Why Does My Knee Hurt When I Bend And Straighten It?

Bending at the knee is necessary for daily functioning, as well as sports and exercise. If your knee hurts when you bend and straighten it, and this pain starts affecting your ability to move or engage in activities you enjoy, it is time to seek medical help. At Sports Injury & Pain Management Clinic, Dr. Febin Melepura provides the most advanced pain treatment care available in the country. He focuses on your symptoms and the type of pain you are experiencing and quickly diagnoses and treats your condition to ensure you are back on your feet in no time.

Our knee is a hinge joint, responsible for mobility and flexibility. Our knees are constantly moving, from sitting, walking, bending, and other high-impact physical activities like running, jumping, or work-related duties that may cause injuries or inflammation if we are not careful. If your knees hurt when you bend them, it can affect your mood and ability to move around, work, and participate in daily activities.

Knee pain is a common problem for many people and can have numerous underlying causes. It can occur due to overuse or an unexpected increase in physical activity. Osteoarthritis, meniscus tears, bursitis, ligament strain, and tendonitis are some of the most common reasons your knee hurts when you bend it. Bone fractures or infections in the joint can also cause knee pain.

Sometimes, obesity or misalignment of the hips can lead to excessive pressure and tension on the knees that can cause pain.

Read on to know why your knee hurts when you bend or straighten it, when you need to see a doctor, and what treatments can relieve this pain.

Why Does My Knee Hurt When I Bend and Straighten It?

The knee is a complex joint. It is also the most common joint that can become inflamed. Conditions that cause knee pain are usually related to sudden, traumatic injury, wear and tear due to aging, or damage to parts of the joint.

Knee pain can feel dull and achy, and cause a burning sensation, or shooting pain. You may feel like your knee will give away when you try to bend your knee while standing up or walking. There may be swelling, and your knee may feel tender to the touch.

7 Reasons Your Knee Hurts When You Bend It

Some of the most common conditions that can cause knee pain include:

Arthritis

Arthritis is a chronic inflammation of the knee joints. It can cause pain when bending, swelling, and stiffness in the knee joints. Several types of arthritis can affect the knee, including:

• Osteoarthritis – It is the most common type of arthritis in which the cartilage that cushions your knee breaks down over time. This can cause the bones of your knee joint to rub against each other, which results in pain. It is a degenerative condition that develops slowly, worsening the pain. It can occur on one or both knees.
• Rheumatoid arthritis – It is an autoimmune condition that causes the immune system to attack healthy tissue in joints. It usually affects both knees, leading to knee pain, swelling, and difficulty bending or straightening your knee.
• Psoriatic arthritis – It is a condition that occurs in people with psoriasis.
• Gout – It is also a type of arthritis in which small crystals of uric acid form in and around the knee joint causing sudden, intense pain and swelling. The symptoms come on rapidly and usually last a few days before resolving.
• Posttraumatic arthritis – It develops after an injury, such as a broken bone, eventually leading to knee damage. Tears in the ligaments can affect the stability of the joint which leads to further strain or injury.

Symptoms of arthritis of the knee can be relieved with over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs. Your doctor may recommend some changes to your lifestyle to prevent your condition from worsening.

Jumper’s Knee

Jumper’s knee is inflammation of the patellar tendon, which connects your kneecap to the shin bone. Also known as patellar tendonitis, it is a very common overuse disorder in athletes who participate in sports involving jumping, such as volleyball and basketball. People with leg length differences, increased body weight, or foot arch issues are at higher risk of facing this condition.

The strain on the tendon when it repeatedly hits hard surfaces can lead to inflammation. Burning pain is felt in the kneecap or immediately below it. If left untreated, it can cause the tendon to tear, which makes it hard to move your knee or bend and straighten it without pain.

Knee Injury

Injuries can make your knee hurt when you bend it. You will know it right away when your knee is injured. You may have hit it against a hard surface, fallen, or had an injury due to exercise, sports, or work activities.

