what is causing my knee pain
Knee pain can be caused by injuries, mechanical problems, types of arthritis and other problems. A knee injury can affect any of the ligaments, tendons or fluid-filled sacs (bursae) that surround your knee joint as well as the bones, cartilage and ligaments that form the joint itself. Some of the more common knee injuries include: ACL injury.
Dislocated kneecap: The kneecap slides out of position, causing knee pain and swelling. IT (iliotibial) band syndrome: The iliotibial (IT) band is a piece of tough tissue that runs from your hip down to the outer part of your knee. When you overdo activity, it can become inflamed over time. That causes pain on the outer side of the knee and is common in runners when going downhill. Loose cartilage: Sometimes, a knee injury can break loose cartilage. These pieces can get stuck in the joint, which causes pain and swelling.
Osteoarthritis: This is the âwear and tearâ type of arthritis. Itâs a top cause of knee pain after age 50. This condition causes the knee joint to ache or swell when youâre active. Joints affected by osteoarthritis can also be stiff early in the day.