Burning knee pain can be a painful feeling that feels like stinging, tickling, or warmness around or inside the knee. This kind of pain can be caused by things like getting hurt, swelling, or other health problems. Knowing what’s causing your pain and how to treat it can help make it feel better and stop it from coming back.
What is Burning Knee Pain?
Burning knee pain is a kind of pain that feels hot, tickly, or like burning, and it happens in or near the knee. It might be short-term or long-term, and it might happen when you move, do something physical, or even when you’re just sitting or lying down.
What Causes Burning Knee Pain?
Several factors can lead to burning sensations in the knee:
Runner’s Knee (Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome)
Runner’s Knee is when you hurt your knee because you use it too much, like when you’re running, squatting, or jumping. This can make your knee hurt or feel weird like it’s burning around your kneecap.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis happens when the cartilage in the knee joint gets worn down. This can make the knee joint swell up and hurt, especially when you move. The pain can feel like burning or aching.
Tendonitis
Tendonitis is a condition where the tendons, which are like ropes that attach muscles to bones, become swollen and painful. One type of tendonitis is called “jumper’s knee,” which happens when the tendon that connects the kneecap to the shinbone becomes inflamed. This can cause a burning pain in the front of the knee.
Bursitis
Bursitis happens when the bursae, which are little bags of fluid around the knee that help it move smoothly, get inflamed and swollen. This can cause burning pain and swelling in a particular spot on the knee.
Nerve Pain
Nerve pain can happen when there is damage to the nerves or when a nerve is compressed. For example, a pinched nerve in the lower back can cause burning sensations in the knee area. Conditions like neuropathy can also cause nerve pain in the knee.
Iliotibial (IT) Band Syndrome
IT band syndrome is when the iliotibial (IT) band, which is a long, fibrous band of tissue that runs along the outside of the thigh, becomes too tight or inflamed. This can cause pain on the outer side of the knee that may feel like a burning sensation.
Injuries
Ligament Tears: Ligament tears can happen when you injure the ligaments in your knee, such as the ACL or MCL. These injuries can cause burning pain, instability, and swelling in the knee.
Meniscus Tears: A torn meniscus is when the cartilage in your knee joint gets damaged. This can cause pain that feels like a burning sensation in the knee during physical activity.
Infections: Infections in or near the knee can cause a lot of problems, like pain, swelling, and redness. This can happen if you have septic arthritis, which is when the joint gets infected, or if you have a wound infection around the knee. Both of these types of infections can make it hard to move and can be really painful.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis can make your knee joint really painful, stiff, and swollen. This is because rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition, which means your body's immune system attacks your own joints and causes inflammation. This can make it really hard to move your knee and can be very painful.
Gout or Pseudogout
Gout and pseudogout can cause a lot of pain and swelling in your knee joint. This is because crystals of uric acid (for gout) or calcium (for pseudogout) can build up in the joint and cause inflammation and pain. Both gout and pseudogout can be really painful and make it hard to move your knee.
Chondromalacia Patella
Chondromalacia patella is a condition where the cartilage under the kneecap becomes soft or damaged, which can cause a burning pain in the knee. This pain can happen when you do activities that put stress on the knee, like climbing stairs or standing up. It can be a real problem if you need to do these activities a lot, and it can make it hard to move around.
Overuse or Repetitive Strain
Doing activities that put too much stress on your knee joint, over and over again, can cause problems with your knee. This can happen if you do the same activities all the time without giving your knee a break. Over time, this can cause inflammation and pain in your knee, which can be really uncomfortable and make it hard to move around.
Cold Weather Sensitivity
When you are exposed to cold temperatures, nerve endings in sensitive joints, like the knees, can become irritated. This can lead to a burning sensation in the joint, which can cause discomfort and pain.
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
In Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), the blood flow to the legs and knees is restricted, which can lead to a burning pain, especially after exercising or walking. This is because the muscles aren't getting enough oxygen, causing them to ache and feel hot. People with PAD may find it hard to move around and do things, especially when the pain is really bad.
