Knee joints are arguably the most excruciating of all the joints we can experience pain from. If you are experiencing severe knee pain, you are not alone. Over 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain; knee pain is the second most common cause. Further, one-third of all Americans report experiencing knee pain at some time or another. Some of the most common causes of knee pain are obvious, such as injuries due to car accidents or physical activities. But what if you are experiencing knee problems that don't result from an injury? In this blog post, we'll cover a few possible causes of knee pain, what they feel like, and when to see a doctor.

Knee Pain Causes and Treatment Options

Rheumatoid arthritis

Baker's cyst

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Patellar Tendinitis

Knee tendonitis

Bursitis

Osgood-Schlatter disease

iliotibial band syndrome

Rheumatoid arthritis 

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that affects 1.3 million Americans. An autoimmune disease means your immune system attacks healthy cells in your body by mistake, causing inflammation (painful swelling) in the affected parts of the body. In RA, the lining of the joints is attacked, and there are usually multiple joints affected. RA affects young adults as well. They may be more likely to have inflammation in the small joints of their hands and feet and have bony erosions.

What does it feel like: You will feel stiffness, swelling, tenderness, or weakness in the joints. You may also experience fatigue, anemia, or malaise. In addition, you may notice bumps or swelling on your fingers or feel lumps or redness on your skin.

 When to see a doctor: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic condition that should be followed up by a doctor regularly. You should contact your doctor if you are experiencing any of the symptoms above. In addition, anti-inflammatory medications may be prescribed to relieve these symptoms. 

Baker's cyst

Also known as a popliteal cyst, baker's cysts are one of the most common disorders in the knee. These fluid-filled sacs form a lump at the back of the knee that often causes stiffness and discomfort. It is usually the result of a few health conditions, such as arthritis or torn cartilage, that cause the knee to produce too much lubricating fluid.

What does it feel like:  Symptoms include a bulge and a tight feeling behind the affected knee.

When to see a doctor: If it hurts more to straighten the knee than to bend it, you may have baker's cyst, and it's time to check in with a healthcare provider. Common sensations include feeling full and tight in the center of the back of the knee. The cysts may be drained, or cortisone injections may be recommended to help them. Baker's cysts may come back if the underlying condition isn't treated.

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Patellofemoral pain syndrome is pain at the front of the knee, around the knee cap, or the patella. Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome is also called runner's knee. It occurs when your kneecap has veered off the patellar groove. It's more common in people who run and play sports involving running and jumping. According to the Mayo Clinic, knee pain often increases when running, walking up or down stairs, sitting for long periods, or squatting. Simple treatments, such as rest and ice, often help. But sometimes, patellofemoral pain needs physical therapy.

What does it feel like: Pain in and around the kneecap that happens when you are active. Or pain after sitting for a long time with the knee bent. This syndrome sometimes causes weakness or feelings of instability. Also, rubbing, grinding, or clicking sound of the kneecap that you hear when you bend and straighten your knee. 

When to see a doctor: A physical therapist may develop a treatment plan to improve your ability to reduce and manage pain, restore function and prevent further damage. In severe cases, call your healthcare provider if the knee pain doesn't improve within a few days or if it gets harder to move the knee. 

Patellar Tendinitis

Also called jumper's knee, this injury commonly affects professional basketball and volleyball athletes. Repeated jumping motions slowly strain the patellar tendon over time, causing small tears over time and leading to inflammation and joint pain. Besides profession, age, and type of physical activity are also factors. Because patellar tendonitis happens gradually over time, people over 40 have a greater risk than adolescents or young adults. You may also develop patellar tendonitis if you participate in activities requiring a lot of jumping, sprinting, or sudden change of movements at fast speeds.

What does it feel like: knee pain, swelling, and stiffness are common symptoms.

When to see a doctor: If you feel pain during physical activity and aren't going away with rest, it's time to visit your health care provider. They may press all along your patellar tendon knee to gauge where it hurts. In addition, moving your knee in different directions can help your provider evaluate your range of motion. 

Osgood-Schlatter disease

The osgood-Schlatter disease is a childhood repetitive use injury that causes a painful lump below the kneecap. It is an inflammation of the area where the tendon from the kneecap (patellar tendon) attaches to the shinbone (tibia). This disease affects children experiencing growth spurts. Children who play sports in which they regularly run and jump are most at risk. The disease causes a painful lump below the kneecap. The condition usually resolves once the child's bones stop growing.

What does it feel like: a painful lump below the kneecap.

When to see a doctor: This condition usually resolves on its own. Make sure to rest, ice, compress and elevate. Physical therapy and stretching may also help. In rare cases, the pain persists after the bones have stopped growing. Surgery is recommended only if there are bone fragments that did not heal. An orthopedic surgeon can advise if surgical repair is needed.

Common knee injuries

meniscus tears (torn meniscus), ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury

The anterior cruciate ligament is one of the key ligaments that help stabilize the knee joint. The ACL connects the thighbone (femur) to the shinbone (tibia). It's most commonly torn during sports involving sudden stops and direction changes - such as basketball, soccer, tennis, and volleyball.

Please note I am not a medical doctor. This article is only for your information. If you are experiencing discomfort or severe pain, please seek medical help. Diagnosing a knee injury or problem includes a medical examination, usually using a diagnostic procedure such as an x-ray, MRI, CT scan, or arthroscopy.