There are various causes. Your knee joint can wear down as you get older, or you might injure your knee and tear the ligament or cartilage in it. Two common conditions that cause pain behind the knee are a posterior cruciate ligament injury and a popliteal cyst (Baker's cyst).
The pain behind the knee can be caused by several reasons, including the formation of blood clots, formation of cysts, injury of the tendon, injury of the muscles, or arthritis. While some of these causes may be less severe, the others may be more severe and require immediate medical consultation.
Calf or Hamstring Strain or Cramp
Sudden activity and overuse are two leading causes of pain behind the knee. This is due to a calf or hamstring strain or cramp, according to Dr. Tanaka. Movements that require pushing off or severe knee bending cause this calf and hamstring pain, respectively.
A sudden onset of swelling, tenderness, and pain in the leg could indicate that you have a DVT. If the discomfort and swelling is in the area behind the knee, it may be a popliteal vein thrombosis. Your doctor will do a physical exam. Following the exam, they may perform an ultrasound of your leg.
leg pain or discomfort that may feel like a pulled muscle, tightness, cramping or soreness. swelling in the affected leg. redness or discoloration of the sore spot. the affected area feeling warm to the touch.
You'll only need 1 or 2 days of rest to ease minor knee pain, but severe injuries may keep you off your feet longer. Talk to your doctor if it doesn't get better after a few days.
A mild sprain is healed after six weeks of resting and treating the knee. A severe strain or sprain can take as long as three to four months.
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.
Septic arthritis is also known as infectious arthritis, and is usually caused by bacteria. It can also be caused by a virus or fungus. The condition is an inflammation of a joint that's caused by infection. Typically, septic arthritis affects one large joint in the body, such as the knee or hip.
General symptoms of a knee strain or sprain include: Swelling, pain and tenderness in and around the knee. Buckling of the knee. Trouble bending the leg.
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.
Leg Pain Can Indicate Risk for a Heart Attack or Stroke
Peripheral artery disease that causes leg pain can be indicative of heart issues. People that have PAD are at a higher risk of having a stroke or heart attack. This could be a sign that the coronary arteries are blocked and the blood flow is reduced.
Does blood clot pain come and go? Unlike the pain from a charley horse that usually goes away after stretching or with rest, the pain from a blood clot does not go away and usually gets worse with time.
Leg Pain Could Indicate Vein or Artery Disease
Often, leg pain is misdiagnosed as simply muscle aches or arthritis. The reality is leg pain and cramps may be signs of a more serious underlying disease; therefore, you should discuss your leg challenges with a vascular specialist.
A knee strain occurs when a muscle or tendon stretches or tears. The severity of the strain can vary from mild to severe. Mild cases often do not require medical attention, and a person can treat them at home. More severe cases may require immobilization, physical therapy, or surgery.
Unless the condition is addressed, the injury may develop into permanent muscle damage, which not only decreases its physical functionality and performance but can also release proteins into the bloodstream. This condition then affects the body's kidneys and can lead to fatal complications.
When to Seek Medical Care. If you have a significant muscle injury (or if home remedies bring no relief in 24 hours), call your doctor. If you hear a "popping" sound with the injury, cannot walk, or there is significant swelling, pain, fever, or open cuts, you should be examined in a hospital's emergency department.
Gastrocnemius tendinitis (or tendinopathy) is inflammation (or more likely degeneration) of the calf muscle tendon at the back of the knee. It is an overuse injury more common in runners and sprinters. Symptoms include: Gradual onset pain behind the knee.