Why does the back of my knee hurt when I straighten my leg?
Why does the back of my knee hurt when I straighten my leg?
The back of the knee may hurt when a person straightens their leg because of a variety of issues, including blood clots, muscle or tendon injuries, arthritis, or cysts. Physical therapy, rest, and pain medications are common treatments for many of these causes, but sometimes a person will need surgery treat the issue.
What is the cause of posterior knee pain?
There is a large variety of potential causes of posterior knee pain. These include soft-tissue injuries, tendon injuries, vascular, and neurologic causes. Injuries to the soft-tissues and tendons are more common while neurologic and vascular injuries occur less frequently [18].
Why does the back of my knee hurt when I extend?
What tendon runs behind your knee?
The soft tissue that connects the hamstring muscle to the pelvis, shinbones and outer part of the knee is known as the hamstring tendon or tendons. If that tendon gets inflamed, torn, or is otherwise strained, a person might first notice pain in the back of the knee and, sometimes presenting in the thigh as well.
How do you treat posterior knee pain?
Tips for quick relief
- Rest the knee until it heals.
- Hold ice on it for 20 minutes at a time, several times a day.
- Wear a compression bandage to support the knee, but make sure it’s not too tight.
- Elevate the injured knee on a pillow or several pillows.
- Use crutches or a cane to take weight off the knee.
What can I do for pain behind my knee?
Elevate the injured knee on a pillow or several pillows. Use crutches or a cane to take weight off the knee. Take over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain relief, such as aspirin (Bufferin), ibuprofen (Advil), and naproxen (Naprosyn).
What is hamstring syndrome?
Hamstring syndrome is a condition caused by pressure on this nerve. The nerve may be pinched between the hamstring muscles and the pelvic bone or by the band of tissue that connects the hamstring muscles. This condition can cause pain in the hip and buttock and sometimes numbness down the back of the leg.
How to relieve anterior knee pain?
Other things you can do to relieve anterior knee pain include: Change the way you exercise. Learn exercises to both strengthen and stretch the quadriceps and hamstring muscles. Learn exercises to strengthen your core. Lose weight (if you are overweight). Use special shoe inserts and support devices (orthotics) if you have flat feet.
Why does my knee hurt when I straighten it?
If you’re feeling pain while straightening the knee, it’s probably due to cartilage or joint surface damage between your larger leg bones (the femur and tibia), says Nightingale. When you extend your knee, contact between these bones increases, which can cause painful pressure. This damage is usually the result of an injury.
What causes pain in the lateral knee?
Iliotibial band syndrome is a common knee injury that usually presents as lateral knee pain caused by inflammation of the distal portion of the iliotibial band; occasionally, however, the iliotibial band becomes inflamed at its proximal origin and causes referred hip pain.
How do you relieve pain in the back of your knee?
Grasp your lower leg with both hands placing your thumbs on top of one another on the backside of your calf.