Knee Pain
Alternate Names : Pain in the Knee, Arthralgia of the Knee
The knee is a joint where the thigh bone, or femur, and shin bone,
or tibia, meet. Knee pain refers to any pain or discomfort in this area of the body.
What is going on in the body?
Pain in the knee can occur for many reasons. It can be mild or severe, and involve one or both knees. Most cases of knee pain do not pose a serious threat to a person's health, but a few are serious.
What are the causes and risks of the condition?
There are many
possible causes of knee pain, including:
trauma or injury
overuse of the knee
arthritis
infections in or around the knee, such as septic arthritis
disease or infection throughout the body, which may produce generalized
joint pain. Examples include
sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and flu.
gout or pseudogout, which are disorders that can deposit
crystals into the joint space
autoimmune disorders,
conditions in which a person produces antibodies against his or her own body for unknown reasons. Autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus can cause knee pain.
Baker's cyst, a small
abnormal sac that may develop behind the knee
Osgood-Schlatter disease, a condition that usually occurs in teenage boys
deep venous thrombosis, which is a blood clot in the leg
a tumor or cancer affecting the
bone
|
