Most common symptoms and causes of knee pain

Knee pain affects around 25% of adult patients and the prevalence of knee pain has increased by nearly 70% over the last 20 years. Initial evaluation should be focused on excluding the most urgent causes .

A thorough background and knee exam are vital to determine if there is an injury to the knee has taken place. An accurate knee exam will help in the future investigations and/or treatment. If there's anything abnormal that can be observed in spite of the history, take a look at the lumbar spine and hip. A referred pain in the hip due to joint pain can be common particularly in young children. Homeopathy medicine for knee pain.


The anatomy of knee

  • Joints - There are two joints within the knee:

    • Patellofemoral joint.
    • The Tibiofemoral Joint (the joint which is commonly known as the knee joint').
  • Patella The patellar tendon (also known as the patellar ligament) is affixed anteriorly to the patella. The medial retinaculum is also a source of support for the patella.
  • Ligaments - stability of tibiofemoral ligament is assured by a variety of ligaments:
    • Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is responsible for controlling the movement of the rotation and stops forward motion of the tibia relative with the femur. It is connected to the front (hence the name, an anterior crurate) of the tibial plate and the posterolateral portion of the intercondylar groove of the femur.
    • Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) helps to stop the femur from sliding forward with respect to the tibial plate. The ligament connects to the posterior portion (hence the word "posterior cruciate") of the tibial plateau as well as the medial part of the intercondylar notch on the femur.
    • The medial collateral ligament (MCL) is a ligament that prevents the tibia from lateralizing on the femur in the event that the valgus (away away from midline) stresses are placed over the knee. It is located across the median epicondyle the femur and the anterior portion of the tibia. Also , it has a deep connection to the meniscus medial.
    • The collateral ligament laterally (LCL) can stop the tibia's medial motion on the femur, when the varus (towards towards the middleline) stresses are placed upon the knee. The ligament is located through the epicondyle lateral the femur and the head of fibula.
  • Menisci: The medial and menisci on the lateral side are found inside the knee joint and are linked with the plateau of the tibia. They protect the surfaces of the articular cartilage by absorbing certain forces that are that are transmitted by the knee. They also assist in stabilizing and help to lubricate the knee.


The causes of knee discomfort in the knee

This list isn't in any specific order as the most common causes of knee pain vary depending on the patient's age and intensity of exercise. If you regularly engage in activities, ACL injuries are among the most common on the list. In older patients the degenerative changes tend to lead to knee pain.

1. Fractures and dislocations

Fractures and dislocations are frequently caused by trauma that is high-energy like an injury from a fall or contact sports or a crash in a vehicle. Knee fractures usually affect the kneecap. They could be the result of an injury in the acute phase or slowly as a stress fracture.

Your knee could be dislocated if one or more of the ligaments is torn. Most knee dislocations happen when the anterior and the posterior cruciate ligaments get injured.


2. Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury

Around 200 000 ACL injuries happen each throughout the U.S. In about half of instances, the ligament is completely damaged, requiring urgent medical attention. In addition for half of those being treated to treat ACL injuries, there are other causes. ACL injuries, the other areas of the knee may also be injured, including cartilage, the meniscus or other ligaments.

The ACL is most often injured when you perform certain movements in high-demand sports. For example, changing your direction, stopping abruptly turning, pivoting, sidestepping or landing an incorrect jump frequently cause damage to the ACL.


3. Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury

PCL injuries are usually caused by injuries to the knee's front as it is bent. This kind of injury typically is the result of contact sports or car accidents.


4. Collateral ligament injury

There are two collateral ligaments, one on each side of your knee. one on both sides of your knee. These ligaments are responsible for controlling sideways movement. They are damaged when you take an injury to the inside or the outside part of the knee. Ailments to the collateral ligaments usually occur in contact sports, such as football or soccer.


5. Meniscus tears

The meniscus is composed of two C-shaped pieces cartilage that sit on the top of your shinbone. Apart from facilitating the smooth movement of bones the cartilage assists in stabilizing your knee and help absorb shock.

Twisting motions are the most susceptible to straining the meniscus but it's also a common injury in the same manner that can cause the ACL injury.

As you age as you age, degenerative changes could cause meniscus weakness. You could easily damage a weak meniscus through routine, everyday activities.


6. Tendon tears

The patellar tendon is a part of your kneecap, extends to your thigh, and then connects to the quadriceps muscles. It takes a lot of force to break this tendon, like the impact of a fall or awkward landing after jumping. Chronic inflammation and some diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis may weaken the muscles, making them susceptible to tear from stress that is minor.


7. Osteoarthritis

Knee pain can be caused by a variety of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and Gout. However, osteoarthritis is by far the most prevalent kind of knee arthritis and is also the most commonly-spread knee disorder.

Osteoarthritis is a result of years of repeated knee movements, coupled with the pressure of carrying the weight of your body and causing cartilage loss. As cartilage wears down, bone rubs against bone inside the joint, which causes stiffness, pain, and inflammation.

If you're afflicted with an injury to your knee it is more likely that you will develop osteoarthritis. There's a chance that as high as 12 percent of all knee osteoarthritis occur after the cartilage has been damaged by an injury.


Seven other symptoms that can be a cause of knee pain.

When you get injured or suffer from a degenerative condition You'll feel discomfort. The pain can be acute and sudden, or more of burning or aching and may be intermittent or come-and-go or both. It could also be a constant source of discomfort.

Beyond pain, knee problems can cause different symptoms. Here are seven of the most frequent symptoms, besides pain:

  • Redness, swelling or warmth to the sensation
  • The feeling of stiffness or restricted movement
  • Sounds that pop or click, as well as sensations
  • Knee joint locking
  • The inability for your knee to be straight
  • A difficult walk or the inability to lift the weight of the knee
  • Knee instability, or feeling like it's moving from side side

A lot of knee issues get worse and can cause permanent instability if you wait too long to seek treatment. Some knee injuries aren't able to heal themselves.