Knee pain can happen to anyone of any age. Knee pain is common in all age groups, including children, teens, young adults, and the elderly.
Sometimes knee pain is caused by an injury, such as a direct blow to the knee that causes a strain, tear, or other injury. Usually knee pain comes from overuse or general wear and tear.
Maybe you’re training for a race and running too fast. You may have spent the weekend in the garden, bending over, kneeling, reaching big enough, and straining or straining your knee.
Knee pain due to overuse can sometimes disappear on its own when you rest. Sometimes knee pain lasts longer and can be a sign of a more serious health problem. In these cases, you may need to find a good knee doctor to identify and treat the problem.
If you visit a knee doctor to evaluate your condition and treat knee pain, you may be asked about your medical history and have a physical exam. Depending on the severity of your knee pain, your doctor may also offer you several diagnostic tests. Your knee doctor may recommend an MRI, CT scan, or X-ray to find the problem.
People often have many different knee problems. Here’s information about the five most common causes of knee pain:
Ligament injuries: Sprained knee ligaments can sometimes cause knee pain. In most cases, the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is pulled or torn. Most ACL injuries occur when someone is hit in the knee. When someone with an ACL injury puts pressure on their knee, they sometimes feel that their knee will become paralyzed. Your knee can also crack.
Osgood-Schlatter disease occurs when the patellar tendon and surrounding tissue become inflamed. Younger people, such as children and teenagers, are more likely to have the disease. This often happens in people who play or do many high-impact activities or sports, such as jumping and running. Usually, Osgood-Schlatter’s pain is located just below the knee joint and gets worse with movement.
Iliotibial band syndrome: If you experience pinching and burning pain on the outer, lateral condyle of your knee, you may have iliotibial band syndrome, also known as IT band syndrome. This knee problem is a common overuse injury that usually affects people who run long distances. IT band syndrome can also cause thigh pain.
Arthritis: Knee arthritis is common, especially in older adults. There are many types of arthritis, and they can do a lot of damage and make you stiff. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the two most common forms of knee arthritis. Osteoarthritis can be caused by normal wear and tear, or it can happen after you injure your joint in some way. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that affects people at a young age. Inflammation can cause knee swelling and redness in people with rheumatoid arthritis.
Fold syndrome: When the synovial tissue or folds of the knee are overused, it can cause irritation and inflammation. This is called the plica syndrome. Some symptoms of Plica syndrome include weakness, swelling, and pain in the knee. Arthroscopy may be recommended when the plica syndrome is very severe.
