Knee Joint Pain Explained: Causes, Symptoms, And Treatment Options

We can all attest to the vital importance of joint movement and flexibility, especially in the lower extremities. There’s no denying we heavily rely on our larger joints like the knee, hip, and ankle joints to accomplish regular activities that matter to us.

The knee joint is one of the most crucial joints that we use every day, as we rely on our legs to accomplish even the most basic daily tasks. A healthy knee is highly flexible, permitting a full range of movement in the legs. This movement is supported by the group of muscles and tendons that surround the knee, maintaining normal joint alignment.

As we age, the factors for knee pain increase. Flexibility may gradually decrease, reducing the range of motion in the knee and making movement more rigid. If the knee joint becomes painful, the consequences of this pain can extend to the rest of our body as we accommodate the pain by walking differently or adjusting our posture and balance. Or worse, we just stop moving around altogether. 

Ultimately, quality of life is greatly affected by knee pain, and our overall health can decline because of chronic knee pain.

Symptoms Of Knee Joint Pain

With over 100 million Americans struggling with acute or chronic knee pain, there is little doubt that this condition is among the most widespread musculoskeletal issues in the U.S. It is important to understand the various symptoms related to  knee pain. 

A lot of the complications of knee pain are directly linked to what part of the knee is injured or damaged. For example, a locking, popping, and catching sensation is common for torn ligaments, while stiffness and grinding noises are telltale signs of arthritis.

Some of the symptoms most commonly associated with knee pain include:

• Swelling: Swelling is a common symptom associated with knee pain and inflammation, caused by increased blood flow, fluids, and white cells that accumulate around the injured area.
• Stiffness: Stiffness is often a consequence of torn and overstretched ligaments, but it can also be a complication of swelling or indicate mechanical problems in the knee.
• Tenderness: Inflammation or tissue damage may result from fluid accumulation that can spread to different areas of the knee, exerting pressure on nearby nerves. This interferes with the ability of nerves to carry motor or sensory signals to and from the brain, thus leading to sensations of numbness, tingling, or pain.
• Reduced range of motion: Commonly associated with torn ligaments and tendons, degenerative joint diseases (i.e., arthritis), and bone fractures, reduced range of motion happens when one or more components in the knee area are injured and unable to support the motion of connected muscles or bones.
• Instability: Diseases and injuries that damage ligaments and tendons often result in instability and impaired balance. However, this can also be caused by mechanical issues and deformities.
• Clicking, popping, or grinding sounds: Torn knee cartilage or damaged ligaments (i.e., the anterior cruciate ligament) can cause a popping or clicking sound at the time of injury or during certain knee movements. Grinding noises are more often associated with arthritis, which wears down the “cushioning” in the joint that keeps movement lubricated.
• Visible deformities: Although rare, knee pain and injuries can cause visible deformities and bulges, such as in the case of kneecap fractures or Baker’s cysts.

Common Causes Of Knee Joint Pain

There are several other conditions that can affect knee joint health, including overuse and dislocation. The severity and location of the pain largely depend on the knee structure that is affected. The following are some of the common causes of knee joint pain:

Arthritis

Knee arthritis is an inflammatory joint disease that affects over 14 million people in the U.S., making it one of the leading causes of knee pain. Arthritis is currently one of the major causes of disability in older adults in the U.S. There are several types of arthritis, including osteoarthritis, gout, and rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis can result from various factors, such as overuse, degenerative diseases, excess uric acid, or autoimmune conditions.

Over time, arthritis causes the breakdown of the cartilage in the knee joint–the soft tissue in the joint that “cushions” movement and protects against friction and stress. As a result, arthritis can lead to pain, grinding sounds when moving, reduced range of motion, and, if left untreated, soft and hard tissue damage.

Dislocation

A dislocation occurs when the bones in the knee joint – the thigh bone (femur) and the shinbone (tibia)—shift out of place and become misaligned. The dislocation might also affect the kneecap (patella) if it gets knocked out of place.

Knee dislocations are often a consequence of direct trauma, injury, or collisions that involve the knee. They can be extremely painful and can affect the surrounding structures (i.e., ligaments and tendons).

Overuse

Repeated stress to the knee joint can lead to painful overuse injuries, such as tendinopathy or strains. For example, overuse injuries can affect the tendons and ligaments in the knee.

