What are the causes of pain behind my knee?

Answer 1

The main cause of knee pain can vary widely, but one of the most common culprits is osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint condition. Other leading causes include injuries (such as ligament tears or strains), overuse, biomechanical issues (like misalignment), and conditions like tendinitis or bursitis. Knee pain often results from inflammation, reduced joint stability, or muscle imbalances. Physical therapy is crucial in providing faster relief from knee pain by addressing these underlying factors. Skilled physical therapists tailor treatment plans to the individual, combining techniques such as targeted exercises, manual therapy, modalities like heat or ice, and education on proper biomechanics. These interventions reduce inflammation, strengthen supportive muscles, improve joint mobility, and correct movement patterns. By doing so, physical therapy not only helps relieve pain but also promotes faster healing and a reduced risk of recurring knee problems. It empowers individuals to regain functionality and mobility while minimizing reliance on medications or surgery, making it an effective and conservative approach to managing knee pain.

Answer 2

There are a number of different causes of knee pain. A doctor could diagnose a specific problem that may be causing knee pain. Many of the common ones include injuries to the knee, mechanical problems, or Arthritis issues.

Answer 3

The best way to deal with long standing knee pain is to first, consult a doctor and make sure there is no current injury that requires treatment. Then, consider strengthening the joint area with water aerobics. Water Aerobics allows you to do a lot of bending and stretching with resistance on your joints, but not the full weight of your body. Also, if overweight, water aerobics will help you slim down and put less strain on your joints.

Answer 4

The test will consist of two different sections. This test is going to measure your skills in a clinical simulation.The written part will test all your knowledge of information you have learned through school.

Answer 5

Pain behind your knee can be the result of too much stretching of the knee. It can also be caused from having a skin condition where the skin is rubbing up on the knee and causing a painful itch.

Answer 6

Some of the exercises that can be useful in helping knee pain include the chair knee extension and the heel slide knee extension. It is important to see a doctor before beginning an exercise program.

Answer 7

To get rid of very bad knee pain one might need surgery. Other alternatives include icing the knee, doing a series of stretching exercises on the joint each day and resting for a number of days.

Answer 8

Alternative Names

Pain - knee

Common Causes

Knee pain usually results from overuse, poor form during physical activity, not warming up or cooling down, or inadequate stretching. Simple causes of knee pain often clear up on their own with self care. Being overweight can put you at greater risk for knee problems.

Knee pain can be caused by:

• Anterior knee pain
• Arthritis -- including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and gout
• Baker's cyst -- a fluid-filled swelling behind the knee that may accompany inflammation from other causes, like arthritis
• Bursitis -- inflammation from repeated pressure on the knee, such as kneeling for long periods of time, overuse, or injury
• Connective tissue disorders such as lupus
• Dislocation of the kneecap
• Iliotibial band syndrome -- a hip disorder related to injury of the thick band that runs from your hip to the outside of your knee
• Infection in the joint
• Knee injuries -- an anterior cruciate ligament injury or medial collateral ligament injury may cause bleeding into your knee, which makes the pain worse
• Tendinitis -- a pain in the front of your knee that gets worse when going up and down stairs or inclines
• Torn cartilage (a meniscus tear) -- pain felt on the inside or outside of the knee joint
• Torn ligament (ACL tear) -- leads to pain and instability of the knee
• Strain or sprain -- minor injuries to the ligaments caused by sudden or unnatural twisting

Less common conditions that can lead to knee pain include the following:

• Bone tumors
• Osgood-Schlatter disease

Home Care

Many causes of knee pain, especially those related to overuse or physical activity, respond well to self-care:

• Rest and avoid activities that aggravate the pain, especially weight bearing activities.
• Apply ice. First, apply it every hour for up to 15 minutes. After the first day, apply it at least 4 times per day.
• Keep your knee elevated as much as possible to bring any swelling down.
• Gently compress the knee by wearing an ace bandage or elastic sleeve. Either can be purchased at most pharmacies. This may reduce swelling and provide support.
• Take acetaminophen for pain or ibuprofen for pain and swelling.
• Sleep with a pillow underneath or between your knees.

Call your health care provider if

Call your doctor if:

• You cannot bear weight on your knee
• You have severe pain, even when not bearing weight
• Your knee buckles, clicks, or locks
• Your knee is deformed or misshapen
• You have a fever, redness or warmth around the knee, or significant swelling
• You have pain, swelling, numbness, tingling, or bluish discoloration in the calf below the sore knee
• You still have pain after 3 days of home treatment

What to expect at your health care provider's office

Your health care provider will perform a physical examination, with careful attention to your knees, hips, legs, and other joints.

