Knee pain is not normal even in the elderly or athletes and can therefore indicate significant changes that need to be examined by the orthopedic doctor. Pain behind the knee may indicate changes such as Baker’s cyst, hamstring, varicose veins, osteoarthritis, or meniscus injury.For example. Diagnosis should be made by your doctor after a physical evaluation and painful tests.Treatment may involve taking anti-inflammatory medications that control pain and physiotherapy sessions.
The most common causes of pain behind the knee are:
- Baker’s cyst.
- Also called a poplity cyst.
- Is a type of cyst filled with synovial fluid located in the area behind the knee.
- And is usually related to other diseases such as arthritis.
- Meniscale lesions or cartilage wear and therefore requires treatment.
- Disappearing when controlling the disease that causes it.
- Most commonly located between medial gastrocnemia and the semimembrane tendon.
- Symptoms include pain behind the knee.
- Some limitation when bending the knee and localized swelling.
- Which forms a painful and mobile “ball” that can be felt with the hands.
What to do: There is not always a need for cyst treatment, but if symptoms such as pain or limited knee stretching or bending movement occur, physiotherapy with electrotherapeutic equipment may be indicated.Fluid may also be an option indicated by your doctor.Learn more about treating Baker’s cyst.
Pain behind the knee can also be caused by tendonitis located in the hamstrings, which are located on the back of the thigh; This area is more prone to injury in people who perform intense physical activity, such as running, playing football or riding a bicycle, or who are athletes Symptoms are pain located in the tendon that is located at the back of the knee, in the most lateral or medial part.
What to do: Stretching exercises for these muscles and placing a chopped ice pack by letting it work for 20 minutes, right after stretching, can help reduce pain and discomfort.It is also recommended to avoid heavy exertion, intense physical activity, such as running.Physical therapy can also help reduce pain and discomfort and normalize daily activities.Watch the video below for some tips that can help fight tendinitis faster:
When the person has varicose veins in the legs and posterior region of the knee, this area may be more painful when there is a greater buildup of blood in this area.Small varicose veins or “vascular spiders” can cause pain at the end of the day and feeling heavy legs or “corner.”Varicose veins are easily identifiable with the naked eye, but your doctor may order tests in the most severe cases for further evaluation, which may indicate the need even for surgery.
What to do: You should see your doctor for a titration, because in some cases it is possible to perform a sclerotherapy treatment, which involves eliminating varicose veins, carrying the cause of pain behind the knee.very swollen and the pain is more intense than normal, you should consult your doctor as soon as possible, as this can be severe when the vessels break and cause bleeding. The use of remedies for varicose veins can be indicated by the doctor and bring good results., wearing compression stockings and avoiding staying in the same position for a long time, whether standing or sitting, are also important recommendations for daily life.Check out some examples of varicose vein remedies your doctor may tell you.
Knee osteoarthritis can also cause pain behind the knee when worn areas of the joint are located in the back, is more common in people over age 50 and may be associated with other conditions, as well as overweight or weak.thigh muscles.
What to do: Your doctor may recommend taking anti-inflammatory medications for 7 to 10 days in the most severe situations, when the pain is very severe, creams, ointments, and gels that can be applied directly to your knees help reduce pain and can be purchased even without a prescription. To treat osteoarthritis, it is recommended to perform physiotherapy sessions with electrotherapeutic equipment that reduces inflammation and allows for more effective knee healing and strengthening exercises. Watch the video below for some exercises that can be done to strengthen your knee in case of osteoarthritis:
The meniscus is a cartilage found in the middle of the knee between the bones of the femur and tibia. Symptoms of a meniscus injury include knee pain when walking, climbing, and lowering stairs, and depending on the area of the injury, the pain may be in front, behind, or on the sides of the knee.
What to do: If you suspect a meniscus injury, you should schedule an appointment with an orthopedic doctor for an evaluation. Tests may be done that cause pain, but the best test to see the meniscus is MRI.physiotherapy or surgery, in the most severe cases, where the affected part of the meniscus can be sewn or cut.Learn more about physical therapy and meniscale injury surgery.
Medications in tablet form should not be taken without medical advice, but your doctor may recommend taking anti-inflammatory medications for 7 to 10 days to reduce pain. Corticosteroid infiltration is also an option in the most severe cases where there is no relief from symptoms with medications in the form of physiotherapy pills.Anti-inflammatory creams, ointments and gels, such as diclofenac, diethylamonium, arnica or methyl salicylate, which are readily available in pharmacies and drugstores.
However, it’s not enough to take medication or use ointments, it’s important to fight the cause of the pain, and therefore, as long as you have a knee pain that doesn’t stop in 1 week, or is so intense that it can’t do your daily activities, you should make an appointment with a doctor or physical therapist.
When there is a suspicion that knee pain is related to the structures of this joint, the orthopedic surgeon is the most indicated doctor, when there is a suspicion that the pain is caused by varicose veins, the vascular doctor is more appropriate, but if not if you can make an appointment with these doctors, you can appoint the family doctor. The physiotherapist can be consulted in all situations, however, he cannot prescribe medications or injections.