Symptoms Associated with Burning Knee Pain
Burning knee pain can come with other symptoms that depend on the cause of the pain. These symptoms can help doctors figure out what's causing the pain, and may include:
Swelling
When the knee is swollen, it means that there's too much fluid in it or that it's inflamed. This can make the knee look bigger than normal, or it may feel like it's filled with air. Swelling can happen for lots of reasons, but it usually means that the knee is injured or sick. It can be painful and make it hard to move the knee normally.
Redness and Warmth
When the skin around your knee looks red and feels warm, it could mean that there is an infection or inflammation in the area. This can be caused by different things, like a cut or a medical condition.
Stiffness
Sometimes, people have trouble bending or straightening their knees. This can be caused by inflammation or stiffness in the knee joint or the tissues around the knee. When the knee is inflamed or stiff, it can be hard for people to move it smoothly. It can also cause them to feel pain or discomfort.
Pain During Activity
If you feel pain in your knee when you move it, like when you walk, climb stairs, or run, it could be because you're overusing your knee or because there is something wrong with the way it's built. Pain that gets worse when you move your knee can be a sign of a problem that needs to be checked out by a doctor.
Pain at Rest
If someone has pain in their knee even when they're sitting or lying down, it could be a sign of a problem like nerve irritation or severe inflammation. This kind of pain can be constant, and doesn't usually go away when the person is resting. It's important for people who have this kind of pain to see a doctor, because it can be a sign of a serious problem.
Instability
If you feel like your knee is weak and might not be able to hold you up, it might be a sign that there's a problem with your ligaments or joint. This weakness in your knee can make it feel like it's about to buckle or give way. It's important to pay attention to these symptoms, as they could indicate that you have damage to your knee.
Popping or Clicking Sounds
You might hear a popping or clicking sound in your knee when you move. This could mean that you have a problem with your meniscus, cartilage, or there might be little bits of stuff floating around in your knee joint.
Tenderness to Touch
If you press on certain parts of your knee and it feels sore or tender, that could mean you've got tendonitis or bursitis. These conditions make the tendons or the bursae (small sacs of fluid that cushion your joints) in your knee inflamed or irritated. It can be pretty uncomfortable, but it's also a sign that your knee needs some attention.
Numbness or Tingling
If you're feeling numbness or tingling in or around your knee, it could mean that there's a problem with your nerves. Maybe there's something wrong with the nerves in your leg (called neuropathy), or maybe a nerve is getting squished (pinched) somewhere. Either way, these kinds of changes can be a sign that your knee needs a check-up.
Bruising
If you see a bruise near your knee, it might mean that you've injured the area, like from a ligament tear or by getting hit. This type of injury can cause bleeding under the skin, which is what causes the bruise. If you have a bruise near your knee, you might want to get checked out by a doctor.
Difficulty Walking
If you have pain or weakness in your knee, you might have trouble standing on it or walking normally. This can be because your knee is not as strong or stable as it should be, which can make it harder for you to move around.
Locking or Catching
Locking or catching can happen when your knee suddenly gets stuck during movement, making it difficult to straighten or bend. This can be caused by problems with the meniscus (the cartilage in your knee) or small pieces of tissue that have come loose in the joint.
Fever or Chills
If you have knee pain along with a fever or chills, this could mean that you have an infection in your knee, like septic arthritis. These symptoms can be a sign that something is wrong, so it's important to get medical attention if you experience them.
Pain Radiating to Other Areas
If you have pain in your knee, it might not be limited to just your knee. You might feel pain in other parts of your leg, like your thigh, calf, or shin. This could be because of a problem with the nerves or blood vessels in your leg.
Worsening Symptoms Over Time
If your symptoms get worse over a long period of time, it could mean that you have a long-lasting illness, such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. This means that the condition will last for a long time, and may even become worse as time goes on.
Diagnosing Burning Knee Pain
To figure out what's causing your burning knee pain, doctors may do some tests and exams. Here are some of the things they might do:
1. Medical History
The doctor needs to know about any injuries or health problems you've had in the past to figure out why your knee hurts. They might also ask about other things, like swelling or redness, to help find out what's wrong.
