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.
Deep vein thrombosis, tendonitis, muscle spasm, and a Baker's cyst are some of the reasons of discomfort below or behind the knee and calf. Although these are frequent illnesses that might cause discomfort, other medical disorders can also cause discomfort in certain areas of the legs.
Take over-the-counter NSAID drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen to ease pain and swelling. RICE -- rest, ice, compression, and elevation -- can often help, too: Get off your feet. Raise your leg so it's higher than your heart.
Hamstring Injuries
Pain behind the knee or in the back of the thigh may be caused by a tear in one of the hamstring muscles. Hamstring tears develop when one of the muscles is overstretched, beyond their elastic limit, causing some or all of the muscle fibres to tear.
You should see a doctor if: you cannot put weight on your leg. you have severe pain, even when you don't put any weight on it. your knee buckles, clicks, or locks.
During a physical exam, the health care provider will look for a soft lump in the back of the knee. If the cyst is small, comparing the affected knee to the normal knee can be helpful. There may be a decrease in range of motion caused by pain or by the size of the cyst.
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.
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.
Generally, swelling at the back of the knee is due to a Baker's cyst. However, Baker's cysts are not usually painful. You must see your doctor if you experience severe pain and swelling behind the knee.
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.
See your health care provider as soon as possible if you have: Symptoms of infection, such as redness, warmth or tenderness, or you have a fever greater than100 F (37.8 C). A leg that is swollen, pale or cooler than usual. Calf pain, especially after sitting for a long time, such as on a long car trip or plane ride.
Yes, calf pain and knee pain are usually linked to some degree. If you have arthritis, you may experience pain the radiates from the knee to the calf. Arthritic joint discomfort is primarily caused by inflammation.
Rest: Stop running or physical activity to avoid further damaging the calf. Ice: Apply an ice pack or cold compress for 20 minutes every two hours. Don't apply ice directly to your skin. Compression: Reduce swelling and fluid buildup by applying a compression bandage or wrap to the injured area.
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.
Popliteus injury symptoms
Symptoms include: Pain at the back of your knee joint. Your knee will feel tender when pressing in at the back. It is likely to be painful when trying to bend your knee against resistance, whilst your tibia (shin bone) is rotated outwards.
Diagnostic Test
Patient seated, hip and knee are both flexed to 90°. The patient actively externally rotates the lower leg and this is resisted by the examiner. A positive test is pain during the maneuver in the location of the popliteus muscle or tendon.
To test the popliteus, the patient can be placed on his back on the table with the knee in a 90 degree flexion and the foot in dorsiflexion. To test the popliteus, the therapist then has to going push the foot and underleg externally while the patient has to maintain his position.
If you do have symptoms, they might include: Swelling behind the knee, and sometimes in the leg. Knee pain. Stiffness and inability to fully flex the knee.
A Baker's cyst can sometimes rupture (burst), resulting in fluid leaking down into your calf. This causes a sharp pain in your calf, which becomes swollen, tight and red, but redness can be harder to see on brown and black skin. The fluid will gradually be reabsorbed into the body within a few weeks.
A ruptured Baker's cyst may be mistaken for a blood clot in the leg, or deep vein thrombosis, a serious condition that requires immediate medical treatment. It can be hard to tell the two conditions apart based on appearance. If you have swelling associated with pain in your calf, seek medical attention right away.
Red flags in physical examination
For those who are symptomatic can present with discoloration, pain, warmth, swelling, and tenderness of the affected extremity (11).
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.