What Causes Inner Knee Pain

May 10, 2024Admin Uncategorized

Inner knee pain can be an excruciating and incapacitating issue. It can greatly affect your regular activities, making it unpleasant to sit, climb stairs, or even walk. It’s not just you that has discomfort on the inside of your knee. There are several potential causes for this pervasive issue.

This article explores the causes and various treatments for inner knee discomfort, taking a close look at the condition.

Why Does the Inside of My Knee Hurt?

The knee is a complex joint that depends on several parts working together to provide stability and movement. Muscles, ligaments, tendons, cartilage, and bones all play a role. Pain on the inside of the knee can arise from damage or inflammation in any of these structures.

Below is a summary of the most frequent causes of inner knee pain:

Ligament Injuries:

On the inside side of the knee lies a vital ligament called the medial collateral ligament (MCL). It keeps the joint stable and stops excessive inward movement. A sprained or torn MCL, often caused by a blow to the outer knee, can lead to significant inner knee pain.

Meniscus Tears:

Furthermore, the meniscus is a crescent-shaped piece of cartilage that absorbs shock within the knee joint. Meniscus tears, especially in the medial meniscus, can produce clicking or catching sounds as well as pain on the inside of the knee.

Pes Anserine Bursitis:

Then, Bursae are fluid-filled sacs that cushion friction between bones, tendons, and muscles. On the inside of the knee, directly below the joint, is the pes anserine bursa. Inflammation of this bursa, known as pes anserine bursitis is the reason that causes knee pain when squatting or bending.

Osteoarthritis:

This ailment is a degenerative joint disease that causes cartilage degradation. In the knee, osteoarthritis can affect the inner compartment, leading to pain, stiffness, and swelling.

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS):

While PFPS primarily affects the front of the knee, it can sometimes cause pain radiating to the inner aspect. Athletes and anyone with repetitive stress injuries to the kneecap are more prone to have this issue.

Osgood-Schlatter Disease:

This affects adolescents and young athletes. It involves inflammation of the growth plate at the top of the shinbone, where it attaches to the patellar tendon. This can cause pain just below the inner knee, especially with activities like running or jumping.

Baker’s Cyst:

Finally, a fluid-filled sac that appears behind the knee is called a Baker’s cyst. While not directly causing inner knee pain, a large Baker’s cyst can press on surrounding structures, leading to discomfort on the inner side of the knee.

Additionally, some less common causes of inner knee pain include:

Rheumatoid Arthritis: It’s an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in the joints, especially the knees.

Bone Tumors: Although rare, tumors in the bones surrounding the knee can also cause inner knee pain.

Stress Fractures: Small cracks in the shinbone caused by repetitive stress might produce pain in the inner knee.

Inner Knee Pain Treatment: Finding Relief

The underlying reason for inner knee discomfort determines the course of treatment. Here are a few typical therapy choices:

Rest and Modification of Activities: By avoiding activities that exacerbate the pain, you can promote healing and lower inflammation. Modifying activities to minimize stress on the knee can also be helpful.
Ice therapy: Applying cold packs to the afflicted area many times a day for 15 to 20 minutes at a time will help reduce discomfort and swelling.
Compression: Supporting the knee and reducing swelling can be achieved by donning a compression sleeve or wrap.
Pain Relief: Pain and inflammation can be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
Physical Therapy: To strengthen the muscles around the knee joint, increase flexibility, and restore appropriate mechanics, a physical therapist might provide a customized exercise program. This plays a crucial role in long-term recovery and preventing future problems.
Corticosteroid Injections: Injections of corticosteroids directly into the inflamed area can provide targeted pain relief, particularly for conditions like bursitis.
Arthroscopy: For certain injuries, such as a torn meniscus, minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery might be necessary to repair the damage.
Total knee replacement surgery: It is an option for severely injured osteoarthritis patients to replace the diseased joint with an artificial one.

