
  • cadaver: tissue from a dead body, which is called an allograft

While all cadavers are carefully screened for disease prior to surgery, some people have concerns about using dead tissue. Discuss any concerns you have with your doctor.

Your doctor will give you complete instructions for the day of your surgery. Instructions may include fasting for 12 hours prior to surgery and refraining from taking aspirin or blood-thinning medications.

Make sure to arrange to have someone come with you for surgery. Its helpful to have another person listen to post-operative instructions and to drive you home.

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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.

How Do You Know If You Have A Blood Clot Behind Your Knee

Why does my knee hurt? Common causes & symptoms of knee pain | BMI Healthcare

A blood clot in the veins of your lower leg is called a deep vein thrombosis or DVT. You may have a blood clot behind your knee if you have one-sided leg swelling, pain, warmth, and redness below the knee. Sometimes these clots can occur on both sides at once, but this is uncommon. Some blood clots in the legs, however, do not present with any symptoms. A DVT requires immediate treatment to reduce the risk of embolizing to the lungs.

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Lateral Tibial Plateau Fracture

The tibial plateau is located at the top of the shin at the knee. A break on the outer or lateral part of the tibial plateau can cause considerable knee pain. A lateral tibial plateau fracture is often the result of a vehicle accident or a bad fall that impacts the outer knee directly.

If the bones are still aligned, surgery may not be required to treat the injury. If not, you may need surgery to place the affected bones in their proper position and secure them with screws or plates.

Treatment Of Pain Behind The Knee

Rest, applying ice packs, taking painkillers and physiotherapy can all be used to treat posterior knee pain. Depending on the severity and underlying cause of your knee pain, your doctor may also prescribe medication and/or recommend surgery.

Treatment for Bakers cysts

Bakers cysts can go away on their own or with treatment of the underlying condition causing your cyst . However, if you have a large or painful cyst, your doctor may recommend steroid injections, physiotherapy or drainage of the cyst.

Treatment for gastrocnemius tendonitis

Your knee pain should subside with rest, elevation of your leg and applying ice packs. How long this takes will depend on the size of the tear.

Treatment for meniscus tear

Rest, elevation of your leg and applying ice packs may be enough to treat your tear. However, if your tear doesnt improve on its own, your doctor may recommend surgery.

Treatment for ACL injury

Rest and physiotherapy can treat an ACL injury. However, if your ACL is torn, you may need surgery.

Treatment for PCL injury

Your knee pain should subside with rest, elevation of your leg and applying ice packs. However, your doctor may recommend surgery if you have injured more than one ligament, are unsteady on your feet or have also damaged cartilage in your knee.

Treatment for chondromalacia

Applying ice packs, taking over-the-counter painkillers and physiotherapy can treat chondromalacia. However, if the cartilage in your knee is damaged, you will need surgery.

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Can Back Problems Cause Knee Pain

In a word: yes. But it gets more complicated than that. The line from back pain to knee pain may not always seem easy to draw. Can back injury cause knee pain? Can a pinched nerve in your back cause knee pain? Can lower back pain cause hip and knee pain? The answer to all these questions is yes. But how?

Causes Of Outer Knee Pain

Knee Exercises to Strenghen Muscles around the Patella to ...

Like the inside of your knee, the outside or lateral portion of the joint is a crossroads of many different anatomical structures. This can make getting to the bottom of pain in this area equally frustrating. If you have soreness near the lateral part of your knee, the most frequently seen causes are listed below.

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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.

Is It Possible For Adults To Have Growing Pains

No one knows for certain what causes âgrowing pains.â They are defined as self-limited and recurrent pains in the extremities of children with no other explanation or clear musculoskeletal causes. These usually occur during sleep and may awaken the child. Some physicians believe they occur due to fatigue, overuse, and mild orthopedic abnormalities, but the cause is still unknown. No matter what causes growing pains, we know that adults do not have them â most growing pains occur between age 2 and 12. It is possible to have similar pains, however, due to very mild injuries or overuse of muscles.

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What Are Potential Complications

If you dont have medical treatment, patellar tendonitis can worsen. You may damage your tendon more severely, limiting your everyday functioning.

Resting your legs and stopping activity can be emotionally difficult for athletes, in particular. They may not want to stop playing, even though its painful. For professional athletes, patellar tendonitis can be a career-ender if left untreated.

When To See A Doctor

Is Your Knee, Hip or Back Pain from Your Feet Problems?

If you are experiencing chronic pain or pain more associated with serious injury, see your doctor promptly. Not addressing your pain properly can lead to increased pain, joint damage, and disability. Depending on the cause of your knee pain, your doctor may suggest the following treatments:

  • Medications: Your doctor may prescribe medications to help relieve pain in the back of the knee and swelling and treat underlying conditions like arthritis.
  • Physical therapy: Your doctor may prescribe stretching exercises or a physical therapy/rehabilitation program to help you restore range of motion, strength and stability to your knee.
  • Injections: In some situations, your doctor may suggest injecting medications and other substances directly into the knee joint in order to reduce inflammation, lubricate the knee and promote healing.
  • Surgery: If conservative measures do not provide relief, your doctor may recommend surgical options.

