Having sore knees is common and isn’t usually a sign of anything serious. There are many possible causes, which can range from a simple muscle strain or tendonitis to some kind of arthritis. Sometimes a cause can’t be found. However, sharp stabbing pain in knees that comes and goes can often be treated at home and you should start to feel better after a few days.
Also, know that as you age, knee pain may become more common. You’re also more at risk of getting knee pain if you are overweight. Knee pain may sometimes be the result of a sports or other injury.
Diagnosis for knee pain:
Your doctor will ask you about the type of pain you are feeling and also note the size of your affected knee compared to your unaffected knee. The doctor may need further investigation in the form of medical ‘imaging’ like an x-ray, MRI scan, ultrasound to detect fluid or a possible fracture, and perhaps a blood test to identify any rheumatoid factor or antinuclear antibodies.
However, Pain is a subjective phenomenon so it is important to be able to describe the type of pain you are experiencing as accurately as possible because it will give the doctor an indication of the source of the problem. Pain arises when specialized nerves, called nociceptors, detect tissue damage. Pain is a common reaction of the body to injury, designed to prevent movement in order to prevent further tissue damage.
Listing Some Possible Causes Of Knee Pain:
- Bleeding from the knee joint (hemarthrosis) caused by injury, in the case of hemophilia, where the knee joint is warm, firm, itchy, painful, and swollen, requires treatment with a clotting factor. When bleeding in the knee occurs in non-hemophiliac people, it may be due to injury, certain medications, diseases, or osteoarthritis. This too is very bad, and if left untreated it can lead to permanent damage.
- Arthritis affects the joints and is one of the most common causes of disability in the USA. The knee is one of the largest organs in the body and therefore the most common cause of arthritis. Arthritis can cause pain in the front, middle, or sides of the knee.
- Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in the USA. Knee osteoarthritis is caused by a joint injury, and it is a degenerative condition that commonly affects older people.
- This is very rare and is the result of the immune system directing the knee joint. The outer cover of the knee joint (synovium) is affected first and this spreads to other parts of the joint leading to possible fractures of the bones and cartilage.
Does Swelling Of The Knee Have Anything To Do With Sharp Knee Pain?
After an injury or trauma, like a knee fracture you may face swelling in the knee and you may feel sharp stabbing knee pain. However, The first indication of the problem may be the appearance of your knee. If it is red and warm it means that there is an increased blood flow to the joint.
Swelling of the knee is not confined to sporting injury and exercise. Other possible causes of swelling are:-
- Water on the knee (knee effusion) is an accumulation of fluid in the knee joint. It often signifies something that is mechanically abnormal within the knee, and usually needs further investigation. It could occasionally be an inflammatory disease of the knee.
- Swelling and tenderness of the bony lump below the knee. This is more likely to affect adolescents at an age when bones, tendons, and muscles are changing during growth.
- Gout or pseudogout presents as a hot, red, and swollen knee joint accompanied by severe pain. The knee is sore and often appears shiny.
- Severe stabbing pain and swelling in the front of the knee may be due to a slightly dispersed patella. The patella usually slides into the groove in front of the femur but may slip due to sudden twisting or impact.
Areas where you may feel pain:
Some knee pain is the result of overuse or overuse of pressure on the knee and knee joints, perhaps through athletic activities such as jogging or cycling. Lines and tenders can be very stressful, irritating, and swollen causing pain. The most common cause of this type of pain is fractures in the meniscal cartilage or the surface cartilage of the knee.
PAIN AT THE FRONT OF THE KNEE:
- Excessive stress on the patella tendon at the front of the knee, just below the patella, manifests itself by a burning sensation at the front of the knee (tendonitis).
- A severe stabbing pain and swelling at the front of the knee may be due to a partially dislocated patella. The patella normally slides in a groove at the front of the femur but can slip out due to a sudden twist or impact.
- Chondromalacia patellae is a condition due to the cartilage on the undersurface of the patella softening and deteriorating. The symptoms are a grating feeling at the junction of the patella and femur. Sometimes an unstable flap of surface cartilage may cause this pain and may be curable with simple keyhole surgery and a chondroplasty.
- Repetitive knee movements can result in an accumulation of fluid in the bursae resulting in pain and swelling at the front of the knee.
PAIN AT THE BACK OF THE KNEE
- A sharp stabbing pain at the back of the knee can commonly be due to hamstring tendonitis, caused by inflammation of the tendons connecting the hamstring to the knee. A common cause is overuse, and the pain becomes more apparent with continued use.
- A swelling and tightness behind the knee might be due to inflammation of the popliteal bursa (baker’s cyst). This is often due to there being another mechanical abnormality within the knee producing excess fluid.
- Pain at the back of the knee may also be due to a tear in the posterior part of the meniscus.
The PAIN ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE KNEE
- Burning pain at the outside (lateral side) of the knee may be due to iliotibial band syndrome. The iliotibial band is a ligament running down the outside of the thigh to the outside of the knee which can become inflamed and irritated.
- A tear in one of the two menisci can cause pain, swelling, and a feeling that the knee is giving way or locking.
- A burning sensation at the side of the knee can indicate pressure on the menisci and sometimes can be due to a fluid-filled cyst.
PAIN ON THE INSIDE OF THE KNEE
- Pain on the inside (median side) of the knee may be due to the tissue fold (medial plica) becoming irritated by injury or overuse. This is very common and much underdiagnosed, as it can’t always be seen on an MRI scan.
- Problems with the menisci (see above) can also affect the inner side of the knee. Of course, a loose flap of cartilage will also hurt here.
PAIN BEHIND THE KNEE
- Severe acute pain in the back of the knee is usually caused by hamstring tendonitis, which is caused by inflammation of the muscles that connect the hamstring to the knee. The most common cause is overuse, and pain is manifested by continued use.
- Swelling and stiffness behind the knee may be due to inflammation of the popliteal bursa (cyst baker’s cyst).
However, Pain in the back of the knee may be due to tearing in the back of the meniscus.
Common Treatments For Sharp Stabbing Knee Pain:
Other Common Treatments of sharp stabbing knee pain or knee fractures that come and goes include the following:
Medications:
Medications might be prescribed to treat an underlying medical condition or for pain relief. If you are taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pain medications regularly for your knee pain, you should see your doctor to be evaluated.
Physical Therapy:
Sometimes physical therapy sessions to strengthen the muscles around the knee will make it more stable and help guarantee the best mechanical movements. Working with a physical therapist can help avoid injuries or further worsening of an injury.
How Can We Deal With Knee Pain With Home Remedies?
Minor knee pain is very common and can often be treated at home. One of the most common remedies for minor knee pain is rest, ice, compression, elevation, or RICE. Try the following RICE methods:
- Avoid the activity that causes you pain.
- Use crutches to keep weight off your knee.
- Ice the area three or four times per day for 20 minutes at a time.
- Wrap your knee using an elastic compression bandage.
- Place pillows underneath your knee to elevate it to the same level or higher than the level of your heart.
However, You may also take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen to alleviate the swelling. If symptoms persist after three days despite this treatment or if your pain worsens, talk to your best pain doctor in Dallas.
