UNDERSTAND KNEE PAIN AND CAUSES

Understand Your Knee Pain

When you suffer from knee pain, it can feel like you’ve been robbed of the things you love to do most. Understanding your knee pain is the first step in figuring out how to get back to doing what you love the best you can. See your doctor first to get a diagnosis as many conditions can cause knee joint pain.

THE BASICS OF KNEE PAIN

Your knees are among the most important joints in your body. They support your weight and provide stability and a “hinge” to help keep your body moving. But, between standing, walking, running, jumping, crouching and turning, it’s easy to see how there are plenty of ways to experience knee pain. Remember: see your doctor first before you begin any treatment of knee joint pain if your pain gets worse or persists.

WHAT'S BEHIND IT?

Some causes of knee pain include:

  • Injuries. Some common injuries include fractures in the knee bones, a torn meniscus (rubbery cartilage between thighbone and shinbone that absorbs shock), patellar tendinitis (inflammation and irritation of one or more tendons), and a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), just to name a few.
  • Mechanical Problems. Some examples of a knee pain cause can include a dislocated knee cap; IT band syndrome (tightness of the iliotibial band of tissue running from the hip to the knee); and a loose body, or "floating" piece of bone or cartilage that breaks off in the joint space.

"Get back to doing what you love the best you can."

WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT
a figure performing a stretching exercise inside a yellow circle
Exercises and stretching

Consult with your doctor to set up a treatment plan.

an illustrated bottle of aleve inside a yellow circle
Medication

Prescription and over-the-counter medications, like Aleve, can help relieve minor knee pain when used as directed. Just make sure you always check with your doctor before taking any medication for knee pain relief.

illustrated ice cubes inside a yellow circle
Ice and Compression

Compressing the area with bandages, in addition to applying ice 3–4 times a day for 10 minutes at a time, can keep swelling to a minimum. If your pain persists or gets worse, please consult your doctor immediately.

illustrated syringe inside a yellow circle
Injections

These may include steroids for possible long-term pain relief, fluids that mimic the natural fluid that lubricates joints, and platelet-rich plasma to reduce inflammation and encourage healing. Only your doctor can determine what treatment options are right for you based on the knee pain cause.

an illustrated physician inside a yellow circle
Surgery

In some cases surgery may be the best option, but it’s usually only considered after trying a variety of other things first. Only your doctor can determine what treatment options are right for you.

illustration of person meditating inside a yellow circle
Supportive Therapies

See what else you can do to complement your treatment and relieve knee joint pain.

TIPS YOU CAN USE FOR KNEE PAIN RIGHT NOW

Maintain a healthy weight

Tip 1 of 3

Extra weight can put additional pressure on your joints and make knee pain worse. Even a 5% weight loss can make a difference and reduce stress on your knees. If you think you would benefit from weight loss, talk to your doctor about a sensible weight-loss program.

Strengthen your core

Tip 2 of 3

A strong core — abdominal, back and pelvic muscles — can help keep to your knees where they should be in order to avoid joint compression and pain. There are a number of exercises that help strengthen the core, including yoga, Pilates and kickboxing. Work with your doctor or physical therapist to determine what exercises might be good choices for you and can offer knee pain relief.

Keep your knee compressed

Tip 3 of 3

If you notice that your knee is swollen as well as sore, compression might be a good way to speed up your recovery. Get an elastic bandage (such as an Ace wrap) and wrap it snugly around the area surrounding your sore knee. The bandage won't protect or stabilize your knee, but it should reduce swelling. Be careful not to wrap it too tightly as this may cause more swelling and knee pain.

Related Articles

a view of a woman's hands holding a cup of coffee

Arthritis Pain

Arthritis pain can influence what you do every day — try not to let it. Taking control starts with understanding

LEARN MORE
man sitting at a desk on his laptop with his hand on his chin

Back Pain

Whether back pain comes as a surprise or begins to occur on a regular basis, it can feel as though your life is being put on hold. The more you learn about back pain, the better you can manage it on your terms.

LEARN MORE
middle aged man in a purple shirt looking down and smiling

Headache Pain

A headache. It can feel quite literally like the worst thing in the world. Let’s get to the cause of your headache so you can get back to living your days uninterrupted by pain.

LEARN MORE

SUPPORTIVE THERAPIES FOR PAIN RELIEF ›