Anyone can have inner knee pain – from the youngest of athletes to the oldest of the elderly, and everyone else in between, such as desk jobs. Inner knee pain affects everyone and can affect anyone while walking upstairs, standing up from a chair. Dull ache, sharp pain, and swelling in the inner knee are all signs of inner knee pain, leading to long-term chronic pain if not addressed.
Learning about the causes of inner knee pain, diagnosis, and the types of treatment available to treat inner knee pain can lead to a quicker recovery and reduce the risk of causing long-term damage to the knee joint.
What Is Inner Knee Pain?
Pain on the inside of the knee joint is called inner knee pain. Lots of different things like ligaments, cartilage, tendons, and the bones of the knee joint help to keep the knee stable and moving.
Knee pain can occur suddenly from an accident, or develop slowly from everyday living. A lot of people notice that when they walk they get pain in their knees, they wake up with stiff knees every morning, and they have swelling that gets worse when they’re active.
What Causes Inner Knee Pain?
The inner part of your knee may hurt for many different reasons. Best Orthopedic Hospital in Jaipur. Some injuries and many chronic conditions will cause you pain on the inside of your knees.
1. Medial Meniscus Tear
The medial meniscus is cartilage that provides a cushion between the two bones in your knee joint. Torn cartilage commonly occurs from sports, sudden twisting, or simply from everyday movements or as a person ages. Common symptoms of a bad tear are swelling, difficulty bending the knee and pain.
2. Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) Injury
An MCL injury results from an inward bending motion (knee going towards midline) of the leg. Injuries to this ligament occur mainly from sports, although some will require rehabilitation after an accident. An injury will cause pain and instability in your knee.
3. Osteoarthritis of the Knee
Osteoarthritis of the knee often affects the medial compartment (inner) of the knee joint. As the cartilage of the joint breaks down, you may experience symptoms such as pain and stiffness in the medial compartment as well as swelling in the medial compartment, especially after long periods of standing or walking.
4. Pes Anserine Bursitis
Pes anserine bursitis occurs when the bursa (a clear, fluid-filled sac) located on the inner side of the knee becomes inflamed. This condition occurs most commonly in runners, people who are overweight, or those with diabetes.
5. Overuse or Poor Alignment
Repeated trauma, improper footwear, flat feet, or poor alignment of the legs may cause extra stress to the inner knee. With time, the repeated stress will lead to pain and possible injury to the inside of the knee.
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What Are the Common Symptoms of Inner Knee Pain?
The signs and symptoms of ACL injury vary considerably depending on the source of the injury; however, some of the common symptoms associated with ACL injuries include
- Pain on the inside of the knee (medial aspect of the knee)
- Swelling in the inner area of the knee
- Pain while walking or going up stairs
- Stiffness in the morning, which may lessen as the day progresses.
- Tenderness when touching the inner part of the knee (medial knee).
- Instability or weakness in the knee joint.
How Is Inner Knee Pain Diagnosed?
Knee pain can be assessed by doctors using a clinical evaluation and imaging tests.
Medical History and Physical Examination
The clinical evaluation includes your medical history and physical examination. Your doctor will ask questions such as:
- When did the pain start?
- Did you have an injury or accident from playing sports?
- What activities seem to make the pain worse? Relax it?
- Your doctor will also check for knee motion, swelling, and stability.
Imaging Test
Imaging tests provide additional information about the type of injury and the severity of the injury.
- The xray can show if arthritis or bone problems are present.
- An MRI is a great way to see if there are any tears of the ligaments, meniscus, and damage to the cartilage.
- An ultrasound of the knee can be used to view soft tissue inflammation.
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How Is Inner Knee Pain Treated?
The method of treatment will depend on each individual’s situation, including how severe the issue is and how well they live their life. Most patients will experience an improvement from treatment without requiring surgery.
1. Rest and Change in Activity
To assist the healing process, avoid all activities that exacerbate your pain. The types of activities that are helpful are generally low-impact, such as walking on a treadmill instead of running and doing leg presses instead of squats.
2. Ice and Heat Therapy
The use of ice helps alleviate swelling and inflammation; however, heating up the area will relax stiff muscles.
3. Medications
Physician-prescribed medications may be provided to assist with controlling pain and reducing swelling.
4. Physical Therapy
Targeted physical therapy increases the strength of the muscles located around the knee and helps improve flexibility and restore mobility.
5. Orthotic Devices
Orthotic devices, such as knee braces, orthotics, or the appropriate type of shoe, decrease the amount of stress on the inside of the knee joint.
Best Exercises for Inner Knee Pain
Recovery will depend on the type and extent of injury to the inner knee. Gentle exercises, as part of a rehabilitation program, are very beneficial for recovery. For more severe pain, these exercises should not be performed without guidance from a professional.
Quadriceps strengthening exercises support and stabilise the knee joint by reducing the amount of weight and load on it.
Hamstring stretching exercises promote flexibility and decrease the stiffness of the muscles behind the knee.
Straight leg raising exercises use the muscle groups in the thigh to build strength and endurance, but do so without placing any load or pressure on the knee joint.
Wall squats (partial) allow for muscle strengthening while maintaining stability of the joint.
When Is Surgery Required for Inner Knee Pain?
Surgical procedures will typically only be performed after conservative methods have been exhausted or in very extreme situations. The following should be considered when determining whether surgery is appropriate:
– A major injury of the meniscus
– An injury to a ligament which creates a lack of stability
– Severe osteoarthritis that interferes with a person’s ability to perform regular day-to-day tasks
– Persistent pain that has not responded to treatment
The type of surgery performed may range from arthroscopic repairs to total knee replacements, depending upon the severity of the patient’s condition.
Conclusion
Jaipur Hospital knows how limiting inner knee pain can be to a person’s ability to move around comfortably and enjoy an active lifestyle. Early diagnosis and customised treatment, as well as guided rehabilitation, are key to achieving successful long-term recovery from injury. Our highly trained team of orthopaedic professionals and physiotherapy staff are dedicated to treating the cause of your pain rather than just alleviating symptoms so our patients can live an active, pain-free life.
If you are dealing with abnormal inner knee pain; swelling, or difficulty walking, seeking healthcare in a timely manner will be beneficial for recovery. We strive to help our patients regain their ability to move freely and with confidence as soon as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are the causes of inner knee pain when walking?
Ans. Pain in the inner knee when walking is usually the result of ligaments being overstressed, wear on cartilage, or arthritis, particularly when you bear heavier weight through your inner knee.
2. What does swelling in an inner knee mean, should I be concerned?
Ans. Swelling could be a sign of inflammation or an injury or infection and needs to be checked by a doctor if it doesn’t go down within a week.
3. Does inner knee pain that continues over time need medical help or would it go away on its own?
Ans. Inner knee pain that continues requires medical attention to avoid further injury; however, the mild cases can often get better through rest and exercise.