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What Can Cause Pain In The Back Of Your Knee

Whats Behind The Knee

“Can Knee Pain Cause Back Pain?”

The back of the knee has complicated anatomy.

As well as the knee joint that sits in the middle, there are muscles from the thigh and calf that pass through this area. Firstly, the large hamstring muscles start from the pelvis and pass across the knee to attach to the lower leg bones. In addition, the large calf muscles start at the bottom part of the thigh and cross the knee to form the large Achilles tendon.

Finally, there are important nerves and blood vessels that cross the back of the knee to supply the lower leg and foot.

Dealing With Knee Pain

Put off or prevent knee pain by maintaining a healthy weight, wearing shoes that fit properly and even getting a lesson or two from a professional in your sport of choice can be a lifesaver when it comes to your knees.

In the meantime, try over-the-counter pain relievers and ice or heat to keep the swelling down. Rest up when youre feeling your knee aching and consider trying a compression bandage. The bandage should be tight enough to prevent fluid build-up, but not so tight as to affect your circulation.

If you decide its time to see a doctor, itll be helpful if you can remember when the pain first started, what you were doing when it happened, and what brings you relief.

Your doctor might suggest physical therapy to strengthen the muscles around your knee at first, and maybe even a steroid injection. Surgery could be an option as well. You and your doctor will decide on a treatment plan based on several factors, including what you want from your knees and the activity level of your lifestyle.

Remember, you dont have to live with pain. There are many options available for you and you can choose your comfort level. Be sure to talk with your doctor to get an idea of the course your knee pain will follow and how you can treat it.

Information provided by Lige Kaplan, M.D., Beaumont orthopedic surgeon.

Sciatic Nerve Links The Back To The Legs

The most common back ailments that cause pain in the knees are related to the sciatic nerve. If you have back pain and feel a shooting sensation originating from your lower back running down your leg and through your knee, your sciatic nerve is to blame.

As the longest and largest nerve that runs through the body, the sciatic nerve if damaged or compromised can cause debilitating pain. The condition is called sciatica, and it is often the byproduct of a degenerative nerve condition or an injury .

When any part of the spine puts pressure on the sciatic nerve, the result may be shooting pain or a tingling sensation that travels from the back down to your hips, buttocks, knees, and feet.

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When To Contact A Medical Professional

  • You cannot bear weight on your knee.
  • You have severe pain, even when not bearing weight.
  • Your knee buckles, clicks, or locks.
  • Your knee is deformed or misshapen.
  • You cannot flex your knee or have trouble straightening it all the way out.
  • You have a fever, redness or warmth around the knee, or a lot of swelling.
  • You have pain, swelling, numbness, tingling, or bluish discoloration in the calf below the sore knee.
  • You still have pain after 3 days of home treatment.

Whilst Squatting With A Heavy Load I Heard A Pop And Experienced Sudden Pain Should I Go To My Gp

What Can Cause Pain In The Back Of The Knee?

A popping or cracking sound on its own is not unusual and nothing to be worried about. However, if accompanied by sudden pain you may have damaged one of your knee ligaments , or torn a meniscus. You should consult your doctor. If the problem does not clear up I would be happy to see you and assess things further.

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Why Am I Getting Pain At The Back Of My Knee

Published on: 4th February 2020

When it comes to knee pain, we often tend to think first of the front and sides. But pain that comes from the back of the knee is probably every bit as common.

It would be helpful if there was a single likely reason for this! But in fact the causes of back-of-knee pain can be very diverse. You could experience it as a sudden pain or a gradual ache. There may be swelling and inflammation or none at all. You might find it difficult to fully extend your leg.

In other words we need to do some narrowing down to find out whats going on. One useful starting point is to think in terms of problems inside or outside the knee joint: in medical-speak, intra- or extra-articular causes. Lets have a look at the most common ones.

Pain Behind Knee: What Should You Do

In general, pain behind the knee is one of the more challenging musculoskeletal problems. There are so many possible causes muscle tear, tendon, nerve damage, and blood clots. Like most other problems, the key to managing it correctly is an early and accurate diagnosis. So, what are the causes of pain behind the knee, and how do sort out what is causing the problem?

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Causes Of Meniscus Tears

Acute meniscus tears typically happen with more vigorous types of activities such as sports, particularly when twisting is involved.

Furthermore, even symptomatic meniscus tears can often be treated without surgery. Research shows that outcomes with nonsurgical treatment of degenerative meniscus tears is similar to that of surgical treatment .

Meniscectomy, surgical removal of part of the meniscus, can lead to quicker joint degeneration and increase chances for early onset of arthritis, so it is generally advised to leave as much of the meniscus intact as possible.

Why Does My Knee Pain Come And Go

How To Relieve Pain In The Back of Your Knee

A sharp stabbing pain in the knee that comes and goes is actually pretty common. This is because many of the potential conditions that result in knee pain flare up.

