Knee pain can affect your daily life and keep you from participating in activities that you used to enjoy. Even the slightest twinge of discomfort can cause you to sit or stand differently, affect the way you walk, and even cause you to over-compensate by putting pressure on other parts of the body. It can be difficult to realize what exactly is causing your inner knee pain because the knee joint is very complex. From car accident injuries to general wear and tear on the body, there are many different causes of pain on the inside of the knee.
What Makes Up the Inner Knee?
The knee joint is made up of a combination of bones, cartilage, and soft tissues like muscles, tendons, and ligaments that work together to stabilize the area. The knee is a type of hinge joint, which means it helps to flex and extend your leg. Compared to other joints in the body, your knee joints actually receive some of the most stress and pressure. The knee joint connects the thigh bone (femur and shin bones (tibia, and other bones in the knee include the kneecap. The inside of the knee is known as the medial knee or medial compartment. If you are experiencing knee pain inside the knee, then there is likely something affecting the medial knee.
11 Common Causes of Inner Knee Pain
Here are 11 common causes of inner knee pain and their symptoms.
Subluxation
A subluxation refers to a bone or joint that is out of place and negatively impacts the functioning in the area. The kneecap can actually slide out of its normal positioning, causing what is known as a patellar subluxation. This could occur once with an accident or may happen more than once.
Tendonitis
The tendon that connects your kneecap and shin bone is known as the patellar tendon. This tendon can become aggravated or inflamed by repetitive movements or overuse. Jumper’s knee is another term for patellar tendonitis, where the inflammation of the tendon in your knee causes pain and restricts mobility.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis that refers to age-related wear and tear on the cartilage that supports bones and joints. If you have osteoarthritis and experience pain on the inner side of the knee, then you might have reduced cartilage in the area that is causing the bones in your knee joint to rub against one another.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis can cause inside knee pain due to chronic inflammation in the joints. This is an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks healthy tissue in the body, like the cartilage that supports your joints.
ACL Injury
One of the ligaments that connect your femur to your tibia is known as the anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL. An ACL injury could be a sprain or a tear of that ligament that may make it difficult to bear weight and cause severe pain and swelling.
MCL Injury
Another injury that can affect an important ligament in the knee is the medial collateral ligament, or MCL. The MCL runs along the inside of the knee and can cause pain and tenderness inside the knee.
Meniscus Injury
The meniscus refers to the cartilage that helps cushion and supports the bones in your knee joint. Each knee has two menisci that can become torn or damaged from too much pressure or an odd rotation of the knee.
Bursitis
Bursae are fluid-filled sacs that help to reduce friction inside the joints. There are bursae in the knee joint that are collectively known as the pes anserinus. You could develop pes anserinus bursitis from osteoarthritis, a medial meniscus tear, or a sports injury.
Joint Irritation
Running and jogging are two activities that can irritate your knee joints. Playing sports like tennis, hockey, and basketball can also irritate the knee joints and lead to pain and discomfort.
Contusion
A contusion is a medical term for a bruise that affects bone. A hard blow to the knee from falling or due to an object can actually cause a knee contusion. You may notice bruising on the skin along with pain, stiffness, and swelling.
Dislocation
A knee dislocation can occur with a hard fall or due to a sports injury. Any type of dislocated joint should be treated right away to avoid long-term damage to the area, including complications with nearby nerves and blood vessels.
If you are dealing with inner knee pain, then visit The Accident Doctors to find a doctor near you and get started on comprehensive treatment and care.