You might be at greater risk of overuse knee injuries if you perform repeated movements or activities, such as jumping, skiing, or cycling. Being obese or overweight might also put excessive stress on the knee when walking, standing, or jogging, thus leading to the wear and tear of soft tissue.

Bad Posture

Posture affects how external forces, such as stress and gravity, affect the knee joint. Bad posture can affect how your body bears its weight, thus affecting the neck and hips, which adds unnecessary strain to certain areas of the knee. This can lead to mechanical issues, such as knee valgus (knock-knees) and knee varus (bowed legs).

These difficulties cause stress and friction to the knee joint during certain movements, thus affecting the cartilage and bones over time. If left untreated, bad posture, misalignment, and mechanical issues can make knee movements painful and restrict the range of motion.

Diagnosing Knee Joint Pain

There are many causes of knee pain, from overuse to dislocation. As a result, an accurate diagnosis is critical before starting any treatment to address the underlying cause of the pain. Healthcare providers will often complete a multitude of tests to assess the knee before making a diagnosis.

These include:

• Reviewing the patient’s medical history: A patient’s medical history can offer valuable insights into the potential cause of the knee pain. Doctors often begin an examination by assessing the patient’s reported symptoms, family and medical history, and mechanism of injury. Patients might also need to provide information about symptoms other than pain, such as fever, swelling, fatigue, or unexpected weight loss.
• Carrying out physical examinations: Physical examinations aim to assess whether the patient has swelling, sounds or noises when moving, and stability issues. Doctors also use specific tests to determine how the pain is affecting the range of motion, strength, and whether it is causing knee locking (the inability to extend or bend the knee properly).
• Imaging tests: To assess the accuracy of their diagnosis, healthcare providers might carry out imaging tests such as X-rays. These tests offer a clear picture of the health of bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons in the knee area.
• Blood tests: Blood tests might also be required to exclude causes such as autoimmune diseases.

Treatment Options For Knee Joint Pain

The best treatment for knee pain is often determined by a thorough assessment. Nevertheless, patients are typically prescribed one of the treatment options mentioned below (or a combination of them):

• At-home self-care treatments: For conditions such as a mildly sprained ligament, doctors tend to recommend conservative treatment strategies such as R.I.C.E (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation). These therapies work by reducing the blood flow to the injured area (which limits swelling) and preventing further injury.
• Physical therapy: Physical therapy helps those with knee pain caused by mechanical issues, trauma, or degenerative diseases. A physical therapist will strive to improve the range of motion and muscle strength in the knee with exercises, passive modalities, or manual therapy techniques, such as massage.
• Over-the-counter pharmaceuticals: OTC pharmaceuticals, specifically NSAIDs, are effective in reducing pain caused by inflammation, such as arthritis or tendonitis.
• Surgery: Knee surgery might be required in the case of a ruptured tendon or ligament, knee fractures, infected joints, or degenerative diseases.

Some common knee conditions, such as osteoarthritis, can affect the daily life of a patient for 30 years or more, making it of paramount importance to look beyond NSAIDs as a long-term treatment solution for knee pain.

Whether knee pain stems from any cause, patients can rest assured knowing that a variety of treatment options exist to relieve pain, enhance flexibility, and restore knee function.

NextPain Care’s Approach To Knee Joint Pain

NextPain Care utilizes evidence-based practices for knee joint pain, adhering to the highest standards set by leading medical authorities to ensure you receive the best possible care. 

Our initial treatments for knee joint pain focus on non-invasive methods, including mindfulness and meditation, physical therapy, and medication management, to alleviate pain with minimal disruption to your daily life.

By incorporating these strategies, we empower patients to cultivate coping mechanisms that enrich both their physical and mental health, fostering a more harmonious and active living. Should initial therapies prove inadequate, our team is equipped to offer advanced interventions to address your knee joint pain effectively. 

Our focus on patient experience means we offer a welcoming and empathetic atmosphere, empowering you to take an active role in your recovery from knee joint pain.

Get The Best Treatment For Your Knee Pain

When it comes to knee pain, treatment options with NextPain Care should be your first consideration. Understanding that you have minimally invasive, multifaceted treatment options will be the greatest ally in your journey toward pain relief. Our vision is to be the first thought, first choice, and first step in the journey of chronic pain relief.