What Medical Conditions Cause Knee Pain
Medical conditions
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition that can affect any joint in the body. It can cause severe pain and disability, as well as swelling.
Gout is a form of arthritis that is most commonly found in the big toe, though it can also affect the knee. Gout tends to flare up and is extremely painful during the acute episodes. When there is no flare-up, the knee can be pain free.
With , the knee joint can become infected; this leads to pain, swelling, and fever. This condition requires antibiotics and drainage treatments as soon as possible.
Chronic use/overuse conditions
Patellar tendinitis is an inflammation of the tendons connecting the kneecap to the shinbone . Patellar tendinitis is a chronic condition often found in individuals repeating the same motion during exercise .
Patellofemoral pain syndrome is caused by degeneration or stress under the kneecap where it meets the thighbone . Patellofemoral pain syndrome occurs in runners and cyclists.
Osteoarthritis: a wearing down of cartilage of the joint due to use and age
Prepatellar bursitis: Inflammation to the bursa in front of the kneecap may cause anterior knee pain.
Other causes
Medial Collateral Ligament Injury
The medial collateral ligament runs along the outside of your inner knee to stabilize the joint. If the ligament overstretches, you may have an MCL sprain.
The MCL can also tear partially or fully. An MCL injury most commonly occurs after force is applied to the outer knee, such as in contact sports.
Symptoms of an MCL injury include:
Treatment Options For Sudden Knee Pain
The treatment for sudden knee pain depends on its cause and severity. Some examples are below:
- Arthritis. NSAIDs,;physical therapy,;yoga, and Pilates can help reduce pain, but if the condition is severe, a person may need;knee replacement surgery.
- Meniscus tears. When a tear is smaller, rest and over-the-counter pain relievers can help. More severe cases may require;arthroscopic surgery;to repair the tear or remove pieces of torn tissue.
- Tendinitis. Thoroughly stretching the affected leg can increase blood flow, reduce inflammation, and help correct alignment shifts.
When a person is in too much pain to do physical therapy, the doctor may recommend cortisone shots. These provide a degree of relief that usually allows a person to start their rehabilitation exercises.
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Next Steps Warnings And Precautions
Contact your doctor as soon as possible if you develop sudden joint pain, especially if the pain is associated with an injury, redness or a fever. This is especially important if you have an ongoing medical condition, such as hemophilia, sickle cell disease, diabetes or HIV/AIDS, or are taking immune system suppressing medications.
Reviewed and revised by: Tina M. St. John, M.D.
Injured Knees Continue Degenerating If Untreated
Often when the cause of bad knee pain is left untreated it can lead to further injury and serious complications.
Your knee may swell, become unstable, lock up, and/or develop a deformity. Unbearable knee pain will not go away until you finally seek treatment. By then, the damage could be much worse and treatment options more limited.
Whether the cause of your severe knee pain is an injury or progressive disease, dont put off getting a medical diagnosis. Find out what is causing your pain and get the relief you need now.
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Can Knee Pain Come From Your Spine
Most people assume if they have knee pain,;it is due to a problem with the knee joint. This is not always the case. While the discomfort can be due to a knee condition, it can also be the result of a disc protrusion;or a pinched nerve in your lower back. Working with your doctor and a physical therapist can help determine if that is the case.
How Can I Manage Knee Pain
Treatment for knee pain depends on whats causing it and how uncomfortable it makes you.
- Mild knee injuries often improve with rest, ice and anti-inflammatory medications. Wearing a brace can stabilize your knee while it recovers.
- If arthritis is causing knee pain, your treatment may include medication and physical therapy.
- Doctors can usually repair tendon and ligament tears with minimally invasive surgery, if necessary.
- More serious knee pain may require knee replacement surgery.
No matter what caused your knee pain, physical therapy exercises can strengthen the muscles supporting your knee to help relieve discomfort.
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When To See Your Doctor
Any incidence of severe knee pain should be checked out by your doctor particularly if:;
1) Your knee looks deformed2) You cant put any weight through the leg3) Your knee movements are limited cant fully bend or straighten the knee4) You have severe knee pain, especially at night or when resting5) Your knee keeps giving way6) You feel unwell or have a fever7) There is redness or the knee feels hot8) There is major swelling around the knee9) Your symptoms persist or get worse10) You have pain, swelling, redness, tingling or numbness in the calf;
What Causes A Pcl Injury
The main cause of PCL injury is severe trauma to the knee joint. Often, other ligaments in the knee are affected as well. One cause specific to PCL injury is hyperextension of the knee. This can occur during athletic movements like jumping.
