What Causes Pain Behind the Knee?

The knee joint takes a lot of impact from daily activities like walking, squatting, bending over, standing up and sitting down. So it shouldn’t come as a big surprise that knee pain and knee injuries are very common. 

But correctly identifying the cause behind knee pain can be challenging because different conditions and injuries cause pain in different areas: you can experience pain in front of the knee, under the kneecap, on the inside or outside of the knee, or pain behind the knee. 

Pain behind the knee — also called posterior knee pain — is a common ache. If you have pain in the back of the knee, the following are a list of conditions that may be causing it. 

What Causes Back of Knee Pain?

There are multiple conditions that may be causing back of knee pain, some more serious than others. 

1. Cramps. Cramps occur when muscles in the leg become too tight, causing them to spasm painfully. When cramps develop in the calf or back of the thigh, they can cause pain and stiffness in the back of the knee. Exercising without stretching first, overuse of the muscles, dehydration, tetanus infections, toxins in the blood, liver disease and nerve problems are common causes of muscle cramping.     
2. Calf injury. A strain or tear occurs when the muscles in the calf are stretched too far, usually from overuse or sudden activity (like running). Straining or tearing the gastrocnemius muscle or the soleus muscle can cause pain in the back of the knee. Other symptoms of a calf injury include swelling and difficulty standing on the tiptoes. 
3. Hamstring injury. A strain or tear occurs when the muscles in the hamstrings are stretched too far, usually from overuse or sudden activity (like running). Straining or tearing the biceps femoris muscle causes pain behind the knee. Other symptoms of a hamstring injury include swelling and leg weakness.   
4. Ligament injuries. The knee joint has four primary ligaments providing support and stability to the joint. Straining or tearing the ligaments in the knee can contribute to back of knee pain. Ligament injuries are common among athletes because the majority of tears occur from a direct blow to the knee or a sudden twist or change in direction. If a ligament tears, you’ll likely know immediately. There may be a popping sound, pain and swelling, bruising, stiffness, difficulty walking or an inability to bear your full weight on the knee.   
5. Meniscus tears. The menisci are two C-shaped pieces of cartilage on either side of the knee that cushion and stabilize the joint. Tearing the meniscus — which usually occurs with a squatting and twisting movement — can cause pain behind the knee. Like with a ligament tear, you may hear a popping sound when the meniscus tears. But unlike ligament tears, meniscus tears don’t always cause pain right away. Symptoms like pain and swelling, stiffness, weakness, locking and instability may worsen over several days after the incident.     
6. Baker’s cyst. A Baker’s cyst is a fluid-filled pocket that builds up behind the knee. Small cysts may be unnoticeable and painless, but larger cysts may put pressure on surrounding tendons and nerves. When that occurs, you’ll experience pain, pressure, swelling, stiffness, and tingling behind the knee. In many cases, a Baker’s cyst is a sign of an underlying knee condition like arthritis.   
7. Arthritis. Osteoarthritis is a common knee condition that develops when the cartilage inside the joint starts to wear down and erode. The breakdown of cartilage causes pain, stiffness, swelling, inflammation and tenderness in the joint. You may experience a loss of range of motion and difficulty straightening or bending the knee. Pain is usually worse during activity and feels better during rest. Rheumatoid arthritis is another type of arthritis that can cause knee pain, swelling, stiffness, inflammation and loss of movement. 
8. Blood clot. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a very dangerous condition that develops when a blood clot forms in the deep veins of the leg. DVT causes pain in the leg and knee when you stand up. Pain might be accompanied by swelling, skin redness and warmth, leg weakness and fever. If you suspect you have a blood clot, seek medical care as soon as possible. A clot can become life-threatening if it breaks apart in the bloodstream and travels to the lungs.

Should I Seek Medical Advice for Back of Knee Pain?

In many cases, minor to moderate pain from acute injuries resolves with R.I.C.E. — rest, ice, compression and elevation. If you continue to have pain, swelling, stiffness or difficulty moving after several days of at-home care, seek medical advice from your provider. Your doctor will perform a thorough medical evaluation, take a physical exam, and order imaging studies like an X-ray or MRI to make an accurate diagnosis of your injury. Depending on your diagnosis, you may need medications, injections, assistive devices, physical therapy or surgery to recover.

If your back of knee pain is caused by a chronic condition like arthritis, your doctor will work with you to create a treatment plan to reduce pain and symptoms, slow the progression of joint damage and maintain flexibility and range of motion in the knee. While treatment can reduce symptoms and improve your quality of life, there is no cure for arthritis and no way to reverse joint damage.     

When Do I Contact iO-Core for Posterior Knee Pain?

Contact us if you’re experiencing chronic pain, loss of mobility and a decrease in your quality of life from arthritis or a non-healing knee injury, or if you’ve been told that joint replacement surgery is the only treatment option left for you.   

Our team can help you determine if the iO-Core™ procedure is a viable treatment option for you. iO-Core™ is a minimally invasive procedure that combines orthopedics and biologics to treat degenerating cartilage and underlying bone and tissue damage caused by arthritis and joint injuries. 

Treating the underlying damage and not just the surface layer of cartilage has shown better results over “standard of care” methods in decreasing pain and improving mobility for many patients. Many people who were told they needed a total joint replacement surgery have found long-term pain relief from iO-Core™ instead.  

Call our team today to see if you qualify for the iO-Core™ procedure.