Common knee injuries include:

• Knee sprain – When ligaments in your knee overstretch or tear partially, it results in a knee sprain. You can damage a ligament when you twist your foot during an awkward landing during physical activities.
• Ligament rupture – When a knee ligament tears completely, it splits into two pieces. This condition is called ligament rupture and causes sharp pain, swelling, and difficulty moving the knee. It is more serious than a knee sprain and may require surgery.
• Muscle strain – When a tendon or muscle attached to your knee is damaged, often due to overuse or a sudden, dramatic increase in knee use, it results in knee strains. A muscle strain occurs while playing sports, lifting something heavy, or stressing the muscles. It causes cramping, spasms, swelling, and bruising.
• Fracture – A fracture of one of the bones of your knee joint can cause sharp pain in the knee. Fractures usually occur due to a fall or accident, but knee osteoporosis can also cause the bones to become brittle and fracture with minimal impact.
• Dislocation – Dislocation of the patellar joint is the reason behind most knee injuries. When the kneecap slides out of place, usually to the side, it results in dislocation. It often happens due to a twisting injury or a direct blow to the inside of the knee.

In most cases of knee injury, the knee begins to swell within 24 hours of the injury due to inflammation in the joint, and bending it becomes painful.

Runner’s Knee

Also known as patellofemoral pain syndrome, it is a condition that often affects runners. When the cartilage behind the kneecap breaks down, your kneecaps rub against the thigh bone and cause dull pain at the front of your knee.

People who participate in sports that put repetitive stress on the knee, such as running, develop a runner’s knee. It is an overuse injury that results from bending your knee repeatedly and doing a lot of high-stress exercises, which irritate tissues in and around the kneecap. Runner’s knee can affect non-athletes as well, particularly people who are obese due to increased pressure on their knee joints.

Joint Infection

Bacterial, viral, or fungal infections from another part of the body can sometimes spread to your knee joint and cause inflammation. Also known as septic arthritis or knee joint infection, it is a serious medical condition that can cause sudden pain and swelling in your knee without any sign of injury. You may also experience a fever, chills, or feelings of unwellness.

The infection can quickly and severely damage the cartilage and bone within the joint, so prompt treatment is crucial. Treatment options include joint drainage and antibiotics.

Bursitis

Bursitis occurs when a small fluid-filled sac, called a bursa, near the knee becomes inflamed. There are several bursae in and around your knee joint. They reduce friction between the tissues around your knee and help the joints move easily against your muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

When these sacs become irritated or inflamed, they produce too much fluid, which causes pressure on the tissue around them. This leads to pain, stiffness in the joints around the knees, swelling, and limited knee movement.

Fibromyalgia

It is a chronic condition that causes pain all over the body with extreme fatigue. The pain is constant or intermittent and may be accompanied by stiffness and swelling. Fibromyalgia usually causes a dull ache, which affects your joints, including the knee. It may exist alongside other conditions, such as osteoarthritis.

Fibromyalgia can affect one or both knees. The connection between fibromyalgia and knee pain is attributed to central sensitization, which intensifies pain perception and increases sensitivity, causing pain even when there is no real physical danger.

When to Seek Medical Help for Knee Pain?

Mild knee pain while bending can have many causes. Most of them are not a matter of concern, and there are several options for pain management too. If your knee pain persists for more than a couple of days or does not improve with at-home treatment, it is important to seek medical advice, as untreated knee injuries can lead to permanent damage.

Call your doctor right away in case of the following symptoms:

• Severe knee pain
• Inability to bend or straighten your knee
• Failure to move your knee or take any weight on it
• You feel hot and shivery, are generally unwell, have a high temperature, and your knee is red or hot, as these are signs of infection
• Your knee has changed shape or is extremely swollen
• Your knee gives way, locks in one position, or painfully clicks
• Pain that is affecting your day-to-day activities like getting dressed or sleeping

Knee pain can be a sign of various medical conditions and should not be taken lightly. Your doctor will examine your knee and ask for tests, including an X-ray or MRI, to properly assess the problem.

Treatment for Knee Pain

Treatment for knee pain will depend on what is causing it. Minor knee pain is best treated with self-care measures like resting and applying ice, but if your pain is severe and a result of injury or some condition, it needs medical treatment. Your doctor will suggest treatments based on the severity of the pain and the condition behind it.

Treatment options include:

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy may help your knee pain, depending on what has caused it and what part of your knee hurts. It may be the best option if you have arthritis or are recovering from an injury.

A physiotherapist will take your medical and symptom history and examine your knee, hip, lower back, and ankle, assess the level of pain and inflammation, and give advice most suited to your situation. They will show you stretches and exercises that strengthen the weak muscles around your affected knee and improve your range of motion. It will improve stability and relieve pain.

Steroid Injections

Steroid injections or cortisone injections can relieve the pain and swelling in the knee. These infections usually contain corticosteroid medication, which reduces pain and swelling over time, and a local anesthetic that reduces pain immediately.