PCL injuries can also result from a blow to the knee while it is flexed, or bent. This includes landing hard during sports or a fall, or from a car accident. Any trauma to the knee, whether minor or severe, can cause a knee ligament injury.
Symptoms of a PCL injury can be mild or severe, depending on the extent of the injury. Symptoms might be nonexistent if the ligament is mildly sprained. For a partial tear or complete tear of the ligament, common symptoms include:
- tenderness in the knee
- instability in the knee joint
- pain in the knee joint
- swelling in the knee
To diagnose a PCL injury, your doctor will perform a variety of tests, including:
- moving the knee in various directions
- physical examination of the knee
- checking for fluid in the knee joint
- an MRI of the knee
- an X-ray of the knee joint to check for fractures
Its difficult to prevent ligament injuries because they are often the result of an accident or unforeseen circumstance. However, preventive measures that can be taken to help minimize the risk of a knee ligament injury include:
The treatment for PCL injuries will depend on the severity of the injury and your lifestyle.
For minor injuries, treatment may include:
In more severe cases, treatment may also include:
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When Will My Knee Feel Better
The recovery time depends on your injury. Also, some people naturally heal faster than others.
While you get better, ask your doctor if you can do an activity that won’t aggravate your knee pain. For instance, runners could try swimming or other types of lower-impact cardio.
Whatever you do, don’t rush things. Donât try to return to your regular level of physical activity until you notice these signs:
- You feel no pain in your knee when you bend or straighten it.
- You feel no pain in your knee when you walk, jog, sprint, or jump.
- Your injured knee feels as strong as the other knee.
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.
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Home Care For Knee Pain
Inflammation is the body’s physiologic response to an injury. In treating many types of knee pain, a common goal is to break the inflammatory cycle. The inflammatory cycle starts with an injury. After an injury, substances that cause inflammation invade the knee to assist in healing. However, if the injury and subsequent inflammation is not resolved, inflammation can become a chronic issue, leading to further inflammation and additional injury. This cycle of inflammation leads to continued or progressive knee pain. The cycle can be broken by controlling the substances that cause inflammation, and by limiting further injury to tissue.
Some common home care techniques for knee pain that control inflammation and help to break the inflammatory cycle are protection, rest, ice, compression, and elevation. This regimen is summarized by the memory device PRICE.
PROTECT the knee from further trauma.
- This can be done with knee padding or splinting.
- A pad over the kneecap, for example, helps to control the symptoms of some knee injuries by preventing further repetitive injury to the prepatellar bursae.
REST the knee.
- Rest reduces the repetitive strain placed on the knee by activity.
- Rest both gives the knee time to heal and helps to prevent further injury.
ICE the knee.
COMPRESS the knee with a knee brace or wrap.
- Compression reduces swelling.
- In some knee injuries, compression can be used to keep the patella aligned and to keep joint mechanics intact.
ELEVATE the knee.
Treating Severe Knee Pain
Whether you injure your knee or slowly develop a chronic condition that leads to severe knee pain, you need to know what is causing the pain, the extent of damage done and what treatment options are available.
Instead of suffering with the pain and allowing further damage to occur, make an appointment to see your primary care physician or a knee specialist right away.
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Burning Pain In Knee When Kneeling
Many people immediately believe they have;knee arthritis;when they feel pain as they kneel. However, sharp burning pain in knee areas when kneeling does not mean you have to acquiesce to a lifetime of painful arthritis.
Sharp, burning pain in your knee might just mean you have sore muscles.
Picture the anatomy of your knee. The thigh muscles and lower-leg muscles are both attached to your patella or knee cap with tendons.
When you strain your muscles, they fill up with lactic acid, giving them that painful tight sensation after you exercise. Tight muscles d not flex. So as you attempt to flex your knee and muscles do not respond with proper stretching, you may feel a burning sensation in your knees.
Diagnosis And Testing Of Sudden Knee Pain
Unless sudden knee pain clearly results from an injury or accident or the pain is severe, most people can safely wait for a few days before seeing a doctor.;During this time, people should avoid or limit any activities that cause discomfort.
Resting, applying ice packs, and using;nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , such as ibuprofen , can provide relief. Symptoms may then start improving. However, this does not always happen.
A visit to a physician typically begins with a complete medical history and an overview of the persons activity level. The doctor then manipulates the persons leg, checking for pain, tenderness, and swelling. They also do this to assess the range of motion.;To make a diagnosis, the doctor may need imaging, such as;MRI scans;or X-rays.
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What To Expect At Your Office Visit
Your provider will perform a physical exam, and look at your knees, hips, legs, and other joints.
