Knee Pain

What is knee pain?

Knee pain is pain or discomfort you feel in or around your knee joint.

Joints are places in your body where two bones meet. Your knee joint connects your thigh to your lower leg. It’s where your thigh bone (femur) meets your shin bone (tibia).

The knee is the biggest joint in your body, and it absorbs and supports a lot of your weight as you move. That’s why it’s one of the most commonly injured joints. Knee pain can be a temporary, short-term problem, but it can also be a chronic (long-term) issue that needs diagnosis and treatment by a healthcare provider.

Where you feel knee pain usually depends on which part or parts of your joint are damaged. You might feel pain:

• Close to the surface above or behind your knee (usually an issue with your muscles, tendons or ligaments).
• Deeper inside your knee (pain that comes from your bones or cartilage).
• In multiple parts of your knee or leg. Knee pain can sometimes spread (radiate) to other areas. You may feel pain on one side that sometimes feels like it’s coming from the back of your knee. Pain can also radiate to areas around your knee, like your lower leg or thigh.

Knee pain can come and go. For example, you might feel pain when you’re moving or bending your knee which gets better when you rest. Some people also feel pain at different parts of the day. You could feel more pain first thing in the morning when you wake up. It’s also common to feel knee pain at night, especially if you were physically active earlier that day.

You can usually treat knee pain at home by taking a break from physical activities and taking over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers. Visit a healthcare provider if you’re feeling pain that’s bad enough to affect your daily routine or that’s making it hard to move. See a provider if you experience knee pain that lasts more than a few days without getting better.

What are the most common causes of knee pain?

The most common causes of knee pain include:

• Overuse.
• Arthritis.
• Injuries.

Overuse

Physical activities, exercise, playing sports and doing physical work can all stress your knee joint. Doing the same repetitive motion (like jumping a lot, or working on your hands and knees) can cause knee pain.

Knee pain is a symptom of common overuse issues, including:

• Patellofemoral pain (PFPS or runner’s knee).
• Osgood-Schlatter disease (jumper’s knee) — only in kids and teens.
• Tendinitis (especially patellar tendinitis).
• Bursitis (especially prepatellar bursitis).

Arthritis

Arthritis causes pain and inflammation in your joints. Knee arthritis is common. It causes symptoms like pain, swelling and stiffness. Several types of arthritis can cause knee pain, including:

• Osteoarthritis.
• Rheumatoid arthritis.
• Post-traumatic arthritis.

Injuries

Any injury that damages your knee joint can cause pain. Knee injuries can include:

• Repetitive strain injuries.
• Sports injuries.
• Traumas like falls or car accidents.

Some of the most common injuries that cause knee pain include:

• Knee sprains.
• Hyperextended knees.
• Knee ligament tears (injuries that affect your ACL, PCL, MCL or LCL).
• Meniscus tears.
• Bone fractures (broken bones).
• Dislocations.

How is knee pain treated?

Which treatments you’ll need for knee pain will depend on what’s causing it. A healthcare provider will suggest treatments based on the pain’s severity and its cause.

RICE method for knee pain

You can usually treat knee pain at home with the RICE method:

Rest: Stop the physical activity that caused the pain to avoid making the injury worse.

Ice: Apply an ice pack or cold compress for 15 to 20 minutes every hour for the first day after your injury. After one day, you can apply ice every three to four hours. Don’t apply ice directly to your skin (wrap the ice pack in a towel or washcloth).

Compression: Compression helps reduce blood flow to your injured knee and reduces swelling. Apply a compression bandage or wrap it around your knee. A healthcare provider can show you how to apply and wear a compression wrap safely.

Elevation: Keep your knee elevated above the level of your heart. You can prop your knee up with pillows, blankets or cushions.

Medications for knee pain

Your healthcare provider might suggest medications to relieve the knee pain and any other symptoms you’re experiencing.

Most people can take over-the-counter NSAIDs (ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen) or acetaminophen (Tylenol®). Don’t take these medications for more than 10 days in a row without talking to your provider or if you have kidney or liver disease.

Knee braces

A knee brace supports your knee and holds it in place. Knee braces work by keeping your knee in alignment. They’re usually made of stiff plastic or metal with cushions and straps that wrap around your knee and leg. Your provider will tell you which type of brace you’ll need and how often you should wear it.

Physical therapy

Your provider might suggest physical therapy if you have arthritis or are recovering from an injury. A physical therapist will show you stretches and exercises that strengthen the muscles around your affected knee. This will improve your stability and can relieve pain.

Knee surgery

Most people with knee pain won’t need surgery. But your provider may suggest it if the pain is severe and other treatments haven’t helped. You might need surgery to repair a damaged ligament, bone fracture or if you have severe arthritis.

Knee arthroscopy is the most common type of knee surgery. Your surgeon will make a few small incisions (cuts) in the skin around your knee then insert a special tool called an arthroscope into your knee joint. The arthroscope includes a camera and a light that lets your surgeon see and repair damage inside your knee.

You might need a knee replacement (arthroplasty). Your surgeon will replace your knee joint with an artificial implant (a prosthesis). Your provider might recommend a knee replacement if pain and other symptoms in your knee affect your ability to stand, walk and move. Your surgeon will suggest either a total knee replacement or a partial knee replacement. Which type of surgery you’ll need depends on what’s causing the pain and which parts of your knee are damaged.

Your surgeon will tell you what to expect and how long it’ll take to recover.

How can I prevent knee pain?

You might not always be able to prevent knee pain, especially if it’s caused by an injury you can’t plan for. You may not be able to prevent arthritis and other health conditions, either.

The best way to prevent pain is to stay safe when you’re physically active. During sports or other physical activities:

• Wear the right protective equipment.
• Don’t “play through the pain” if your knee hurts during or after physical activity.
• Give your body time to rest and recover after intense activity.
• Stretch and warm up before playing sports or working out.
• Cool down and stretch after physical activity.

Follow these general safety tips to reduce your risk of an injury:

• Make sure your home and workspace are free from clutter that could trip you or others.
• Always use the proper tools or equipment at home to reach things. Never stand on chairs, tables or countertops.
• Use a cane or walker if you have difficulty walking or have an increased risk of falls.

When should I see a healthcare provider?

Visit a healthcare provider if you have knee pain all the time, or if the pain is intense enough that you change your daily routine or avoid some of your usual activities.

Go to the emergency room or call 911 (or your local emergency services number) if you’ve experienced a trauma like a car accident or severe fall. Go to the ER if you can’t move your knee or leg, or if you think you have a broken bone.