Knee Pain

Knee pain is one of the most frequent complaints affecting people of all ages. Getting a proper diagnosis is an important first step to treating your knee pain.

What are the symptoms of knee pain?

Knee pain can be a sharp, dull, or throbbing discomfort in and around the knee joint. The pain can range in intensity from mild to severe and impact mobility. Common symptoms that may accompany pain in or around the knee joint include:

• Swelling and stiffness
• Redness and warmth to the touch
• Weakness or instability when walking
• Popping or crunching sound
• Inability to fully straighten the knee

Do you have knee pain? Take our online knee pain assessment to better understand your knee health.

What are common causes of knee pain?

Knee pain and injuries can happen at any time and any age. People can develop knee pain for many reasons and often fall into three categories:

Degenerative conditions

• Arthritis — When the knee joint gets sore and inflamed because the smooth covering on the bones wears away.

Injury

• Ligament injuries — A ligament connects bones together and keeps them in place. A knee ligament injury affects knee stability and makes it difficult to move or put weight on the knee.
  • The most common ligament injury is an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury. 
  • You can also tear your:
    • Medial collateral ligament (MCL) on the inner side of the knee
    • Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) which runs through the center knee joint
    • Lateral collateral ligament (LCL) on the outer side of the knee 
• A meniscus tear — A meniscus works like a brake pad between the thigh and shin bones. A tear can happen from a quick twist or turn.
• Fracture — Broken bones or fractures in the knee can cause severe pain.
• Patellar dislocation — A dislocated kneecap (patella) happens when the kneecap slips out of its groove.
• Chondral defect — Often from a twist or impact injury, the smooth covering at the end of the bones (cartilage) can become damaged.

Overuse

• Runner's knee — A dull pain around the kneecap that worsens with activity.
• Iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS) — A sharp pain on the outside of knee. It can worsen with activity.
• Patellar tendinitis — This causes inflammation in the tendon connecting the kneecap to the shinbone.

The CDC reports that nearly 37% of adults in the US have had lower-limb pain, including knee pain, in the last 3 months.²

How is knee pain diagnosed?

Diagnosing knee pain or injury involves a physical examination of the joint. Your provider will be looking for swelling, pain, tenderness, warmth, and visible bruising. They may also check the range of motion and stability of the knee joint. This is done by moving your leg in different directions and applying pressure to evaluate the integrity of the knee. Providers often order imaging tests to help identify specific injuries or conditions.

How is knee pain treated?

SSM Health offers a broad range of treatment options. Non-surgical treatment options are often the first line of defense for knee pain. Your doctor may prescribe one or more treatments. These options may include:

Lifestyle changes:

• Weight loss reduces stress on your knees and increases the function of these joints
• Exercise strengthens your muscles and improves movement and flexibility

Non-surgical treatment options:

• Cortisone injections help reduce mild, chronic pain and inflammation
• Braces and splints stabilize the knee and reduce the pain of arthritis
• Physical therapy works to strengthen the muscles around your joint(s)
• Anti-inflammatory medications and Tylenol help reduce swelling and pain

Surgical treatment options: