Pain in the hollow of the knee
If pain occurs in the hollow of the knee, it does not necessarily mean that the knee joint is injured. Often it is also an inflamed or irritated nerve endings in the upper or lower leg, whose pain can radiate into the hollow of the knee. Other causes of pain can also be a leg vein thrombosis or a Baker cyst.
If the inner meniscus is responsible for the pain in the popliteal fossa, the affected person does not feel the pain centrally but rather on the left or right side of the popliteal fossa. Rotational movements or excessive strain can make the pain worse. The affected persons usually describe the pain in the hollow of the knee as pulling and stabbing.
How the pain in the hollow of the knee is ultimately treated depends on the actual cause. Sometimes a few days of relief for the affected knee joint are sufficient, and cooling or warmth can also be effective. If the pain is more serious or persistent, a doctor should be consulted. It is often possible to get a grip on problems yourself with simple exercises and prevent injuries by consciously warming up before sporting activities.
Summary
In summary, pain in the knee joint cannot be determined precisely without a precise examination or after obvious trauma, because the pain often radiates or the exact location of the pain cannot be determined. Unfortunately, an injury to the inner meniscus occurs more frequently due to its anatomical position. This affects not only competitive athletes but everyone, because it only requires a careless movement to increase the forces acting on the joint in such a way that the inner meniscus is affected.
The cause of the pain should always be clarified, so that the potential damage is not increased by incorrect or overloading and further damage is not caused. If the inner meniscus is affected by an injury, this usually manifests itself as pain when the knee joint rotates outward, when pressure is applied to the joint space or when the person affected squats or comes up again. Particularly in the case of acute injuries, for example during sports, the pain can be very strong and stabbing and can be accompanied by swelling of the joint.
In some cases, the knee joint is also blocked, especially if parts of the cartilage come loose during the injury. If, on the other hand, the inner meniscus is only torn, the affected person may not notice this or may experience only slight pain. In many cases, however, it is not the inner meniscus itself that is responsible for the pain, but the surrounding muscle tissue, which is tense or overloaded.If this is stretched, loosened or warmed up sufficiently, the pain disappears for many people afterwards.
