What can cause Knee Pain without injury?

Knees are one of the most utilized joints of the human body. Because of this overuse, they are highly prone to damage. Several things can cause knee pain. Knee pain affects the quality of life as it creates an inability to bend or move around.

Knee pain causes a lot of discomforts and depending on the specific case, knee pain may

• Restrict movement
• Affect muscle control
• Reduce strength
• Prevent mobility

Causes of Knee Pain

Knees are vital for our daily lives as they bear much of our body’s weight. There are several factors that can cause knee pain, ankle fracture , shoulder dislocation ranging from injuries and traumas to medical conditions. However, the following are the few ailments that can be linked to knee pain. 

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of knee pain in older patients, especially those who are over 40. It occurs when the cartilage protecting the ends of bones breaks down, causing the bones within the joint to rub together. This cartilage degeneration can cause knee pain and irritation in surrounding tissues.  

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an extremely painful condition that causes the joints in the body to be pretty much constantly inflamed. It occurs when the immune system stops working properly resulting in inflammation and pain in both the knee joints.

Bursitis

Bursitis is a swelling of the fluid-filled sack around the joint, just above the kneecap. When the bursa on the knees gets damaged, it will inflame and cause pain on the knees.  

Also Read About: Swelling in The Knee

Kneecap Dislocation or Patellar Dislocation

Kneecap dislocation is another common cause of knee pain that occurs when the kneecap does not properly align with the groove known as the trochlea. This groove is what the kneecap slides up and down on as the leg bends.

Iliotibial Band Syndrome

The iliotibial band is a thick band of fibrous tissue which goes down the outside of the leg, starting at the hip and ending at the outside of the shin bone. This band works with the quadriceps muscle and other thigh muscles in order to ensure that there is stability for the knee.

Also Read About: Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome

Iliotibial band syndrome is an irritation in the band. Usually, the irritation can be noticed on the outside of the knee accompanied by pain, that can range from mild to severe.

Jumper’s knee or patellar tendonitis

This condition is mostly seen in athletes, who tend to use a lot of repetitive movements that involve running and jumping. It can be painful and centralized directly around the patellar tendon accompanied by inflammation to go along with the pain.

Many people experience jumper’s knee pain while doing certain activities, such as running, jumping, kneeling and going up and downstairs.   

Tumour in the Knee

Tumours at the knee joint are rare and may develop slowly. These tumours cause intermittent and eventually constant pain accompanied by joint replacement. This pain may be more notable during nights causing awakening from sleep.   

Infection

There is a possibility that infection can cause severe knee pain. Bacteria or other microorganisms may infect the tissues surrounding the knee joint which results in knee pain accompanied by knee inflammation.    

Being Overweight or Obese

Being overweight puts extra weight and stress on your knees. The extra stress on the knee joints wears them out faster increasing your likelihood of pain. Obesity is a major risk factor for knee pain. It often increases the risk of symptomatic knee osteoarthritis.

Conclusion

There are a number of other causes of knee pain such as bunion surgery, Tendinitis, Baker’s cyst, Meniscal tear etc. Many of these causes can be treated and relieved with a proper treatment plan that may include exercise, hot/cold therapy, medications, minimally invasive procedures like arthroscopy and in the extreme cases, surgeries like total knee replacement.

If you are suffering from persistent knee pain, consult your doctor online. Your doctor may find out the cause of your knee pain and help you get to work at becoming pain-free as soon as possible.