What Might Cause Sudden Knee Pain?

Your knee is a complicated joint with numerous moving parts. As a result, it is more vulnerable to harm.

The stress of daily motions and activities can be enough to cause discomfort and exhaustion in our knees as we age.

It can be difficult to know what to do if you go about your daily activities and suddenly get knee discomfort. Some causes of acute knee discomfort are medical crises that require immediate medical intervention. Other knee ailments are treatable at home.

This article will lead you through the conditions that cause abrupt knee discomfort so you can distinguish between them and plan your next steps.

Causes of sudden knee pain

Knee pain that emerges from nowhere may appear unrelated to an injury. However, the knee is a difficult bodily area to work with. It is made up of various parts that can be combined to form:

• stretched out
• worn
• aggravated
• partially torn
• fully ruptured

Parts of your knee can be harmed without a dramatic impact or a forceful fall.

Here is a list of common knee problems.

Fracture

A fracture can result in severe knee pain. The shinbone and kneecap are both involved in a tibial plateau fracture. This type of fracture results in the following:

• swelling
• sharp pain
• inability to move your joint

Distal femoral fractures affect the lower thigh and kneecap and generate symptoms similar to those described above. A shattered kneecap can also occur, resulting in excruciating agony and edema.

Fractures involving these bones can occur due to violent injuries or simple falls.

Tendinitis

Tendons are the fibrous bands that link your joints to your bones. Repetitive motions (such as walking or running) can inflame and swell your tendons. Tendinitis is the medical term for this illness.

Knee tendinitis is fairly prevalent. Specific subtypes of this ailment include patellar tendinitis (jumper's knee) and quadriceps tendinitis.

Tightness, swelling, and dull discomfort are the hallmark symptoms of knee tendinitis. You may also be unable to move the affected joint until it has had time to rest.

Runner’s knee

A runner's knee is a type of knee pain that begins behind or around the kneecap. This syndrome is widespread in physically active adults.

A dull throbbing behind your kneecap, particularly where your knee joins your femur, or thigh bone, is one of the symptoms. Your knee may also pop and grind as a result of the runner's knee.

Torn ligament

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL) are two of the most often injured ligaments in the knee.

Your knee's PCL, LCL, and MPFL ligaments can all be ruptured. These ligaments link the bones above and below the kneecap.

It's fairly uncommon for either of those ligaments to tear, especially in athletes. Sometimes the rupture can be traced back to a tackle on the football field or an overextension while playing tennis.

In other instances, the injury is caused by something less dramatic. For example, an improper angle strike to the knee might tear the ACL.

When either of these ligaments is torn, you will generally hear a popping sound followed by edema. Severe knee discomfort is generally the result. You could be unable to move the joint without the help of a brace.

Osteoarthritis

Sudden knee pain could be an indication of osteoarthritis (OA). The most frequent type of arthritis is osteoarthritis (OA).

This ailment is most common in older adults, particularly sportsmen and crafts workers who frequently execute repetitive movements.

Pain, soreness, and inflammation in the knee are symptoms that OA is developing. In most circumstances, your knee discomfort will not appear suddenly. It is more likely to induce steadily increasing amounts of pain.

While OA can affect only one knee, it is more likely to damage both.

Bursitis

Bursae are fluid-filled sacs that sit between your joints. Bursitis is caused by inflamed bursae around the knees.

Bursitis symptoms can appear suddenly after repeatedly bending your knees or bleeding in your bursae. Bursitis of the knee is not one of the most prevalent locations for this ailment, although it is not uncommon.

The most typical signs of bursitis are acute pain and swelling in one or both knees.

Injured meniscus

Menisci are cartilage particles in your knee. A torn or damaged meniscus is a common condition caused by forcefully twisting your knee.

If your meniscus is injured, you may hear a popping sound followed by intense pain and swelling. The injured knee may feel stuck in position. This ailment usually only affects one knee at a time.

Gout

Gout is caused by an accumulation of uric acid in the body. The acid accumulates in your feet but can also harm both knees.

Gout is very common, particularly in middle-aged men and postmenopausal women.

The illness causes severe discomfort and swelling—gout attacks in short bursts that last a few days. If you've never had knee discomfort before and it appears out of nowhere, it could be the start of gout.

Infectious arthritis

Infectious arthritis is a type of acute arthritis caused by infected fluid surrounding your joint. If the fluid is not treated, it can turn septic.

Septic arthritis is a medical emergency that necessitates immediate surgery.

Only one knee is affected by this ailment, which causes abrupt pain. Infectious arthritis is more likely if you have a history of arthritis, gout, or a weaker immune system.