What causes lateral knee pain?

Apr 24, 2023 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Lin Yunfei

Introduction

Lateral knee pain is considered to result from damage to the soft tissues around the knee joint, leading to painful symptoms. In patients with osteoarthritis, the soft tissues of the knee joint can become damaged. In those with rheumatoid arthritis, chronic inflammation persistently irritates the knee cartilage. Prolonged inflammatory stimulation can cause cartilage damage, resulting in lateral knee pain when the patient bends the knee.

Knee lateral pain may be caused by physiological factors, or it could result from pathological conditions such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. A detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Physiological Causes

If a patient has overworked or exercised improperly, causing soft tissue damage around the knee joint, pain may occur. If symptoms are not particularly severe and no other symptoms are present, patients need not worry excessively. Adequate rest and avoiding excessive physical activity during recovery can effectively relieve symptoms.

2. Pathological Causes

1) Osteoarthritis

In patients with osteoarthritis, soft tissues of the knee joint become damaged. If the affected area is not properly protected and suffers external impact, meniscus injury may occur, leading to pain on the outer side of the knee. Treatment may include medications such as glucosamine sulfate, meloxicam tablets, or diclofenac sodium sustained-release tablets, taken as directed by a physician.

2) Rheumatoid Arthritis

With rheumatoid arthritis, chronic inflammation continuously irritates the cartilage tissue in the knee. Prolonged inflammatory stimulation damages cartilage, causing pain on the outer side of the knee when bending. Treatment may include medications such as methylprednisolone tablets, methotrexate tablets, or ibuprofen sustained-release capsules, taken as prescribed by a doctor.

Besides the above-mentioned causes, other conditions such as knee osteoarthritis may also contribute. Patients should accurately diagnose their condition and receive appropriate treatment to avoid delayed recovery or worsening of symptoms. It's advisable to get sufficient rest and consume nutritious foods such as milk, eggs, and lean meat, which support recovery.

View All

Pain on the outer side of the knee during jumping jacks

Lateral knee pain during jumping jacks may be related to improper exercise, meniscus injury, or knee arthritis. Treatment options include appropriate rest, physical therapy, and medication. Specific analysis is as follows: performing excessive repetitions of jumping jacks, prolonged exercise duration, or incorrect jumping jack technique can lead to unbalanced stress on the knees, potentially causing overfatigue of the soft tissues surrounding the knee joint.

View Full Answer

What causes twitching in the muscles on the side of the knee, and what should be done about it?

Twitching of the muscles on the side of the knee may be related to factors such as overexertion, trauma, or calcium deficiency. Treatment can be carried out through daily care, oral medications, and other methods. Specific analysis is as follows: If one has been engaged in heavy physical labor for a long time, it may lead to excessive body fatigue, resulting in muscle spasms, with clinical symptoms including muscle twitching, pain, and weakness.

View Full Answer

Is iliotibial band injury a permanent condition?

In general, iliotibial band injury is not a permanent condition. It is primarily caused by overuse and improper physical training, with lateral knee injuries from running being particularly common. Once an iliotibial band injury occurs, any activities that cause or worsen pain should be stopped. After injury, cold therapy can be used to reduce symptoms such as swelling, congestion, and inflammation.