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How Does The Knee Work

The knee is a hinge joint that connects the large thigh bone to the lower leg bones. Connective tissues called ligaments connect bones to bones and help stabilize the joint.

There are several ligaments in the knee, but the four major ones are:

  • Collateral ligaments : Theseare located on either side of the knee and limit sideways bending. The medial collateral ligament is on the inner side of your knee. The lateral collateral ligament is on the outer side of your knee.
  • Anterior cruciate ligament : This runs through the middle of the knee and connects the shinbone and the thighbone. It limits rotation and the forward motion of the shinbone.
  • Posterior cruciate ligament : This connects the top and rear of the shinbone to the thighbone and limits the backward motion of the shinbone.

The cartilage pads, known as menisci, are the shock absorbers of the knee and help stabilize it. There are two per kneeone on the inside and one on the outside.

Why Do I Have Pain Behind My Knee

Pain behind the knee may be caused by several things, from age or the presence ofosteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, to a knee injury or an infection in the joint.

If youre under 50 and your pain is in the crease at the back of your leg behind theknee, it may be the result of an injury, such as a hamstring or other knee-relatedissue.

If youre over 50 and you have a creaking, squeaking pain behind the kneecap, or acyst on the crease at the back of your leg behind the knee, it may be arthritis. Again,your doctor can help identify arthritis by excluding other issues.

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Pain Behind Your Knee From Popliteal Cysts Or Baker’s Cyst

This is a fluid-filled cyst that creates a bulge on the back of your knee or the area specifically called the popliteal fossa. This occurs when a problem with your join causes your knee to produce too much fluid. Any type of condition that causes joint swelling can lead to a popliteal cyst.

Symptoms of a popliteal cyst:

  • Swelling behind knee and leg
  • Knee pain
    • Muscle imbalance between adductors and abductors
    • Repeated stress on knee joints

    If You Feel Pressure Or Throbbing Behind Your Kneecap:

    Pain In Back Of Knee After Walking or Sitting Too Long ...

    It is possible that this is a symptom of arthritis in your knee. You may also be feeling swelling, tenderness, poor range of motion, and buckling or locking. Although there are many types of arthritis, the most common form of arthritis found in the knee is osteoarthritis. Other common forms include rheumatoid arthritis and post-traumatic arthritis, which occurs after an injury to the knee.

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    How Acl Reconstruction Is Performed

    Youll be prepped for the surgery by changing into a hospital gown and having an intravenous line placed in your arm. The IV will allow the surgical team to administer medications, anesthesia, or sedatives.

    Once the sample tissue is selected, its either surgically removed from your body or prepared from a cadaver. The tendon is then outfitted with bone plugs, or anchor points, to graft the tendon into the knee.

    During surgery, a small incision is made in the front of the knee for an arthroscope a thin tube outfitted with a fiber optic camera and surgical tools. This allows your surgeon to see inside your knee during the procedure.

    The surgeon will first remove your torn ACL and clean the area. They will then drill small holes into your tibia and femur so the bone plugs can be attached with posts, screws, staples, or washers.

    Following the attachment of the new ligament, the surgeon will test your knees range of motion and tension to ensure the graft is secure. Finally, the opening will be stitched, the wound dressed, and your knee will be stabilized with a brace. The length of the surgery will vary depending on the experience of the surgeon and if additional procedures are performed , among other factors.

    Typically, you can go home the day of your surgery.

    Because ACL reconstruction is a surgical procedure, it carries certain risks, including:

    How Are Knee Problems Diagnosed

    In addition to a complete medical history and physical exam, other tests for knee problems may include:

    • X-ray. This test uses invisible electromagnetic energy beams to make images of internal tissues, bones, and organs onto film.

    • Magnetic resonance imaging . This test uses large magnets, radiofrequencies, and a computer to make detailed images of organs and structures within the body can often determine damage or disease in a surrounding ligament or muscle.

    • Computed tomography scan . This test uses X-rays and computer technology to make horizontal, or axial, images of the body. A CT scan shows detailed images of any part of the body, including the bones, muscles, fat, and organs. CT scans are more detailed than general X-rays.

    • Arthroscopy. A minimally-invasive diagnostic and treatment procedure used for conditions of a joint. This procedure uses a small, lighted, optic tube , which is inserted into the joint through a small incision in the joint. Images of the inside of the joint are projected onto a screen used to evaluate any degenerative or arthritic changes in the joint to detect bone diseases and tumors to determine the cause of bone pain and inflammation.

    • Radionuclide bone scan. A nuclear imaging technique that uses a very small amount of radioactive material, which is injected into the patient’s bloodstream to be detected by a scanner. This test shows blood flow to the bone and cell activity within the bone.

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