What to Know About Joint Pain in the Knee

When there are problems that affect joints, or the areas where bones meet together, you may experience pain along with other symptoms like swelling and stiffness.

The knee is the largest and strongest joint in your body. Here’s what to know about the potential causes of joint pain in the knee, as well as the symptoms and treatment options.

Common causes of knee joint pain may include the following:

Arthritis

Arthritis refers to joint pain, stiffness, and inflammation.

While there are more than 100 types of arthritis, osteoarthritis (OA) is the one that most often affects the knee. OA is also most likely in adults over 50 years of age and is known as a “wear-and-tear” type of arthritis, where joint damage occurs from knee cartilage breaking down.

Other types of arthritis that can affect the knee include post-traumatic arthritis, which develops years after an injury, as well as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune disease in which your immune system may attack joints in both knees.

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Bursitis

Bursitis is a type of inflammation of a bursa, which is a small sac that cushions your bones, tendons, and muscles. It can cause pain, swelling, and redness along the infected joint.

Prepatellar bursitis is a subtype that affects the kneecap. It’s caused by chronic kneeling, falls, or direct injuries incurred from contact sports or in people who work on their knees, like carpenters or floor installers.

Unlike arthritis, bursitis tends to have a sudden and severe onset. You might also feel pain that extends beyond the affected joint.

Gout

Gout is a common type of inflammatory arthritis that most often starts in your lower limbs, particularly the big toe. It’s caused by a buildup of uric acid in the body, which may then lead to the development of crystals within the affected joints.

A gout flare-up may cause severe pain, swelling, and stiffness that may last 1 to 2 weeks at a time. This condition is also most common in middle-aged adults.

Chondromalacia of the patella

Chondromalacia is specific to the kneecaps and is caused by a breakdown of cartilage. It’s most common in athletes, such as runners, as well as people born female. In some cases, it may evolve into OA.

Tendinitis

Tendinitis is a type of overuse injury that results in inflammation of the tendons, which connect between your muscles and bones. The knees are commonly affected areas, as well as the hips, elbows, and shoulders.

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Joint infection

Also known as septic arthritis or infectious arthritis, a joint infection may develop if a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection spreads to your joints. It most commonly develops in the knee joints, though the ankles, hips, and wrists are also sometimes affected.

Along with a rapid onset of pain and swelling, you might also experience fever and chills.

  • fever
  • chills
  • malaise

Osteoporosis

Mostly affecting people born female over the age of 50 , osteoporosis is an age-related bone disease that can lead to weakness and fractures. It may affect any part of the body, though the wrists, spine, and hips are more common.

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is known for causing widespread pain and extreme fatigue. Aside from pain in your joints, you may also experience flu-like symptoms and brain fog. The exact cause is unknown, but fibromyalgia is most common in people ages 30 to 55, and may accompany autoimmune disease.

Injury

Injuries from falls and direct blows to the knee may also cause joint pain. The most common types of knee-related injuries include fractures, as well as sprains, dislocations, and ligament tears.

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