To pinpoint how it happened here are three types of knee pain causes: through injury, mechanical problem or arthritis.

Injuries can be caused by playing sports or running. Some of those knee injuries are a torn ACL, knee bursitis, torn meniscus and patellar tendinitis.

A mechanical problem is something as simple as “landing wrong.” It is anything but landing correctly. An example of that is jumping or lifting something and then landing on the ground with too much force. Another cause of mechanical problems with the knee is landing in an awkward pose causing the knee to bend, twist or break. Injuries that come from that are dislocated kneecaps, loose body, foot/hip pain and knees locking up.

Arthritis makes joints stiff and brittle. Types of arthritis are osteoarthritis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, septic arthritis, and pseudogout. When knee pain occurs it is caused by one of four ways: overuse, not enough stretching, no warm-ups/cool downs and using poor posture during a physical activity. Overuse is doing the same repetitive motion over and over again like climbing stairs. Other conditions that may lead to or come as a result of knee pain are osteochondritis dissecans, iliotibial band syndrome, osgood-Schlatter disease and chondromalacia patellae (patellofemoral pain syndrome).

Knee Pain Causes: Symptoms

Symptoms of knee pain are stiffness, swelling, redness, weakness, crunching/popping noises, warm to the touch and not being able to straighten the knee. Other symptoms are bleeding, prickling/burning feeling, muscle spasms, bruising/abrasion/laceration, abnormal sensations in the toes, flu like symptoms, walking with a limp and pain in the thigh/leg/hip/ankle. More serious symptoms of knee pain are discoloration, a cold leg, severe pain, popping sound at start of injury, red streaks, chest pain, a faint feeling, not able to walk, shortness of breath or severe thigh/lower leg/knee swelling. The types of people that are more at risk of knee pain are alpine skiers, basketball players, runners, joggers, people with structural abnormities, overweight people, history of previous knee injuries and no flexible strength in muscle.

Talk to a medical professional if pain occurs three days after home remedies, when pain is severe when elevated, knee is buckled/locked/clicks, when knee is deformed and when weight on the knee has unbearable pain. Also talk to a medical professional if the calf below the sore knee is swelling, numb, blue discoloration, tingling and in pain. A physical exam, x-ray, CT scan, MRI, ultrasound and lab tests may be done to determine the best treatment possible. Doctors will also ask questions for a more accurate treatment method. Whatever you do, get treatment. Without treatment the pain will increase and damage to the knee will worsen.

Knee Pain Causes: Treatment

There is a solution for knee pain causes. It just depends on the cause of knee pain and how severe the pain is. For the first stage of knee pain, start with home remedies. Rest and put ice on the area to reduce swelling. Make sure legs are elevated and not bent. Sleep with a pillow between the knees. Wear a bandage or a sleeve on the knee to reduce swelling and for support. If needed take medication like ibuprofen and acetaminophen (check with your physician first) to rid the pain. No aggravating activities during the healing process. If that first stage is caused by physical activity or overuse try alternative approaches to activity. Stretch the hamstring and quadriceps by warming up and cooling down. Cut back on exercises. When running or jogging, walk down a hill instead of running down one. Avoid running on cement and instead run on a smooth surface. On shoes, check for fit and cushioning. Get special shoes for flat feet. If running or jogging hurts take a swim or ride a bike. For overweight people it’s best to lose weight to reduce pressure on knees.

For more serious knee injuries consider knee therapy, injections or surgery. Taking knee therapy involves physical therapy, bracing and orthotics arch supports. Injections are injecting a drug into the problem area for pain relief. Two examples of that are hyaluronic acid and corticosteroids. Knee surgery is the last option to take. Partial knee replacement surgery takes out the most damaged parts of the knee and replaces it with metal and plastic parts. Total knee replacement replaces the whole knee with plastics, polymers and alloys. Arthroscopic surgery takes a different approach. Using small tools and camera surgeons take a look inside the knee and make changes. Those changes are repairing cartilage, rebuilding torn ligaments and removing loose parts in the knee joints. Weigh the pros and cons of each procedure before making a final decision.

There are other treatments to try for knee pain causes. Take a look at acupuncture for arthritis like osteoarthrits. Other arthritis relievers are chondroitin and glucosamine supplements. Knee pain sufferers use creams that contain capsaicin or numbing agents. Another medication to take is naproxen. I personally prefer Physicians Comfort Formula, but if you just want to take your own joint supplement that’s okay too.

To stop knee pain from coming or coming back take these preventative tips to heart. Maintain weight once losing it. Stretch quadriceps and hamstrings. Incorporate balance, flexibility and stability training in exercise. When exercising do high-impact moves in moderation and change the way exercise is done. Start slow and increase the exercise routine over time. Sports shoes need to be replaced often. Knee pain causes are not something to ignore. Know what caused it, what symptoms to look for and the best method of treatment to return to a healthy and active lifestyle.

For more information take a look at this short YouTube video that shoes a lot of common knee pain causes.