There are many potential causes of knee pain. A proper diagnosis is crucial to ensuring you receive the most effective treatment for your condition.
Knee pain is often the result of one of two things:
Acute Knee Injury: On any given day, especially if you’re active, your knee is constantly working as you move forward, backward, and side to side, and as you stop, turn, rotate, and jump. Any one of these movements can cause an acute or sudden injury.
The most common acute knee injuries are:
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear
- Fractures
- Torn meniscus
- Bursitis
Degeneration: this is arthritis from wear-and-tear, also known as osteoarthritis. In its many different forms, can cause a lot of knee pain as your joint is robbed of lubrication and your cartilage breaks down, causing painful and continual swelling.
At Advanced Pain Solutions we call this ‘Creaky Knee Syndrome’ and are the only providers in the Central Oregon area specializing in this condition.
Ligament Tears: ligaments attach bones to bones and therefore when torn can cause significant joint instability.
Medial Collateral Ligament sprain or MCL injury – MCL is a ligament tear on the inside of the knee caused due to twisting motion or direct impact.
Meniscal (Cartilage) Tears – Damage to the meniscus (acts as a cushion to the knee joint) caused mainly due to contact sports.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament injuries (ACL) – A rapid change in direction or an improper landing on a jump may cause ACL tears. This is the most common sports injury.
Posterior Cruciate Ligament injuries (PCL) – A blow to the front of the knee while the knee is bent may cause PCL tears. This injury can be seen in motor vehicle accidents.
Knee Bursitis – The bursa providing cushioning to your knee can fill with fluid and become swollen from repetitive movements, causing redness and sensitivity. It can also be damaged from trauma associated with a fall, or with excessive time kneeling.
Knee Tendonitis – The tendons in your knee can become damaged from overuse. “Patellar tendonitis” is the most common. This will cause pain along the front of your knee.
Here is a quick quiz to see if you might be affected by an acute knee injury:
- You’ve noticed an annoying “ache” or “sharp” pain in your knee for more than ten days.
- You have severe pain that limits your walking, squatting, or stairs.
- Your pain limits your running distance, speed, and performance.
- Your knee pain stops you from performing to the highest level in your sport.
- You have pain that stops you from getting good quality sleep.