Preventing Inner Knee Pain: Proactive Strategies

Inner knee pain can be disruptive and limit your mobility. Thankfully, there are a number of preventive tactics that can assist in preventing it from happening initially. These are some essential actions you can do:

Keep Your Weight in Check: Carrying too much weight puts a lot of stress on your knee joints. Reducing weight or staying at a healthy weight will minimize knee pain and dramatically lessen stress on the knees.
Strengthening workouts: You can increase stability and support for your knee joint by regularly engaging in workouts that focus on your quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves. To begin with, squats, lunges, and calf lifts are great exercises.
Flexibility Training: Tight muscles can contribute to abnormal mechanics and stress on the knee. Stretching the calves, hamstrings, and quadriceps on a regular basis can increase knee joint range of motion and flexibility.
Appropriate Footwear: Invest in orthopedic shoes made for your particular degree of exercise. Regularly replace worn-out shoes to guarantee appropriate support and cushioning.
Warm-Up and Cool-Down: Before engaging in any physical activity, always perform a proper warm-up to prepare your muscles and joints. Similarly, cool down with gentle stretches after exercise to prevent stiffness and soreness.
Listen to Your Body: Recognize the signals your body is sending forth. If you experience any pain or discomfort while performing an activity, stop and take a rest. Ignoring discomfort just makes matters worse.
Correct Form: Keeping good form is essential, whether you’re working out, lifting things, or going about your everyday business. It lessens the strain on the knees and ensures a uniform weight distribution.
Cross-training: Taking part in a range of exercises might help shield the body from overuse issues. Think about adding low-impact exercises to your usual training regimen, such as cycling or swimming.

Inner Knee Pain and Age: Considerations for Older Adults

Inner knee pain becomes more common with age due to factors like wear and tear on the joints, loss of muscle mass, and decreased flexibility. Here are some additional considerations for older adults:

Focus on Low-Impact Activities: Activities like walking, swimming, and water aerobics are excellent ways to stay active and maintain knee health without excessive stress on the joints.
Balance and Gait Training: Balance exercises can help prevent falls, which are a significant risk factor for knee injuries in older adults. Gait training can improve walking mechanics and reduce stress on the knees.
Bone Density Support: Maintaining strong bones is crucial for overall joint health. Talk to your doctor about ways to improve bone density, such as weight-bearing exercises and calcium and vitamin D supplementation.
Assistive Devices: Consider using a cane or walking stick for additional support and stability, especially on uneven terrain or long walks.

By incorporating these preventive measures and age-specific considerations, you can significantly reduce your risk of developing inner knee pain and maintain healthy, mobile knees for years to come.

Conclusion: Finding Relief for Inner Knee Pain

Although inner knee discomfort can be a troublesome problem, being aware of its possible causes and accessible treatments can help you take charge of your healing. If you’re experiencing inner knee pain, don’t hesitate to seek help from a qualified knee pain specialist in New Jersey like Dr. Faheem Abbasi. As a leading pain management doctor in Hazlet, NJ, Dr. Abbasi can provide a comprehensive evaluation, diagnose the cause of your pain, and create a personalized treatment plan to get you back on your feet and moving comfortably once again.

Inner Knee Pain FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions regarding inner knee pain:

Should I walk with inner knee pain?

Walking can be beneficial for inner knee pain caused by muscle strain or stiffness. However, if walking worsens your pain, it’s best to rest and consult a doctor for guidance.

What can cause inner knee pain without injury?

Several factors can contribute to inner knee pain without a recent injury, such as:

Overuse: Overuse injuries like bursitis or tendinitis can result from repetitive motions that strain the knee joint, such as cycling or jogging.
Arthritis: Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis can both cause discomfort and inflammation in the knee joint, especially the interior part.
Obesity: Carrying too much weight puts stress on the knee joints, raising the possibility of discomfort.
Unsuitable footwear: Shoes that are too small or too worn out can cause irregular knee mechanics and tension.

Is inner knee pain serious?

The range of inner knee pain is from mild discomfort to severe pain. Even while the majority of cases are not dangerous, it is imperative to get medical help if the pain is severe, lasts longer than expected, or is accompanied by other worrisome symptoms like fever, edema, or instability.

Does inner knee pain go away?

The answer depends on the underlying cause. Inner knee pain caused by minor injuries or overuse can often resolve with rest, ice, and pain medication. However, chronic conditions like arthritis may require ongoing management to control pain and maintain function.