To help diagnose the cause of the problem, your health care provider will ask medical history questions, such as:

• When did your knee first begin to hurt?
• Have you had knee pain before? What was the cause?
• How long has this episode of knee pain lasted?
• Do you feel the pain continuously or off and on?
• Are both knees affected?
• Is the pain in your entire knee or one specific location like the kneecap, outer or inner edge, or below the knee?
• Is the pain severe?
• Can you stand or walk?
• Have you had an injury or accident involving the knee?
• Have you overused the leg? Describe your usual activities and exercise routine.
• What home treatments have you tried? Have they helped?
• Do you have other symptoms, such as pain in your hip, pain down your leg or calf, knee swelling, swelling in your calf or leg, or fever?

The following tests may be done:

• Joint fluid culture (fluid taken from the knee and examined under a microscope)
• X-ray of the knee
• MRI of the knee if a ligament or meniscus tear is suspected

Your health care provider may prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that are stronger than those available over-the-counter. If those don't help, your doctor may inject a steroid to reduce pain and inflammation.

Referrals to a physical therapist (to learn stretching and strengthening exercises) and podiatrist (to be fitted for orthotics) may be necessary. These help prevent repeated problems.

In some cases, surgery is needed. For example, if arthritis is severe, a joint replacement may be recommended. Minor ligament strain will heal with home care and torn ligaments may recover with use of a knee brace. However, for significant tears or ruptures, as well as a torn meniscus, arthroscopic knee surgeryis often needed.

Recovery from ligament and meniscus problems is slow. Crutches and extended physical therapy may be needed.

Prevention

• Increase your activity level slowly over time. For example, when you begin exercising again, walk rather than run.
• Always warm up before exercising and cool down afterward. Stretch your quadriceps and hamstrings.
• Replace your sports shoes often. Get good advice about proper footwear for your foot shape and mechanics. For example, if you land on the outside of your heel and turn your foot inward when you walk (pronate), consider anti-pronation footwear.

References

Frontera WR, Silver JK, eds. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2008:section 7.

Miller RH III, Azar FM. Knee injuries. In: Canale ST, Beatty JH, eds. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier:2007:chap 43.

Porcheret M, Jordan K, Croft P. Treatment of knee pain in older adults in primary care: Development of an evidence-based model of care. Rheumatology. 2007;46:638-648.

Labropoulos N, Shifrin DA, Paxinos O. New insights into the development of popliteal cysts. Br J Surg. 2004; 91(10): 1313-1318.

Answer 9

Knee pain is a common problem among adults, but it can also affect teens and children. There are a number of causes for knee pain, but the primary cause typically stems from stress and strain. Overworking the joints, ligaments and tissue in the knee can lead to pain, as well as a lengthy recovery period. This can be exacerbated due to the fact that almost everyone needs to use their knees on a daily basis for walking, sitting, standing and running.

If you've found yourself experiencing knee pain, it's important to see your primary care physician in order to determine the cause, as well as to seek relief. Your knee pain may also be caused by nerve damage or a nerve disorder. If this is the case, you may have a problem in one area of your body, but it actually produces pain in your knees.

Another common cause of knee pain is trauma. Falls, car accidents, motorcycle accidents and everyday bumps and scrapes can cause knee pain, and depending on the severity of the trauma, recovery may require having your knee placed in a cast, or in extreme cases, you may require hospitalization and bed rest. Once again, due to the everyday use of the knee, recovery times from trauma may be lengthy.

In older people, knee pain may be as a result of bone density issues. As you age, your bones begin to break down and calcium absorption slows, causing bone weakness. This is especially true in older women, and usually shows up in the form of osteoporosis. Fortunately, there are a number of prescription medications that are available through your doctor that can help your body to absorb more calcium, thereby allowing your bones to remain strong and healthy.

Upon visiting your physician, you will probably need to give a full medical history, as well as describe any physical injuries you may have recently suffered. Your doctor will then perform some imaging and flexibility tests. These may include taking x-rays, CAT scans or MRIs. You will probably be given a physical examination in which your doctor will move your limbs and torso in order to discover if movement is causing your knee pain.

Answer 10

Alternative Names

Pain - knee

Common Causes

Knee pain usually results from:

• Overuse
• Poor form during physical activity
• Not warming up or cooling down
• Not enough stretching

Simple causes of knee pain often clear up on their own with self care. Being overweight can put you at greater risk for knee problems.

Knee pain can be caused by:

• Anterior knee pain
• Arthritis -- including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and gout
• Baker's cyst -- a fluid-filled swelling behind the knee that may occur with swelling (inflammation) from other causes, like arthritis
• Bursitis -- inflammation from repeated pressure on the knee, such as kneeling for long periods of time, overuse, or injury
• Connective tissue disorders such as lupus
• Dislocation of the kneecap
• Iliotibial band syndrome -- a hip disorder from injury to the thick band that runs from your hip to the outside of your knee
• Infection in the joint
• Knee injuries -- an anterior cruciate ligament injury or medial collateral ligament injury may cause bleeding into your knee, which makes the pain worse
• Osgood-Schlatter disease
• Tendinitis -- a pain in the front of your knee that gets worse when going up and down stairs or inclines
• Torn cartilage (a meniscus tear) -- pain felt on the inside or outside of the knee joint
• Torn ligament (ACL tear) -- leads to pain and instability of the knee
• Strain or sprain -- minor injuries to the ligaments caused by sudden or unnatural twisting

Less common conditions that can lead to knee pain includebone tumors.

