Knowing the various types of knee pain — and what the symptoms often feel like — can help you better communicate with your doctor.
Your knee is a complex piece of equipment, and as a result, many common
conditions and injuries can cause knee pain.
"There are a number of different ligaments around and
inside the knee, as well as tendons and bursas — little fluid-filled sacs that
can get inflamed," says Joel Press, MD, medical director of the Spine and
Sports Center at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. "There are lots
of different structures there, and a lot of these types of pains will overlap.
The physician must get a good history to see how this came about, do a physical
exam to try to pinpoint these structures, and try to correlate that with any
type of imaging studies that are done."
Symptoms of Knee Pain: What to Tell Your Doctor
If you have knee pain that you're planning to discuss with your doctor,
be sure to talk about other factors and symptoms that might be associated with
the pain, including:
- Where
exactly is the pain? Is it in one spot, or is it spread out
around a larger area of your knee? What makes it feel better? What makes
it hurt worse?
- What
were you doing before your knee started hurting? Had you put down
a tile floor the day before? Did it start hurting while you were skiing?
If so, had your ski turned outward or inward?
- What
other symptoms do you notice? Does your knee make a popping noise
or have a clicking sensation? Does it feel weak or unstable?
Symptoms of Knee Pain: How Different Types of Knee Pain
May Feel
Here's a look at some of the specific symptoms of the common
causes of knee pain.
- Osteoarthritis. This
condition occurs when the cartilage that allows your knee to move freely
becomes worn. Shortly after the condition develops, you may notice that
your knees ache after you've been physically active. Over time, your knees
may hurt more often and feel stiff after you get out of bed in the morning
or after you've been sitting down for a while. Your knees also may be
swollen and make a "crunchy" sound while you walk.
- Patellofemoral
pain syndrome (chondromalacia patella). Also known as
"runner's knee," this is a common cause of knee pain. The pain
feels like it's coming from behind or under your kneecap, and may feel
like it involves your entire kneecap. You may feel pain and stiffness in
particular after you've been sitting a long time. The pain may also be
worse after you've gone up or down stairs or you've been running.
- Meniscal
tears. Your menisci are disks of tissue between the thigh bone and
shinbone in your knee that provide cushioning. These can develop tears
from injuries. The pain may be slight or severe, and it may feel worse
when you straighten your knee. Your knee may make a clicking sensation or
feel like it gets "stuck."
- Ligament
injuries. You have four ligaments — which are strong bands of
tissue that hold bones together — on the inside and outside edge of your
knees and within the joint. If you over-stretch or tear a ligament, which
can occur during accidents or sporting events, you may hear a
"pop." Depending on the ligament that's damaged, the injury may
or may not cause pain. Another symptom is that your leg may feel wobbly
when you try to put weight on it.
