Pain in the back of the knee has a variety of causes. Those affected feel restricted in their everyday life and often suffer pain. A brief overview in the text below shows the types of pain that can occur in the back of the knee and the causes. There are a few tricks you can use to gently relieve your knee and alleviate or completely prevent pain.
Below you will find further information and selected specialists for the treatment of pain in the back of the knee.
Knee pain is a very common problem; there is hardly anyone who has not experienced knee pain at least once. This is due to the importance and strain placed on the knee joint in active people who walk upright.
Knee pain is not limited to one age group, gender, origin or other characteristics.
Knee pain can affect anyone and is not restricted to any age group, gender, origin or other characteristics.
In children, it can be caused by congenital malformations, but more often by simple overuse reactions. Nevertheless, if unusual and persistent knee pain occurs in children, further clarification should be sought to rule out serious causes.
The same applies to knee pain in adolescence, where overuse or injury is also the most common cause. Growing pains are also a cause, while serious underlying diseases such as rheumatism or bone tumors are fortunately rare.
In adults, in addition to accidents and overloading, degenerative diseases and signs of wear and tear also occur, particularly with increasing age. A malalignment, also known as a knock-knee or bow leg, can result, particularly after accidents with fractures close to the knee joint. This results in increased stress on the joint surfaces, the outer parts of the knock-knee and the inner parts of the bow leg. In the long term, this often leads to cartilage damage, which causes increasing pain.
The same applies to congenital deformities, which almost always occur on both sides compared to acquired (after an accident) unilateral changes.
Even top athletes can suffer from knee pain and degenerative signs of wear and tear at a younger age as a result of the extraordinary strain.
In senior citizens, on the other hand, signs of wear and tear are by far the most common cause of knee pain. Here, however, they are attributed to joint wear and tear, also known as osteoarthritis.
The pain can be classified according to its character
Sharp pain in the back of the knee is often caused by problems with the meniscus. The meniscus, also known as the inter-articular disc, is a crescent-shaped cartilage cushion in the knee joint.
A pressing pain, accompanied by a pronounced feeling of tension, is often caused by a joint effusion. Joint effusion can occur as a result of inflammation or injury.
Dull pain that radiates into the thigh or calf indicates excessive wear and tear on the knee joint.
The progression over time is also important; a distinction is made here between
Acute pain occurs suddenly, as if out of the blue. It is usually caused by injuries, particularly falls or overloading. With the right treatment, pain therapy, rest and immobilization, it usually subsides quickly.
Chronic pain persists over a longer period of time and can develop from acute pain if the joint is not protected or treatment is not carried out successfully. For example, a meniscus tear can lead to chronic pain if it is not recognized and the joint is not immobilized appropriately or even operated on.
Various structures in the knee joint can cause pain in the hollow of the knee © bilderzwerg | AdobeStock
Knee pain can be caused by
Meniscus damage such as meniscus tears are common after accidents in athletes. In severe cases, surgery is necessary to repair the damage. After a simple meniscus contusion without a tear, a 3-4 week break from exercise is sufficient.
Another of the most common sports accidents is a cruciate ligament tear, which occurs when the knee is hyperextended.
In the case of ligament and meniscus damage, it is essential to take a break from exercise to relieve pain and promote healing.
In children from the age of six, pain in the back of the knee occurs during growth phases and is completely normal.
However, if the pain is caused by a fall and does not improve even after a long period of time, this should be investigated further. After accidents, for example, the growth plate in the knee joint can become loose in children. This is called epiphysiolysis. This condition must be treated surgically to prevent growth disorders and malalignment. Prolonged pain with other symptoms such as fatigue, weight loss, fever or appetite disorders should also be cause for further investigation. In very rare cases, a malignant bone disease may also be the cause.
Once the growth phase is complete, other causes of knee pain come to the fore:
Misalignments of the knees such as bow legs or knock-knees lead to pain under heavy strain. If the pain often occurs on the inside or outside of the hollow of the knee, this is an indication of a permanent misalignment and the resulting meniscus damage.
Tendons in these muscles can become inflamed due to short-term overloading of the popliteus muscle or the posterior thigh muscles. Tendonitis usually manifests itself as pain when bending the knee or applying pressure to the tendon.
Long-term overloading also leads to knee pain. Sports activities of a semi-professional or professional nature are worth mentioning here. On the other hand, the strong muscle sheath often protects the joint function of athletes, so that sport can also have a protective (protective or gentle) influence.
Obesity, on the other hand, is a major risk factor for joint and cartilage wear in the legs (knee and ankle joints) and hips, and is currently the biggest risk factor in industrialized countries. Our body is optimally equipped for a normal weight; being overweight leads to serious problems and complications.
If the knee is subjected to particularly heavy strain, wear-related meniscopathy can occur, the likelihood of which increases with age.
Sudden (due to an accident) or permanent (due to sport or excess weight) increased pressure on the knee joint very often leads to an increase in joint fluid. In severe cases, this can lead to a bulge in the knee joint capsule, the so-called Baker's cyst.
The Baker's cyst is noticeable as a significant swelling in the hollow of the knee. Depending on its location and size, it can cause moderate pain when stretching or bending.
If the popliteal fossa is subjected to further stress or irritation, a Baker's cyst can rupture in rare cases. Sudden, severe pain and a noticeable inflammatory overheating of the popliteal fossa are the result. A Baker's cyst, whether painful with complications or chronic and asymptomatic, is always an indication of so-called "internal knee damage", i.e. pathological changes to the meniscus or cruciate ligaments, for example, and should be investigated further. In the vast majority of cases, an MRI examination is the first step.
A Baker's cyst can also constrict the tibial nerve, which lies behind the knee joint. In this case, the back of the knee usually hurts when stretching the legs. Pain after prolonged walking or running is also usually due to irritation of the tibial nerve.
The pain usually manifests itself as a burning or tingling sensation during nervous strain.
Can thrombosis also lead to knee pain?
In rare cases, thrombosis is the cause of painful hollow of the knee. Thromboses are blood clots (thrombus) that can form in blood vessels due to an unhealthy lifestyle or too little exercise.
If the clot breaks loose, it can lead to life-threatening pulmonary embolisms. The suspicion of a thrombosis in the hollow of the knee should therefore always be investigated further. In addition to knee pain, other indications include swelling of the entire leg, the back of the knee or a noticeable blue vein under the skin, similar to a varicose vein.
In most cases, immobilizing the knee for a few days or weeks is enough to relieve pain in the back of the knee.
In the case of inflammation, you should cool the knee. Muscle irritation is best relieved with heat, for example with an infrared lamp.
However, if the pain does not improve after a few days of rest and immobilization, it is advisable to see a doctor for further clarification.
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