Knee pain is seriously the worst and one thing that can hurt equally, if not more, is pain behind the knee. Now, there are many causes for pain behind the knee and here is why this can happen to you, so you can know if you have to see an orthopedic surgeon for the knee pain.

Causes Of Pain In Back Of Knee

Meniscus Tear

One of the most common knee injuries has to be meniscus tear. Meniscus is a half-circle-shaped cartilage, and the function of this particular cartilage is to cushion the knee. The reason you’re able to sit on your knees or even take a minor blow to them when you fall is because of the meniscus.

Well, this very cartilage can also degenerate and once it does, it can lead to tears and that, in turn, leads to a lot of pain, even in the back of the knee.

Arthritis

Arthritis is a bone degenerating disorder and it can cause pain behind and on the knee too. It is a major joint in the body and if you suffer from arthritis, then your bones will slowly wither away. It can either be age-related or immune system-related, but the bottom line is pretty much the same and that is the fact that you will experience immense pain and, in some cases, you will find it very hard to even walk.

So, if you experience chronic pain in your knee and you need some sort of relief every single time, then it’s better that you get it checked and get to the root of the problem.

Baker’s Cyst

Baker’s cyst is also known as popliteal cyst and it is a condition in which the sac that is usually behind your knee is overfilled with a lot of fluid.

Now, there is already fluid in the sac behind your knee, which acts as a cushion, but certain injuries and complications can lead to a lot of production of said fluid, and this can lead to pain in the back of the knee and sometimes, deformation as well. You can also feel a clicking noise in the knee when you bend it.

PCL Injury

The posterior cruciate ligament, or simply PCL, is a very important ligament in the knee. It connects your thigh bone to the shin bone and it also helps to keep the knee supported and moving properly.

You can injure the PCL if you take a really hard blow on your knee and the pain can radiate all the way to the back of the knee. You want to rest your knee and check in with a doctor to see if there are any complications whatsoever.

Tendinitis

Tendinitis is the inflammation of the tendons and if you know anything about your knees, then you would know that there is an abundance of tendons in them and even around them. Tendinitis can heal on its own, given that you give your knee the rest it needs, so you need to ensure that when you feel pain in your knee and behind it, you give your leg a break.

Inflammation can be caused by previous injuries, overuse, or even impacts to your knees that hinder performance. Therefore, consult a knee specialist Woodbridge for diagnosis.

Calf Muscle Injury

This knee complication is also known as Gastrocnemius tendonitis and it is a condition in which the calf muscle is strained. The calf muscle is the muscle behind and under the knees and this is what allows you to bend your knees and even move your toes in a certain way like pointing them.

So, when this muscle is strained, you will feel calf muscle pain, all the way up to the knee and also tenderness and slight swelling depending on the severity of the injury.

Jumper’s Knee

The patellar tendon is the tendon that connects the kneecap to the shin bone and if this tendon is injured or pulled in any way, then the condition is known as jumper’s knee or patellar tendonitis. Jumper’s knee is caused when you overuse your knees and legs a lot.

This is really bad and the pain also gets significantly worse as the injury progresses. This is why it’s better that you act quickly and get in touch with a doctor so that you can give your knee the rest it needs for the tendon to heal.

Leg Cramps

Leg cramps are more common than you think and a lot of them are caused by either stretching your legs too much, or sometimes, there can be issues with the nerves, dehydration, or something like that, which can lead to the leg cramping up.

When there is a cramp in your leg, you can usually feel it all the way up to your knees and even behind it and it is not fun at all. So, if you feel a pinching and lasting pain and a rush of sensation in the back of your knee, then it is probably because you have cramped your leg.

Hamstring Injury

The hamstring is composed of three muscles in your thigh bone and when any or all of these muscles are strained and if there is an injury affecting the muscles, then there is going to be pain in the back of the knee and that can be excruciating.

The injuries that can lead to injuries in the hamstring can include muscle pulls, strains, as well as tears, and if the muscle is extended beyond its limit, then you will need to have emergency surgery done in order to get rid of the pain, because it will be a lot.

Deep Vein Thrombosis

Simply put, deep vein thrombosis is a condition in which the blood clots inside a vein. Now, if you know anything about veins, even if you’re not a medical student, it is that veins are thin vessels through which blood passes. So, naturally, if there is a blood clot obstructing the flow of blood in the vein, then the body part is not going to get enough blood circulation, and things can go downhill from there.

If it goes unnoticed for too long, then that particular area can go blue, and in worst cases, the circulation can completely stop and you can lose sensation in the area, leading to a variety of problems. Behind the knee is an area where there are a lot of veins and if you have a history of blood clots or anything like that, then you will be at risk of deep vein thrombosis.

This is extremely dangerous because time is of the essence in this condition. You need to remove the clot or else it can travel all the way to the lungs and cause embolisms and that is a serious medical emergency. So, if you see a bluish hue and extreme pain in the area behind the knee, then you need to act quickly.

Conclusion

Back in back of knee can have a lot of reasons and now you know most common of them. Now, all that is left to do is to see a knee injury doctor Woodbridge to manage and treat the problem so that you don’t fall into the throes of pain again.