2. Physical Examination
To find out what's causing your knee pain, the doctor will look at your knee for things like swelling, bruises, or weird shapes. They'll also touch different parts of your knee to see if they hurt when they press on them. They'll move your knee to check if it can bend and straighten the way it should. If they need to, they'll do some tests to check the ligaments, tendons, or meniscus.
3. Imaging Tests
X-rays and MRI scans can give the doctor a closer look inside your knee to see if there's anything wrong. X-rays can show if your joints are worn out, if you've got a broken bone, or if your knee isn't lined up right. MRI scans can show if your soft tissues, like the cartilage or ligaments, are torn, inflamed, or have arthritis. Ultrasounds can also check for fluid buildup or inflammation in your knee. These tests can help the doctor figure out what's causing your knee pain.
4. Blood Tests
In some cases, the doctor might need to take some fluid out of your knee with a needle. This can help them check for infections or other problems, like septic arthritis or gout. They can do tests on the fluid to find out more about what's going on in your knee.
5. Nerve Studies
If the doctor thinks there might be a problem with the nerves, they might do some tests to see how well the nerves and muscles are working. These tests, like nerve conduction studies or EMG, can help the doctor find out if the nerves are being squeezed or damaged. This can explain the burning feeling in your knee.
6. Arthroscopy
Arthroscopy is a procedure where a doctor uses a small camera to look inside your knee joint. This can help them see what's going on in there, and can be used to figure out what's causing your knee pain. This procedure is not very invasive, so it doesn't make a big cut in your skin.
7. Differential Diagnosis
To find the cause of your burning knee pain, doctors will rule out other possible causes. They'll think about whether the pain is coming from outside the knee or if it's because of problems with how your knee moves. By figuring out what isn't causing your pain, they'll be able to focus on what is causing it and give you the best treatment.
Treatment for Burning Knee Pain
Burning knee pain can have many causes, and the treatment depends on what's causing the pain. Here are some possible treatments for burning knee pain:
1. Rest and Activity Modification
To help your knee feel better, you should take a break from using it and avoid activities that make the pain worse. Low-impact exercises like swimming or cycling are good ways to stay active without putting too much stress on your knee. This will help your knee get better without stopping you from being active.
2. Ice and Heat Therapy
Ice and heat therapy can both help reduce knee pain. Ice is helpful for reducing swelling and pain, especially in the first two days after the pain starts. Heat can relax your muscles and improve blood flow, which can be helpful if your knee pain is chronic or if your knee feels stiff.
3. Medications
Ibuprofen can help with pain and swelling, Gabapentin may be given for nerve-related pain, and Corticosteroids can be injected to help with really bad swelling. These are all medications that can be used to treat various types of pain and inflammation.
4. Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is a treatment that helps strengthen the muscles around your knee and improve how well you can move it. This can reduce your pain and help prevent your injury from happening again.
5. Advanced Treatments
If conservative treatments for knee pain don't work, there are other options. Injections of corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid can be used for extreme pain. If those don't help, surgery like arthroscopy or knee replacement might be suggested to relieve the pain and improve the function of the knee.
6. Lifestyle Changes and Preventive Care
Keeping your weight in check, staying active, and wearing comfortable shoes that give your feet good support can help keep knee pain at bay and keep your knees healthy for many years to come. To make your knees stronger and healthier, these simple lifestyle changes can be a great help.
7. Surgery (as a last resort)
If the pain in your knee doesn't get better with other treatments, surgery might be an option to fix or replace the damaged tissue or cartilage in your knee. Surgery can help fix the problem, but it should be considered as a last resort after trying other treatments.
Preventing Burning Knee Pain
Here are some things you can do to help prevent burning knee pain:
1. Maintain a Healthy Weight
Being at a healthy weight is important for preventing knee pain, including burning pain. Carrying extra weight puts extra stress on your knees, which can cause damage and pain. By staying at a healthy weight, you can help reduce this stress and protect your knees from becoming damaged or worn out over time.
