Things To Do if You Have a Severe Inner Knee Pain
Knee pain can be frustrating and debilitating. It can even make running, standing, or walking difficult. Unfortunately, the inner knee, also known as the medial knee, is vulnerable to knee pain due to its complex structure and function. Inner knee pain occurs for several reasons, such as meniscus tears, ligament Injuries, overuse, or even osteoarthritis.
In this guide, we’ll discuss what you can do to deal with inner knee pain.
What are the Causes of Severe Inner Knee Pain?
The knee is among the largest and most complex joints in your body. It comprises many bones, cartilage, tendons, menisci, and ligaments that combine to help you walk, run, jump, and even stand. However, one of these parts can be injured, torn, or strained, resulting in discomfort and trouble moving.
Let’s explore the most common causes of severe inner knee pain.
- Bursitis: Bursae protect the knee joint from friction and tear. These joints can become inflamed, causing severe pain in your inner knee.
- Meniscus Tears: The meniscus in your knee absorbs shock and prevents the bones from rubbing together. Meniscus tears can cause severe knee pain, stiffness, and swelling.
- Osteoarthritis: This degenerative disease breaks down the cartilage in your knee, causing them to grind against each other. This causes severe inner knee pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility.
- ACL Injuries: The ACL, also known as the anterior cruciate ligament, stabilizes your knee joint. ACL tears or strains can cause severe inner knee pain, a snapping sensation, and instability.
- MCL Injuries: The MCL, or medial collateral ligament, also helps to keep your knee joint stable. Injuries to this ligament can lead to severe inner knee pain, bruising, and swelling.
- Patellofemoral Syndrome: Occurs when your kneecap rubs against the thigh bone, causing pain in your inner thigh. This condition is often caused by muscle imbalances or overuse.
- Osgood Schlatter Disease: It’s often common among adolescents and children going through a growth spurt. Osgood Schlatter’s disease causes pain and swelling in your inner thigh. You might also notice a bony bump below your kneecap.
- Knee Contusion: This condition occurs when you get hit or land hard on your knee.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis: Rheumatoid arthritis can cause inflammation and severe inner knee pain. The chances are that you have rheumatoid arthritis if you usually experience inner knee pain in the morning.
How to Deal With Inner Knee Pain
Let’s explore some of the tried and proven strategies for dealing with severe inner knee pain.
✅ Rest and Ice
The first thing you can do to alleviate your pain is to rest the knee as much as possible. So, avoid activities that can aggravate the pain. These include squatting, jumping, or running. You can still engage in low-impact exercises like swimming to maintain your fitness levels without putting undue stress on your injury. Also, apply ice to your injured knee several times daily to reduce inflammation and pain. You can always use an ice pack or wrap frozen vegetables in a towel.
✅ Stretching and Strengthening Exercises
While it is essential to rest your knee when dealing with severe inner knee pain, it’s also vital to maintain strength and flexibility in the surrounding muscles. Doing so will support your knee joint and reduce the risk of re-injury. With that in mind, incorporate stretching and strengthening exercises to strengthen the muscles around the knee. Before you embrace any stretching and strengthening routine, it’s essential to work with a doctor who does physical therapy or your trainer.
✅ Use Over the Counter Pain Medications
Over-the-counter pain and anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen and acetaminophen can help alleviate the pain and reduce inflammation. You can also use injectable steroids to restore mobility.
✅ Use Supportive Devices
Supportive devices can help remove undue pressure from your knee and promote healing. For example, knee braces can stabilize your knee and reduce pain during physical activities. Also, orthotics can help correct imbalances and reduce pressure on your knee. Always consult your doctor if you plan to use supportive devices to manage inner knee pain.
✅ Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is perhaps the most effective treatment for inner knee pain. It can help enhance mobility, reduce pain, increase strength, and prevent knee injury. Above all, physical therapy techniques are tailored to your unique situation and fitness levels. Doctors who do physical therapy use various methods to treat inner knee pain and promote healing, including:
- Stretching Exercises: Your doctor will recommend stretching exercises that will increase your flexibility and range of motion. These exercises target the muscles, bones, tendons, and cartilage around the knee, such as the hamstrings, quadriceps, and calf muscles.
- Range of Motion Exercises: The physical therapy doctor will also recommend exercises to strengthen muscles around your knee, improve flexibility and prevent stiffness in your knee joint. Some of these exercises include knee extensions and flexions.
- Strengthening Exercises: These exercises can help improve the stability of your knee joint and prevent re-injury.
- Manual Therapy: Physical therapy doctors also use techniques like joint mobilization and massage to alleviate pain and improve mobility in your knee joint.
- Taping or Bracing: Taping or bracing your knee can provide additional support and stability, reducing pain and inflammation. It can also prevent further injury.
- Ice and Heat Therapy: Ice and heat therapy can help reduce inflammation and alleviate pain in your knee joint. Ice therapy can help reduce inflammation, whereas heat therapy can reduce pain and improve circulation.
- Gait Analysis: Gait is the way you walk. Your doctor may analyze to check for any biomechanical issues contributing to your inner knee pain. After the analysis, they may recommend corrective exercises or adjustments to your gait pattern or footwear.
- Surgery: If your inner knee pain is severe and refuses to go away, your doctor may recommend surgery. Although surgery is an effective treatment for severe inner knee pain, it should only be considered after conservative treatments have been exhausted.
Key Takeaway
Severe knee pain can be frustrating and can hinder your quality of life. Fortunately, you can use numerous strategies to reduce discomfort and promote healing. Physical therapy is perhaps the most effective way to manage the symptoms and restore your quality of life. Schedule your appointment with the premier Chicago physical therapy team today to set up treatment for your inner knee pain.