Many people will experience knee pain at some point in their lives. Severe knee pain can occur in people of all ages for a range of reasons. The pain can develop suddenly or gradually and may be accompanied by redness or swelling.

Here are some common conditions and injuries that cause severe knee pain:

Knee ligament injuries

There are four major ligaments in the knee. Ligaments are elastic bands of tissue that connect bones to each other and provide stability and strength to the joint. When a person has a knee ligament injury, they will experience severe knee pain.

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a very commonly injured ligament. The ACL is a key ligament that helps stabilize the knee joint. It is most commonly torn during sports that involve sudden stops and changes in direction, such as soccer, tennis, volleyball, and basketball. Symptoms of a knee ligament injury can include:

• Sudden, severe pain in the knee
• Pain while walking
• Swelling within 24 hours after the initial injury
• The knee abruptly “giving out”
• A “popping” noise in the knee

Knee arthritis

Arthritis is inflammation of one or more of your joints and can occur in the knee. The two most common types of arthritis include rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Symptoms of arthritis in the knee include:

• Stiffness and swelling in the knee
• Difficulty bending the knee fully
• Knee pain

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that causes the body’s immune system to attack its own joints. While this condition usually affects joints in the hands and wrists first, symptoms can also appear in the knees, ankles or other joints. RA can cause the knee to feel painful, swollen and stiff.

Knee Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of degenerative joint disease. This slowly developing condition affects the cartilage, joint lining, ligaments, and bones that make up a joint. Osteoarthritis occurs when the cushiony cartilage in a given joint breaks down, causing the bones to painfully rub together.

Meniscus tear

A meniscus tear can be painful and debilitating. The meniscus is a piece of cartilage in your knee that cushions and stabilizes the joint, and protects the bones from wear and tear. All it takes is a twist of the knee to tear the meniscus. Meniscus tears are common in contact sports, such as football, and non-contact sports that require jumping and cutting, such as volleyball and soccer.

Symptoms of a meniscus tear include:

• Pain in the knee
• Swelling
• Popping sensation during the injury
• Difficulty bending and straightening the leg

Contact us

At Rejuvinix, our doctors perform non-surgical joint therapies for people suffering from joint pain. For more information, call (757) 345-2318 or make an appointment online.