For example, if you go a few days without much physical activity, the pain in your knee may subside a bit. But then if you exercise, play a sport, or even walk up a flight of stairs you normally wouldnt, the pain will come charging back in full force.

Thats not to say you will feel no pain one day, and wake up the next day in agony. Usually, the pain is always there as a dull, aching sensation. But after certain activities, the pain may become more intense, coming and going in waves as a sharp, stabbing, or even burning pain.

Lets get into what you came here to learn about today the most common causing of sharp, stabbing pain in the knee that comes and goes.

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Damage To The Ligaments Of The Knee

Ligaments are strong, flexible, fibrous and elastic connective tissue which connect one bone to another, provide stability and support joints. They do not connect muscles to joints, that is done by the tendons.

The ligaments of the knee comprise the medial and lateral collateral ligaments, on the inside and outside of the knee respectively, which give sideways stability to the knee joint, and the anterior and posterior cruciate ligament at the front and back of the knee. There is also a patellar tendon, which is really a ligament, which attaches the bottom of the patella to the top of the tibia.

Muscle And Tendon Conditions

The shallow depression formed at the back of the knee is called the popliteal fossa it is formed at the junction of the femur and tibia. There is a muscle here on the floor of the popliteal fossa which is the deepest muscle of the knee joint. It works on the femur to rotate it on the tibia when walking. Through the popliteal depression a bundle of muscles run from the pelvis to the knee and attach to the tibia and fibula respectively by tendons. These three muscles are collectively called the hamstring muscles, and function to extend the leg and bend the knee.

At the back of the lower leg the calf muscles are composed of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles which flex the leg at the knee and flex the ankle via the achilles tendon.

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Patellar Tendonitis And Tear

Patellar tendonitis is inflammation of the patellar tendon. That’s a large tendon connecting your kneecap to the top of your tibia.

Patellar tendonitis is most common in athletes who do a lot of running and jumping. It’s often described as a constant dull pain that becomes sharp when you’re active.

In some cases, a weak patellar tendon can tear. A patellar tendon tear causes:

  • Severe pain
  • Swelling over the knee
  • A tearing or popping sensation

If it’s a bad tear, you might notice an indentation at the bottom of your kneecap. The knee may give out when you walk.

Pain In The Back Of The Knee: The 6 Major Causes

What causes sharp pain behind knee? How can it be managed ...

Welcome to the latest episode of HT Physio Quick Tips!

In this episode, Farnhams leading over-50s physiotherapist, Will Harlow, reveals the 6 major causes of pain in the back of the knee. Youll learn about each of the 6 major causes, what leads to pain in the back of the knee and how to relieve it.

To get a copy of Wills new book, Thriving Beyond Fifty, you can visit here: Get Your Copy HERE!

If youre over-50 with a painful problem in the Farnham, Surrey area, you can learn more about how Will Harlow and HT Physio can help you overcome a painful problem here: Request Information About Cost & Availability

**Any information in this video should not be used as a substitute for individual medical advice. Please seek advice from your local healthcare professional before taking action on the information in this video.**

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Knee Pain: What Causes It What Can You Do About It

If you type knee into Google, the suggested topic that pops up first is knee pain.

Thats not a coincidence. At some point, most of us have experienced knee pain caused by everything from everyday wear and tear to sports, recreation or injuries. It knows no age, either. Depending on your activity level and health, you could experience knee pain as a young person, or as a senior.

How Can A Bad Back Cause Knee Pain

So why can back issues cause knee pain? At first glance, they’re not related. Your back isn’t connected directly to your knees, after all.

A large part of the relationship between your back and your knees is how you hold yourself and how you walk. Everything from low back pain to tension in your shoulders can affect how you stand and walk. For example, If you’re trying to compensate for a herniated disc or chronic pain in your spine, you’ll start to walk differently in an attempt to relieve the pain. This is a common cause of joint pain in your knees, as you put more pressure on the ligaments and meniscus there. Additionally, even if you arent experiencing pain in your back, you may have problems with tightness or flexibility in your neck, back, hips, or upper legs, with all can contribute to posture problems and gait problems. Without the support usually offered by your back and spine when it is strong, with optimal flexibility and posture, your knees are left to do all the work. Unfortunately, that’s not what they’re made for.

When both are perfectly healthy, your back and knees work together to help you move. Your knee joint allows you range of motion. Your back helps keep you stable and absorbs some of the shock from your movements. When both are pain-free, and moving healthily, they support each other so they can both do their jobs easily.

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Tight Hamstrings Or Neural Tension

Many people end up experiencing tight hamstrings despite stretching on a regular basis.

Sometimes this tightness will be alleviated with more consistent, targeted stretching. But if youre diligent about it and still dont feel any changes in your flexibility, your tight hamstrings may actually be a symptom of neural tension.

