Any pain in various parts of your body causes you to miss out on your everyday activities. Are you experiencing pain on the inside of your knee? Inner knee pain is a widespread issue that affects nearly one-fifth of the population. Because the knee is the most complicated and vital joint in the body, injuries are to be expected.
It is also known as medial knee pain, which refers to the pain in the inner knee area nearest to your opposite knee. Pain in this area is the cause of a variety of disorders and injuries. This discomfort can strike suddenly, or gradually, and it might strike without any obvious cause. It can happen even if you are not running.
Inner Knee Pain Treatment
Knee injuries are common and can treat in a variety of ways. Consult a doctor if your symptoms last longer than three days. Your knee discomfort should go away in a few weeks if you get proper treatment.
Home Care
Minor knee pain is fairly common and it can usually be treated at home. Some examples of home cures are:
- Avoid engaging in the activity that is causing you pain.
- Ice the affected area for 20 minutes three or four times per day.
- Wrap an elastic compression bandage around your knee.
- Your knees can be relieved by using crutches.
- Pillows should be placed beneath your knees to raise to the same level as or higher than your heart.
- Shoe inserts or specially designed high-arch shoes can help support your foot’s arch.
When to consult a Doctor?
Sometimes an ice pack or other home remedies are not enough to relieve inner knee pain. You should visit a doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Weight cannot be carried on your knee.
- Your knee pain persists of several weeks.
- Your knee clicks, buckles, or locks.
- You have a fever, redness or warmth around your knee.
- Trauma is the cause of your inner knee pain.
- After three days of home treatment, you’re still in pain.
Medical Treatment
For more serious injuries, some treatment options include:
Steroid injection: This injection is given to patients suffering from pes anserine bursitis. The steroid medication improves pain by reducing inflammation in the knee.
Physical Therapy: A physical therapist can recommend exercises, stretching, and ultrasound therapy.
Assistive device: Wearing a knee brace while participating in sporting or everyday activities can be beneficial. Find out which knee braces are ideal for patients with OA.
Viscosupplementation: If your knee pain is caused by osteoarthritis, it could be due to a lack of lubricating fluid in the joint. Inner knee pain can be reduced by injecting a synthetic lubricant into the joint area.
Surgery: Your doctor may send you a surgeon to discuss knee replacement surgery if you have osteoarthritis of the knee that is causing you a lot of discomforts and making daily tasks difficult. After a meniscus tear, arthroscopic surgery of the knee is most usually used.
Exercises
Walking and running require good knee mechanics, which can improve with exercise. Slow and steady moments with controlled motions should be used throughout exercises. Following are some examples of best exercises:
Half squats
This technique is good to strengthen the front of the legs without placing too much effort on the knees.
- Begin with your feet shoulder-width apart and your arms stretched to around shoulder height.
- Just enough to work the quadriceps muscles, gently bend your knees.
- Hold for 5 seconds, then straighten your knees to stand.
Quad stretch
Quadriceps stretching can assist relieve pressure on the knee joint.
- For balance and support, stand next to a firm chair.
- Take a step backward with the right foot, starting with your feet shoulder-width apart. Maintain a straight line with your body by keeping your posture straight and tucking your buttocks in.
- Feel a stretch in the front of your legs by bending your knees slightly.
- Hold this stretch for 10 seconds, then switch legs and repeat.
Hamstring stretch
With a seated stretch, this exercise relaxes the back of the leg.
- Begin by placing one foot flat on the floor and extending one leg forward while flexing the other foot backward.
- To feel a stretch in the back of the leg, lean forward slightly.
Causes
Inner knee pain can result from a variety of factors and it varies from person to person. However, sports injuries fall, and an abrupt increase in knee activity are all common sources of knee pain. Some major causes include:
1. Knee Injuries
An injury induced by a sport or exercise that puts a strain on the knee joint, such as jogging, can produce inner knee pain. Knee injuries include sprains, strains, and tears.
2. Bursitis
Bursa is tiny tissue sacs that hold a little amount of fluid. Bursitis is caused by excessive fluid secretion and inflammation of the bursa due to a variety of factors such as osteoarthritis, obesity, and a medial meniscus tear. This pain can feel around 2 to 3 inches below the knee joint on the inner knee. Corticosteroid injections, strengthening exercises, rest, and ice are all possible treatments for bursitis.
3. Meniscus tear
The protecting cartilage that lines the knee joint is known as the meniscus. Inner knee pain can be caused by a tear in the medial meniscus. Over time, the meniscus can wear down, causing pain when a person bends their knee. It can be treated by surgery and exercise.
4. Osteoarthritis
As the name implies, osteoarthritis is an arthritic condition affecting joints. It can hit anyone at any age, but it is more common in those over the age of 50 and causes cartilage loss between joints. As a result, you may find it difficult to move your knee and it may become stiff when you first wake up in the morning for less than 30 minutes.
Medication, acupuncture, injections, and knee braces are some of the treatments.
5. Rheumatoid arthritis
It is an inflammatory illness that causes joint inflammation and commonly produces discomfort in the inner knee. Arthritis can affect any part of the body, but it is most common in the elbow and knee joints. Morning symptoms of arthritis include severe pain and tightness inside the knee, which subside throughout the day.
6. Medial plica syndrome
Plica is tiny folds in the lining of the joints. Your inner knee is protected by medial plicae. Overuse, such as flexing your knee repeatedly, might aggravate the medial plicae. In consequence, the folds thicken and become stuck between the bones. You may also suffer locking knees and a cracking sound, in addition to dull inner knee pain.
7. Dislocation
During dislocation, the bones of the knee are out of alignment. One or more bones in the knee may dislocate during a dislocation. Traumas or structural issues that result in knee dislocation include vehicle accidents, falls, and contact sports.
8. Collateral ligament injuries
The thighbone and shinbone are connected by collateral ligaments. Ligament injury is a common concern for athletes, especially those who participate in contact sports. A direct hit or collision with another person or item is a common cause of collateral ligament tears.
Prevention
Make an effort to stay active during the day. Knee discomfort can manage with regular exercise and stretching, and it can also help you fall asleep faster at night. Consider using silky sheets or pajamas to make moving around in bed easier.
Support your knees with a cushion at night to relieve knee discomfort. To relieve pain, take a warm bath, use ice or heat, and massage your knee. Consult a doctor if you are experiencing new knee pain for any cause. If you have joint popping, edema, or difficulty walking, you should seek medical attention.
Nutrition is extremely crucial, especially for athletes. Protein, calcium, and vitamin D are all necessary for strong bones, muscles, and ligaments.
To Sum up
Inner knee pain is a common condition that can cause by either short-term or long-term issues. It usually produces pain and swelling in the inside region of the knee, immediately beneath the kneecap. The reasons for pain vary, and diagnosing them may necessitate expertise and experience. Because each patient’s diagnosis and treatment are unique, the effect of the medicine may differ from one individual to the next.
Prescription medicines, physical therapy, cortisone knee injections, viscosupplementation, or surgery may require in severe situations.