Knee pain
Knee pain can be subdivided according to where it occurs on the knee. Knee pain on the inside of the knee can indicate a lesion of the medial meniscus or the medial ligament. In addition, they often occur in the context of wear and tear, for example in the case of knee joint arthrosis on the inside of the knee joint.
Incorrect strain when walking due to unsuitable footwear, malposition of the feet or leg axis, and a difference in leg length can cause pain on the inside of the knee. The same applies to the outside of the knee joint. Pain localized there (see: external knee pain), in contrast to pain on the inside, is more likely to indicate involvement of the external ligament or the external meniscus.
Knee joint arthrosis can also be the cause of this if it is more likely to affect the outer knee joint area. In acute injuries of the menisci or ligaments, the pain is usually sharp, sudden and often accompanied by other symptoms such as swelling or overheating of the joint region and joint effusion. In degenerative processes, such as osteoarthritis, the pain usually develops over a longer period of time and mainly occurs when the joint is under stress.
Knee pain that is mainly concentrated in the hollow of the knee (see: Pain in the hollow of the knee) can also have different causes. For example, pain in the popliteal fossa can occur when the rear part of a meniscus is injured. Inflammation or alteration of muscle tendons and knee joint arthrosis in this area can also explain the symptoms.
In the case of arthrosis or meniscus damage in the joint, a so-called Baker cyst can develop over time. This is a bulge in the joint capsule that is filled with fluid. Once it reaches a certain size, the Baker cyst can be felt as a swelling in the hollow of the knee and can also cause pain there.
If pain is felt in the hollow of the knee, a thrombosis – a blood clot – in the blood vessels of the lower leg must always be considered. Knee pain can also be located behind the kneecap. This is typical of so-called retropatellar arthrosis, an arthrosis that develops directly behind the patella. A muscular imbalance or congenital deformation of the patella can also cause pain behind the patella, as the patella is then unable to slide in the bone groove provided for it. This leads to friction and wear and tear in the joint and, secondarily, to pain.