Neural tension typically starts within the sciatic nerve and mimics a similar sensation as tight hamstrings, but youre also more likely to experience a sharper feeling in the back of your knee when stretching.

Causes Of Sudden Knee Pain

What causes sharp pain behind knee? How can it be managed? – Dr. Navinchand D J

The knee is a complex joint with many moving parts, making it very injury prone.

As we get older, the stress of everyday movements can trigger symptoms of pain in our knees.

If you notice sudden knee pain, it can be hard to know what caused it or what you should do next.

Sometimes sudden knee pain is a medical emergency that requires attention from a medical professional, while some knee conditions you can treat at home.

However, if you have sudden knee pain that turns into persistent pain, you should always see a doctor.

In the article below, we will talk about the causes of sudden knee pain to plan your next steps.

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Find Knee Pain Treatment Near You

Several things can cause sudden knee pain.

If your knee pain doesnt go away, though, you should see a doctor right away.

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms, complete a physical exam, and order imaging tests like x-rays or MRIs.

After they can properly diagnose your knee pain, they will discuss your treatment options.

Quick treatment can prevent a short-term knee issue from becoming long-term, chronic pain.

Theres no reason for you to suffer from chronic knee pain, especially when the Ethos Health Group is here to help.

If you want to learn more about what the Ethos Health Group can do for your knee pain, click the button below to schedule a free consultation.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

The anterior cruciate ligament is a band of tissue that runs through the front of your knee joint. It connects your thighbone to your shinbone and helps stabilize and provide movement to your knee.

Most ACL injuries happen when you slow down, stop, or change direction suddenly while running. You can also strain or tear this ligament if you land a jump wrong, or you get hit in a contact sport like football.

You might feel a pop when the injury happens. Afterward, your knee will hurt and swell up. You might have trouble fully moving your knee and feel pain when you walk.

Rest and physical therapy can help an ACL strain heal. If the ligament is torn, youll often need surgery to fix it. Heres what to expect during ACL reconstruction.

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How Should I Sleep With Knee Pain

If youre lying on your back, place a cushion between your legs for support. Maintain a flexed posture for your knee when lying on your side to reduce discomfort. Try not to sleep with your legs crossed at any time. If you are experiencing knee discomfort as a result of an injury, you should consult with an orthopaedic professional.

How Is Knee Pain In Teens Diagnosed

Baker

Your healthcare provider will ask about your teens knee pain:

  • Is there a known cause for the knee pain does it happen with certain movements or is there no specific known event?
  • How long has the pain been present?
  • Where on or around your knee do you feel pain?
  • Does the pain wake you up at night?

Your provider will perform a physical exam, checking:

  • Kneecap and knee stability.
  • Alignment of lower leg, kneecap and thigh.
  • Range of motion of hips and knees.
  • Thigh muscle strength, flexibility, firmness.

Your provider may order imaging tests including X-rays or a CT scan or MRI .

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When To See A Doctor

If you are experiencing chronic pain or pain more associated with serious injury, see your doctor promptly. Not addressing your pain properly can lead to increased pain, joint damage, and disability. Depending on the cause of your knee pain, your doctor may suggest the following treatments:

  • Medications: Your doctor may prescribe medications to help relieve pain in the back of the knee and swelling and treat underlying conditions like arthritis.
  • Physical therapy: Your doctor may prescribe stretching exercises or a physical therapy/rehabilitation program to help you restore range of motion, strength and stability to your knee.
  • Injections: In some situations, your doctor may suggest injecting medications and other substances directly into the knee joint in order to reduce inflammation, lubricate the knee and promote healing.
  • Surgery: If conservative measures do not provide relief, your doctor may recommend surgical options.

What To Do If Your Back Is Causing Pain In Your Knees

If your back can cause knee pain, it’s obvious that helping fix your back pain is a necessary part of your treatment plan. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to address back pain.

Speak with your medical provider about evaluation and referral to a physical therapist. A physical therapist can help you with strengthening exercises. Specifically targeting problematic weak areas, or areas that are not as flexible as they should, the physical therapist will help stabilize and strengthen your spine to improve your pain. Physical therapy exercises help strengthen your back, abdominal, and lower body muscles to prevent future damage. It can help you build proper posture and support for your back, so you don’t return to the same problems. Some people choose to visit a chiropractor. Chiropractors have helped many people with problems related to the spine through spinal adjustments . However, in some injuries or cases this treatment is not recommended, and chiropractic treatments also have risks. Consult with a Babylon healthcare provider for more information.

Over-the-counter painkillers can help you manage chronic pain or pain from an injury. These include tylenol, ibuprofen, aleve, and naproxen. Prescription strength ones are also available. You can pair them with heating pads, especially for stiff backs from arthritis, or ice packs, for swelling and inflammation from injuries. There are also some topical ointments available over-the-counter for back pain.

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