It is essential to know that the effect of a steroid injection usually wears off after a few weeks or months. You may experience long-term relief if this period of relief allows you to move normally and do your physiotherapy exercises.

Regenerative Treatments

If your doctor feels the need, they may recommend regenerative treatment that supports your body’s natural healing process. Regenerative medicine stimulates cells to regenerate, restore, and repair themselves, which helps in speedy recovery.

Regenerative treatments include:

• Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy – A blood sample is taken from your arm to create a concentrated sample of platelets. Platelets play a crucial role in healing and growth. This sample is reinjected into the knee to encourage repair and regeneration in the damaged area.
• Activated Mesenchymal Pericyte Plasma injections (AMPP®) – A blood sample is collected for PRP, and the fat sample is collected from the thigh or stomach. These two samples are processed to isolate regenerative cells and then injected into your knee joint.
• Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) – A bone marrow sample is taken from the center of your pelvis bone and processed to create a concentrated sample of stem cells. It is injected into the knee joint, where the stem cells develop into the tissue.

Surgery

In some cases, surgery is the only solution when all other treatments have failed or if you have a serious knee injury that requires surgical intervention.

Surgical knee pain treatments include:

• Knee replacement surgery – An incision is made down the front of your knee to access the joint, and the damaged ends of your shin bone and thigh bone are removed. Artificial parts are fitted over the ends of both bones. A partial knee replacement replaces only the arthritic part of the knee, and a total knee replacement replaces the entire knee joint.
• Knee arthroscopy – It is a type of keyhole knee surgery that helps diagnose and treat knee problems. With the help of knee arthroscopy, the surgeon can see your knee clearly and remove or adjust tissue as needed.
• Meniscus repair – Meniscus is the cartilage that cushions the knee. If this cartilage is torn, it can only be repaired surgically with an arthroscopy.
• Knee ligament surgery – Repairing a ligament in your knee involves replacing it with a healthy tendon. The surgery may take a tendon from your hamstring or patella tendon.
• Knee osteotomy – The bones around the knee joint are cut and shaped, which changes their alignment. When the weight is taken through the knee, it improves knee function and relieves pain.
• Knee tendon surgery – It helps to treat a patellar tendon tear. The torn tendon is reattached to the kneecap during the surgery.
• Kneecap trochleoplasty – It treats instability of the kneecap, particularly if you have had dislocations. A new groove is shaped for the patella to sit in, which keeps it in place.

Knee replacement procedures may vary depending on your condition and its diagnosis. Most surgeries are performed while you are asleep under general anesthesia. Your doctor will discuss the benefits of knee surgery and how it will improve your quality of life.

How to Prevent Knee Pain When Bending?

It is not always possible to prevent knee injury and the resulting knee pain, but the following tips can help reduce risk:

• • Make sure you always stretch your legs before and after exercising and stop immediately if you feel any pain in the joint
  • Avoid suddenly increasing the intensity of your workout, as it can stress the knee and result in pain and inflammation. Experts recommend gradually working your way up to avoid knee problems
  • Practice regular strengthening and stretching exercises that target the muscles that support your knee and improve stability
  • If you are overweight, losing excessive pounds can reduce the pressure and strain on your knee and ensure joint health
  • Focus on low-impact sports like swimming, biking, or Pilates
  • If your work involves kneeling a lot, using knee pads helps to avoid knee bursitis
  • Support your feet by wearing comfortable, right fitting shoes and cushioned insoles

Sometimes, knee pain is a sign that your leg needs to rest. Taking good care of your body can prevent damage to the joint and avoid knee pain.

You do not have to live with chronic knee pain or reduced mobility – Call Sports Injury & Pain Management Clinic today and schedule an appointment with Dr. Febin Melepura to find out why your knee hurts, especially when you bend and straighten it. Dr. Melepura is a board-certified pain management doctor and specializes in treating pain-related issues that affect your routine life and movement. He offers a wide range of treatment options, both non-surgical and surgical, that ensure your knee joint is back to its strength and flexibility with minimum downtime.

Febin Melepura, MD is a top rated, best in class interventional pain management doctor. He is a nationally recognized pain relief specialist and is among the top pain care doctors in New York City and the country. He is an award winning expert and contributor to a prominent media outlets.

Dr. Febin Melepura has been recognized for his thoughtful, thorough, modern approach to treating chronic pain and, among other accolades, has been named a “top pain management doctor in New York”, and one of “America’s Top Doctors™” for an advanced sports injury treatments.

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