But it's a good idea to see a doctor if you have pain behind the knee. It may be a sign of something more urgent (such as a blood clot in your leg). If you have a posterior cruciate ligament injury, you can develop complications later if you don't get medical help for it.
The most common cause of pain behind the knee is a Bakers Cyst. A Bakers Cyst develops when excess fluid in the knee joint seeps out into the popliteal bursa causing it to swell. The main symptoms of a Bakers Cyst are tightness and pain behind the knee that gets worse when walking, kneeling, or bending the knee.
The muscle or tendon can be torn, especially from twisting activities, or injured through overuse. Symptoms may include: Acute (sudden onset), or gradual onset pain behind the knee. The back of your knee will feel tender when pressing in.
Less severe knee injuries may heal on their own, but don't wait any longer than 3-7 days for your knee pain to go away even if you feel your injury isn't very severe.
Schedule a doctor's visit
Make an appointment with your doctor if your knee pain was caused by a particularly forceful impact or if it's accompanied by: Significant swelling. Redness. Tenderness and warmth around the joint.
Pain with movement or activity in the knee. Swelling in the knee. Walking with a limp or a feeling that the knee is going to “give out” with standing and walking. The feeling of a “pop” or “snap” felt in the knee when the injury occurred.
Swelling or stiffness. Pain, especially when twisting or rotating your knee. Difficulty straightening your knee fully. Feeling as though your knee is locked in place when you try to move it.
A tearing or popping sensation. Swelling and inflammation. Not being able to straighten your knee. Tenderness and bruising.
Often you will have pain at the sides of the knee and swelling over the injury site. If it is an MCL injury, the pain is on the inside of the knee. An LCL injury may cause pain on the outside of the knee. The knee will also feel unstable, like it is going to give way.
Walking as a form of exercise has enormous benefits, particularly for older adults. It's easy on the joints and helps boost heart health and improve circulation and balance. And new research now suggests that taking a walk can reduce and prevent knee pain related to osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis.
When a person experiences pain in the back of their knee when straightening their leg, it is called posterior knee pain. Pain in the back of the knee, called the popliteal fossa, is common, but there is a wide range of causes, ranging from ligament injury to arthritis.
swelling in the knee or leg. leg pain or tenderness that may feel similar to a cramp. reddish skin discoloration. the leg being warm to the touch.
Knee Pain Caused by Nerve Aggravation (Sciatica)
Most often, sciatica is caused by compression of the nerve roots in either your lower back or from soft tissue in the buttocks. People often describe the sensation as a pain that travels or shoots down their limbs, commonly hitting that tender spot behind the knee.
Usually, people with popliteus tendinopathy feel pain at the back or outside of the knee during walking, stairs, and running. Sometimes, movement of the knee can cause a popping sensation. In addition, the knee can be tender to touch at the back and the outside.
Full recovery can take from 6 months to a year. It depends on how healthy you were before and how much effort you put into the process. You should plan for at least a week off work if you have a desk job and 4 to 6 months if you do manual labor.
In most cases, the injured person can still walk with the torn knee ligament. But the movement will be severely limited, not to mention painful. Surgery may be the best route to a pain-free life, with amazing success rates. If someone suspects a damaged ACL or MCL seek immediate medical attention.
The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is located toward the back of the knee. It is also a common knee ligament to be injured. However, the PCL injury usually happens with sudden, direct impact, such as in a car accident or during a football tackle.
Generally, athletes should see a healthcare provider for pain lasting more than 48 hours and other adults should see an expert if there seems to be no change for three weeks. Generally, most healthcare providers recommend that you schedule an appointment as soon as you notice that your symptoms impact the way you live.
Long-term knee instability
If you wait too long to treat a torn ACL, you're at risk of developing chronic knee pain and knee instability. Waiting to get treatment may mean that surgery is your only option. Or you may need to cope with ongoing instability by modifying your activities and giving up intensive sports.
Red flags in physical examination
For those who are symptomatic can present with discoloration, pain, warmth, swelling, and tenderness of the affected extremity (11).
To make a diagnosis, your doctor might take X-rays or other images of your knee. Blood or knee fluid samples can help confirm or rule out certain conditions. Treatment may include medication, special exercises, braces, or in some cases surgery. Losing weight could help lessen pressure and strain on your knees.
Type of Doctor to See For Knee Pain
To get the best possible treatment, choose an orthopedic doctor. Orthopedic doctors have the specialized knowledge and training needed to treat a wide variety of problems affecting the musculoskeletal system — bones, joints, cartilage, muscles, and nerves — including the knees.