2. Warm-Up and Stretching
Before you start physical activities, always warm up to get your muscles and joints ready. Stretching your thighs, back of your legs, and calves can help make your muscles more flexible, which can help keep strain off of your knee. This can lower your risk of injuries and overuse that lead to knee pain.
3. Strengthen the Muscles Around the Knee
If you make your leg muscles, like your quads, hamstrings, and calves, stronger, they can help keep your knee stable and working well. Doing exercises to make your muscles stronger can make your knee work better and lower the chances of injuries that could cause burning pain.
4. Wear Proper Footwear
Wearing shoes with good support for your feet and cushioning helps keep your body aligned properly and reduces the chances of knee pain. Avoid high heels or shoes that don't have much support, because they can mess up the way you walk and put more pressure on your knee.
5. Avoid Overuse and High-Impact Activities
Doing the same exercises over and over again or doing activities that put a lot of stress on your knees can cause overuse injuries. Try to do different exercises and include things like swimming, biking, or yoga that aren't as tough on your knees. That way, you can give your knees a break and stop them from getting strained.
6. Use Knee Supports When Necessary
If you have problems with your knee in the past, or if you are doing activities that are hard on your knee, using knee braces or supports can help keep your knee stable and reduce the chances of making your knee worse.
7. Monitor Your Posture and Movement
Standing or moving in a bad way, like if you're always leaning too far forward or if your knees aren't straight when you walk or run, can cause knee pain over time. Make sure you're standing and moving properly, like by keeping your knees straight, and that can help prevent injuries and keep your knees from getting strained.
When to See a Doctor
Here are some signs that it's time to see a doctor about burning knee pain:
Severe or Persistent Pain: If the burning sensation does not improve with rest or persists for more than a few days.
Swelling or Redness: If your knee is getting bigger or turning red, or if the skin around your knee feels hot to the touch, it's a good idea to see a doctor. This could be a sign that your knee is infected or inflamed.
Difficulty Moving the Knee: If you can't bend or straighten your knee without pain, or if you can't put any weight on it, it's important to see a doctor. This could be a sign of a serious injury.
Instability: If your knee feels wobbly or like it's going to give way when you walk or put weight on it, you should go to the doctor.
Accompanying Symptoms: If you have burning knee pain and also have a fever, or if you're feeling cold and shivery, or if you have any other symptoms that make you feel sick, you should go to the doctor. This could mean you have an infection.
Recent Trauma or Injury: If the pain started after you got hurt in a fall, a crash, or other kind of hurt.
Numbness or Tingling: If you feel a burning sensation along with a lack of feeling, pins and needles, or weakness, it may mean that your nerves are involved.
Don’t let burning knee pain slow you down! Our team of medical professionals at Volusia Medical Center is here to help. We’ll figure out what’s going on with your knee and come up with a treatment plan just for you. Contact us to learn more and schedule an appointment today. We’ll work with you to get you back to feeling better!
Conclusion
Burning knee pain can be a little bit painful or it can be very painful. It is usually caused by hurting yourself, using your knees too much, or having a health problem. To get rid of the pain and get back to moving normally, it's important to find out what's wrong and get the right treatment as soon as you can. Taking steps to take care of your knees can help you avoid hurting them in the future. This will keep your knees healthy for a long time.
FAQs
1. What causes a burning sensation in the knee?
There are a lot of things that can cause a burning feeling in the knee. Injuries, arthritis (which is a problem with your joints), nerve problems, infections, and using your knee too much are all common reasons for the pain.
2. Is burning knee pain serious?
Burning knee pain can sometimes be a small issue, but other times it might mean you have a big problem that needs a doctor to check it out.
3. How can I relieve burning knee pain at home?
To help make the burning pain in your knee feel better, you can try resting, putting an ice pack on your knee, and keeping it up high. You can also try taking pain medicine that you can buy without a prescription.
4. Can burning knee pain be prevented?
Yes, you can try to avoid burning pain in your knee by keeping a healthy weight, doing physical activity often, and taking good care of your knee.
5. When should I see a doctor for burning knee pain?
You should go to a doctor if your knee pain is really bad, it doesn't go away, or if your knee is swollen or feels unsteady.
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