What Causes Pain Inside the Knee?
Knee pain is a common complaint and could be a symptom of several conditions or injuries. The knee is a large, weight-bearing joint and manages a lot of stress and pressure from daily activities, exercise, and sports.
The inner knee (also called the medial knee) is a common area to feel pain and symptoms. The medial knee is the part that’s closest to the other knee. If you’re experiencing inside knee pain, there are multiple injuries or conditions that could be to blame. Keep reading to learn more.
What Causes Inside Knee Pain?
Inner knee pain is most frequently caused by an acute, activity-related injury or an underlying joint condition like arthritis. Below are six common causes of pain inside the knee.
- MCL injury. A medial collateral ligament (MCL) sprain or tear is one of the most common injuries that causes inner knee pain. The MCL is a stabilizing ligament that runs along the inner side of the knee joint. The ligament can become overstretched or torn (either partially or completely) from a direct blow to the outside of the knee or a sharp twisting motion. MCL sprains and tears usually cause immediate, sharp pain inside the knee, swelling, and a popping sound at the time of impact. You may also experience difficulty walking, instability while standing or walking, or locking of the knee.
- Medial meniscus injury. The menisci are two cartilage discs that act as cushions between the shin bone and thigh bone on each side of the knee. If the medial meniscus is torn or injured, inner knee pain occurs. A torn meniscus can occur from a forceful twist or rotation of the knee, especially if you’re bearing a lot of weight on it. A meniscus tear usually causes a popping sound at the time of impact. Pain and swelling may not be immediate, but worsen over the next several days after the tear. You’ll likely feel a sharp pain when twisting the knee. You may also experience difficulty walking, instability while standing or walking, locking of the knee, and an inability to fully straighten the knee.
- Bursitis. Bursae are fluid-filled sacs that provide cushioning between muscles, bones and tendons to prevent them from rubbing together. The pes anserine bursa lies on the inside of the knee joint between the shin bone and three tendons. Pes anserine bursitis occurs when the bursa becomes inflamed and swollen, leading to inner knee pain and pressure. Overuse from sports or running is the most common cause of bursitis. Pain during movement and swelling of the knee joint are the most common symptoms.
- Medial plica syndrome. A plica is a fold in the tissue that lines the knee joint. Most people have four plica in each knee that help the knee bend and move with ease. When the medial plica becomes inflamed or irritated, inner knee pain occurs. Overuse from activities like running, biking or using a stair climber is the most common cause of plica syndrome. Symptoms include inside knee pain, locking of the knee, cracking or clicking sounds, and instability while standing or walking.
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory form of arthritis. It occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues, causing pain, inflammation and swelling within joint linings. Rheumatoid arthritis in the knee can cause significant inner knee pain, stiffness, swelling, tenderness and difficulty walking. Joint stiffness is usually worse in the morning and after periods of inactivity. Over time, RA leads to permanent joint damage and bone erosion.
- Osteoarthritis (OA). Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent form of arthritis among adults. It commonly occurs in large, weight-bearing joints like the knee. OA develops when the cartilage that covers joint surfaces erodes and wears away, leading to pain, inflammation, swelling, and friction in the joint. Over time, OA causes stiffness, difficulty walking, loss of range of motion and progressive deterioration of the knee joint. Normal wear and tear with age is the most common cause of osteoarthritis. Sustaining a knee injury like a tear or sprain increases the risk of developing osteoarthritis in the future.
How Is Inner Knee Pain Treated?
If you sustain a knee injury or develop inner knee pain, at-home treatment should be your first course of action. Many acute injuries and inflammatory disorders can be resolved with R.I.C.E. — rest, ice, compression and elevation. If you’re having pain, try to avoid activities and exercises that worsen or irritate the pain.
If your pain continues to worsen over several days, or doesn’t resolve with at-home care, it’s time to seek medical advice. Medical treatments for knee injuries and conditions like arthritis include:
- Medications. Anti-inflammatory medications can help reduce pain, inflammation and swelling caused by an injury or arthritis.
- Injections. Corticosteroid injections can help reduce pain and inflammation caused by bursitis or arthritis.
- Physical therapy. Physical therapy can help improve strength, flexibility and range of motion in the knee and surrounding structures.
- Assistive devices. Wearing a knee brace can help support the joint during sports or other activities.
- Surgery. Surgery might be recommended to repair a severe tear, repair or remove damaged cartilage, or replace a degenerated knee joint.
Your doctor will likely prescribe conservative treatments before moving on to more invasive treatments like surgery. If you have arthritis, conservative treatments can help manage symptoms but cannot stop the progression of the disease. Joint replacement surgery is the final treatment option for people with a severely damaged knee joint.
Does iO-Core™ Treat Medial Knee Pain?
iO-Core™ may be a treatment option for you 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.
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.