Home Care

For knee pain that has just started:

• Rest and avoid activities that aggravate your pain, especially weight bearing activities.
• Apply ice. First, apply it every hour for up to 15 minutes. After the first day, apply it at least four times per day.
• Keep your knee raised as much as possible to bring any swelling down.
• Wear an ace bandage or elastic sleeve, which you can buy at most pharmacies. This may reduce swelling and provide support.
• Take acetaminophen for pain or ibuprofen for pain and swelling.
• Sleep with a pillow underneath or between your knees.

For knee pain related to overuse or physical activity:

• Always warm up before exercising and cool down afterward. Stretch your quadriceps and hamstrings.
• Avoid running straight down hills -- walk down instead.
• Bicycle or swim instead of run.
• Reduce the amount of exercise you do.
• Run on a smooth, soft surface, such as a track, instead of on cement.
• Lose weight if you are overweight. Every pound that you are overweight puts about 5 extra pounds of pressure on your knee cap when you go up and down stairs. Ask your health care provider for help losing weight.
• If you have flat feet, try special shoe inserts and arch supports (orthotics).
• Make sure your running shoes are made well, fit well, and have good cushioning.

Tips to relieve knee bursitis pain:

• Use ice three to four times a day for the first 2 or 3 days. Cover your knee with a towel and place ice on it for 15 minutes. Do not fall asleep while using ice. You can leave it on too long and get frostbite.
• Try not to stand for long periods of time. If you must stand, do so on a soft, cushioned surface. Stand with an equal amount of weight on each leg.
• When you sleep, do not lie on the side that has bursitis. Place a pillow between your knees when you lie on your side to help decrease your pain.
• Wear flat shoes that are cushioned and comfortable.
• If you are overweight, losing weight may help.

Call your health care provider if

Call your doctor if:

• You cannot bear weight on your knee
• You have severe pain, even when not bearing weight
• Your knee buckles, clicks, or locks
• Your knee is deformed or misshapen
• You have a fever, redness or warmth around the knee, or significant swelling
• You have pain, swelling, numbness, tingling, or bluish discoloration in the calf below the sore knee
• You still have pain after 3 days of home treatment

What to expect at your health care provider's office

Your health care provider will perform a physical examination, with careful attention to your knees, hips, legs, and other joints.

To help diagnose the cause of the problem, your health care provider will ask medical history questions, such as:

• When did your knee first begin to hurt?
• Have you had knee pain before? What was the cause?
• How long has this episode of knee pain lasted?
• Do you feel the pain all the time, or off and on?
• Are both knees affected?
• Is the pain in your entire knee or one location, like the kneecap, outer or inner edge, or below the knee?
• Is the pain severe?
• Can you stand or walk?
• Have you had an injury or accident involving the knee?
• Have you overused the leg? Describe your usual activities and exercise routine.
• What home treatments have you tried? Have they helped?
• Do you have other symptoms, such as pain in your hip, pain down your leg or calf, knee swelling, swelling in your calf or leg, or fever?

The following tests may be done:

• Joint fluid culture (fluid taken from the knee and examined under a microscope)
• MRI of the kneeif a ligament or meniscus tear is suspected
• X-ray of the knee

Your health care provider may prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that are stronger than those available over-the-counter. If those don't help, your doctor may inject a steroid into the knee to reduce pain and inflammation.

You may need referrals to a physical therapist (to learn stretching and strengthening exercises) and podiatrist (to be fitted for orthotics).

In some cases, surgery is needed. For example, if arthritis is severe, a joint replacement may be recommended. A minor ligament strain will heal with home care and torn ligaments may recover with use of a knee brace. However, for big tears or ruptures, as well as a torn meniscus, arthroscopic knee surgeryis often needed.

Recovery from ligament and meniscus problems is slow. You may need crutches and long-term physical therapy.

Prevention

• Increase your activity level slowly over time. For example, when you begin exercising again, walk rather than run.
• Always warm up before exercising and cool down afterward. Stretch your quadriceps and hamstrings.
• Replace your sports shoes often. Get good advice about proper footwear for your foot shape and mechanics. For example, if you land on the outside of your heel and turn your foot inward when you walk (pronate), consider anti-pronation footwear.

References

Frontera WR, Silver JK, eds. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2008:section 7.

Honkamp NJ, Shen W, Okeke N, Ferretti M, Fu FH. Knee: Anterior cruciate ligament injuries in the adult. In: DeLee JC, Drez D Jr, Miller MD, eds. DeLee and Drez's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2009:chap 23, section D.

Huddleston JI, Goodman SB. Hip and knee pain. In: Firestein GS, Budd RC, Harris ED Jr, et al, eds. Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 42.

Reviewed By

Review Date: 06/04/2011

Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; and C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Assistant Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Dept. of Orthopaedic Surgery. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.