Knee pain affects many people at different points in their lives. Knee pain can start in young children, after an injury in adulthood, or from a multitude of different illnesses in old age.
Knee pain usually results from injuries like anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, fractures, bursitis, tendonitis, and a torn meniscus. It can also result from mechanical problems such as loose body, Iliotibial band syndrome, dislocated kneecap, and hip or foot pain.
Arthritis is a common illness that affects the knee joints and causes pain. There are many different types of arthritis such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, pseudogout, septic arthritis and many more. Other problems such as excess weight, pregnancy, lack of muscle flexibility or strength, or previous injuries can also cause knee pain.
For more information, below are some common knee pain symptoms and problems to look out for. These 10 knee pain symptoms should be used as a guide for seeking chiropractic treatments:
1. Swelling and stiffness
Swelling and stiffness are one of the main symptoms of knee pain and one of the main indicators that something is wrong with your knee. You’ll notice that your painful knee is larger than the other one due to swelling.
In addition, you’ll notice that the knee is less loose and has become stiff, maybe even resulting in a limp. Ice packs and anti-inflammatory medications are helpful for these knee pain symptoms.
2. Popping and crunching noises
It’s common to hear popping and crunching noises in the knee that is experiencing pain. These sounds are also common in people who are experiencing arthritis. Physicians call this sound “crepitus” which usually refers to joints.
Over time, gas can build up in the areas surrounding your knee, forming tiny bubbles in what is called the synovial fluid. Then when you move or try to bend your knee, the bubbles burst making the popping and crunching noises.
3. Difficulty bearing weight
Another symptom of knee pain is having trouble putting weight on your knee. When you get up from a sitting position, or lying down, your knee may momentarily give out and you’ll be unable to put weight on it. This will likely result in limping which is among the more common knee pain symptoms.
4. Difficulty walking up and down stairs
The pain in your knee can become so severe and uncomfortable that it becomes difficult to walk up and down the stairs. Since using the stairs requires repetitive bending of the knee, this exercise will be difficult for people experiencing knee pain and should be avoided if possible.
5. Inability to extend the knee
An inability to extend your knee usually happens when the joint has become stiff due to swelling. Again, anti-inflammatory medication and ice packs can help with the swelling and stiffness which will make it easier to extend your knee.
6. Redness and warmth to the touch
An injured and sore knee will sometimes also become red and warm to the touch due to inflammation. This is a sign that something is going on with your knee and that there is a reason behind why you are experiencing pain. Be sure to look out for these knee pain symptoms if you detect something is wrong.
7. Inability to straighten the knee
Similar to the inability to extend your knee, when you have knee pain it will also become difficult to fully straighten your knee. This will be one of the things your doctor looks for when you visit complaining of knee pain. This is again due to inflammation of the joint and makes it very difficult to walk and go up and down stairs.
8. Constant ache and throbbing pain
A constant ache in the painful knee is another symptom of knee pain. This can come in the form of throbbing pain in the knee as well. When you have a constant ache, it’s usually an indicator that your knee is injured or that you’re experiencing illness in your knee. Pain killers and ice are also good to help relieve these symptoms.
9. Sharp, shooting pain
In addition to a constant ache or throbbing pain, another symptom of knee pain is a sharp, shooting pain in the knee. This can happen occasionally or multiple times a day, depending on what is actually going on with the knee.
10. Dull burning discomfort
Another symptom of knee pain is a dull burning discomfort in the knee. One of the causes of this is tendonitis, which occurs when the patellar tendon (located in the front of the knee) becomes inflamed. When it becomes inflamed it may cause a burning sensation.
There are many things you can do to avoid knee pain including maintaining the ideal weight for your body type, exercise and being mindful of exerting too much pressure on your knees.