Your provider may do the following tests:
- MRI of the knee if a ligament or meniscus tear could be the cause
- CT scan of the knee
- Joint fluid culture
Your provider may inject a steroid into your knee to reduce pain and inflammation.
You may need to learn stretching and strengthening exercises. You also may need to see a podiatrist to be fitted for orthotics.
In some cases, you may need surgery.
Urgent Advice: Get Advice From 111 Now If:
- your knee is very painful
- you cannot move your knee or put any weight on it
- your knee is badly swollen or has changed shape
- you have a very high temperature, feel hot and shivery, and have redness or heat around your knee this can be a sign of infection
111 will tell you what to do. They can tell you the right place to get help if you need to see someone.
Go to 111.nhs.uk or .
You can also go to an urgent treatment centre if you need to see someone now.
They’re also called walk-in centres or minor injuries units.
You may be seen quicker than you would at A&E.
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What Leads To Knee Pain
To understand what might be causing your knee pain, its helpful to get a better understanding of the anatomy of our knees.
The knee is one of the largest, most complex joints in the body. It is made up of four bones: the femur, the tibia, the fibula, and the patella. The muscles that support the knee are the quadriceps in the front of the knee and the hamstrings in the back.
These structures are connected through an intricate network of ligaments and cartilage. The anterior cruciate ligament prevents the femur from moving backwards onto the tibia, and the posterior cruciate ligament prevents the femur from sliding forwards. There are two collateral ligaments, medial and lateral, that also help to provide support.
The meniscus is tissue that sits between the femur and the tibia, providing ease of movement between the two bones. There is also articular cartilage that sits behind the patella. Finally, the knee is surrounded by bursae, fluid-filled sacs that help to cushion the knee joint.
How To Treat Sudden Severe Joint Pain
To help treat sudden severe joint pain, try applying fast-acting JointFlex to the site of pain for immediate and long-lasting relief. It may help to increase physical activity after the sudden joint pain begins to stretch and mobilize the joints.4 Consuming more omega-3 fatty acids and getting a massage may help with the sudden pain as well. 12,13 If your sudden joint pain is severe, or youre unsure of the cause, seek medical attention.
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Will Surgery Treat And Cure Knee Pain
Surgery
Knee operations range from arthroscopic knee surgery to total knee replacement. Arthroscopic knee surgery is a very common surgical procedure that allows the physician look inside your knee through a few small holes and a fiberoptic camera. The surgeon can repair many of the injuries and remove small pieces of loose bones or cartilage. This is a common outpatient procedure.
Partial knee replacement: The surgeon replaces the damaged portions of the knee with plastic and metal parts. Because only part of the knee joint is replaced, this procedure has a shorter recovery then a total knee replacement.
Total knee replacement: In this procedure, the knee is replaced with an artificial joint.
Other therapies
Acupuncture has shown some relieve of knee pain, especially in patients with osteoarthritis. Glucosamine and chondroitin supplements have shown mixed results in research studies.
Other Inner Knee Pain Treatments
If your inner knee pain worsens after several days, or if basic at-home remedies dont alleviate symptoms, you should go see your doctor.
Some treatment methods for more serious knee injuries include:
- Steroid injection. This injection is used to treat pes anserine bursitis.
- Physical therapy. Therapy often involves stretching, exercises, and ultrasound therapy.
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Torn Acl Symptoms And Signs
With an acute injury, the patient often describes that they heard a loud pop and then developed intense pain in the knee. The pain makes walking or weight-bearing very difficult. The knee joint will begin to swell within a few hours because of bleeding within the joint, making it difficult to straighten the knee.
What Can Cause Knee Pain Without Injury
Most people assume that their knee pain isnt severe or in need of medical attention because they havent suffered a significant injury. While that may be true sometimes, damage to your knee joint can also occur slowly over time, and affect you just as much as a significant accident or injury can.
First, lets stop with assumptions. Any pain you are experiencing is a sign that something is not right. So, why not have a specialist take a look? With extensive imaging, a trained orthopedic specialist can get to the bottom of your nagging knee pain and try to help relieve some of that distress. If you havent suffered an injury, however, your doctor will want to diagnose the pain and possible causes. There are some more common causes for non-trauma related knee pain:
Arthritis
Either rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis can cause leave you with severe knee pain, even without a fall or injury. Osteoarthritis can be characterized by the pain and swelling you continue to feel as you age. Your joints are not indestructible, and the structure inevitably wears down over time. Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, is a chronic disorder that also causes joints to swell. If you suspect RA is behind your knee pain, you might have pain in other joints, as well.
A tear
Bursitis
Tendonitis
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