Blog Details

Sharp knee pain symptoms are often a sign of a serious knee injury. You have to learn about the causes of sharp stabbing pain in the knee that come and go to treat it. Most people, regardless of age, experience knee pain at some point in their lives. Older individuals may experience knee pain and discomfort due to multiple age-related conditions, and younger individuals may experience similar symptoms due to sports or other physical activities. However, to understand its cause you have to understand the anatomy of the knee first.

How Does It Feel?

If it feels like there is a sharp knife stabbing into your knee or a burning sensation, then most likely there is either some nerve irritation or something is getting stuck in the joint such as an osteophyte. However, you may feel a discomforting sensation or soreness behind the knee joint or pain behind knee. Which can be severe enough to limit the movement of our knees.

13 Causes Of Sharp Stabbing Pain In The Knee

Knee pain is a common complaint among people of all ages. The discomfort can range from mild to severe and can affect one or both knees. If you're experiencing sharp stabbing pain in your knee, it's important to see a knee pain doctor. They will perform an examination and recommend further tests such as X-rays or MRI scans if needed. Based on the results, they will be able to diagnose the cause of your knee pain and recommend appropriate treatment options. One possible diagnosis for sharp stabbing knee pain is suprapatellar bursitis.

1. Sharp Pain On The Inside Of The Knee

It is usually caused by damage to the medial collateral ligament or the medial meniscus. It may be felt at the time of injury, usually from twisting awkwardly, and is then followed by an ongoing ache while the knee injury heals.

2. Sharp Pain On The Outside Of The Knee

Insufficient exercise or excessive sitting can damage the muscles, resulting in chronic pain. A long period of sitting can cause stress on the joints and muscles, particularly those in the hips and legs. As a result of a lack of activity, the muscles may also weaken, resulting in widespread pain throughout the body.

3. Sharp Pain In The Front Of The Knee

Shin splints are a common overuse injury characterized by a sharp pain along the front of the leg. They may also be caused by a cramp or damage to a nerve.

4. Sharp Pain On The Back Of The Knee

You may develop osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis as you age which leads to sharp stabbing pain. A knee injury (ligament injury or torn cartilage), a malignant or benign growth (very rare), or a knee infection (septic arthritis) can also result in pain in the back of the knee.

5. Sharp Knee Pain When Running

This is fairly rare and usually indicates that something is getting squashed in the joint.Knee pain when running tends to be more of an aching, throbbing type of pain rather than sharp pain

6. Sharp Knee Pain When Walking

If you're experiencing knee pain when walking, it's important to understand the nuances of your discomfort. If the pain worsens initially but eases, it may be indicative of arthritis. Sharp knee pain worsening with more walking could point to neural issues. Conversely, if it eases while walking uphill or with slight forward bending and worsens when walking downhill or upright, it might be related to spinal stenosis. Accurate diagnosis is key in addressing knee pain when walking effectively.

7. Sharp Knee Pain When Bending

If you're experiencing knee pain when bending, it's likely indicative of an issue within the knee joint, such as arthritis or a cartilage tear. Learn more about managing knee pain when bending. If it is worse when bending your back e.g. reaching down to put your shoes on, it is likely due to a problem in your lower back.

8. Sharp Knee Pain When Standing

If the knee pain gets worse when standing still but eases with movement, it is likely from arthritis. If your sharp knee pain gets worse with activity it is likely a mechanical problem in the knee such as a cartilage tear or referred pain from the lower back. Sharp knee pain when standing can be a sign of weak knees.Weak knees can be caused by a variety of factors, including age, injury, and overuse.

9. Sharp Knee Pain Twisting

This usually indicates that something is getting stuck in the joint, either a loose body or a flap of torn cartilage. It may also indicate instability in the knee due to a ligament sprain or tear.

10. Sharp Knee Pain When Kicking

This usually indicates an issue with the stability of the knee, typically an ACL injury. One helpful tool to better understand your knee pain is a knee pain location chart. This chart can help you identify where specifically on your knee you are experiencing pain, which can provide valuable information for diagnosis and treatment.

11. Sharp Stabbing Pain In Knee When Kneeling

A sharp needle-like pain in the knee when kneeling usually indicates that something is being squashed, typically an inflamed bursa, known as knee bursitis. There is often obvious swelling with bursitis resembling a squashy orange.

12. Sharp Knee Pain When Climbing Stairs

Sharp knee pain going upstairs typically indicates a problem with the knee joint (tibiofemoral joint) whereas if the pain is worse coming downstairs, the problem is most likely in the kneecap. One of the most concerning symptoms associated with sharp knee pain is knee buckling.Knee buckling occurs when your leg gives way unexpectedly, causing you to lose balance and potentially suffer from a fall. This symptom can be particularly dangerous if you are climbing stairs or engaging in other physical activities that require stability and balance.

13. Sharp Knee Pain When Sitting Down

Pain that gets worse with prolonged activities, such as sitting for more than 20-30 minutes is a common feature of arthritis. If your sharp knee pain eases after a few minutes of movement, arthritis is indeed the most likely cause

Does A Knee Fracture Also Cause Sharp Stabbing Pain?

A Knee fracture also known as a patellar fracture is a serious injury, which can impact your ability to bend or straighten your knee. Knee fractures are mostly caused by a powerful impact. Such as any accident or injury. In rare cases, the knee can be fractured due to a sudden contraction of a quadricep where the muscles can pull from the patella. However, symptoms include Immediate swelling and bruising in the knee or sharp stabbing pain in the knee that comes and goes.

However, Fractures and tears of the ligaments and cartilage of the knee often require surgical intervention but often have great success.

Sharp Knee Pain Treatments And Relief

Severe pain in the knee requires professional medical attention. However, Treatment depends on the specific diagnosis and may include one or all of the following:

• How Medication Is Helpful?

If your severe knee pain is due to inflammatory conditions, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to treat an infection or anti-inflammatory medications to treat arthritic conditions.

Examples include anti-platelet medications, such as aspirin or clopidogrel (Plavix). They may also prescribe medications to reduce leg pain when walking, such as pentoxifylline or cilostazol.

• How Does Knee Support Help?

The goal of Knee Support for patients is to provide support for the knee. Also, to decrease the pain, and improve function. However, Braces may allow people to feel more comfortable. Also, braces provide stability and manage the pain and associated swelling by supporting the soft tissues around the knee.

• Different Kinds Of Knee Supports

The choices of knee braces may vary according to the condition of the patient. However, Four main types include:

• Knee Sleeves

This type of brace works by providing compression to the soft tissue around the joint and may improve proprioception.

However, They are lighter than some with more wrap and brace but have gentle support and firm compression.

• Unloader Knee Braces

The most effective brace for arthritis is the unloader-style brace. They work best on thinner people with arthritis on only one side of the knee.

How Do You Prevent It?

There are many measures you can take in your daily life to prevent Sharp stabbing pain in the knee that comes and goes, such as the following:

The following are some ways that may help you treat intermittent leg pain at home:

• Exercise regularly. Although exercise can contribute to some leg pain, exercise sessions at least twice a week helped to reduce walking pain and increase the distance a person can walk.

• Stop smoking. Smoking is a major risk factor for sharp pains when walking. Smoking can cause changes to blood vessels and make it easier for the blood to clot, which can contribute to leg pain.

• Eat a heart-healthy diet. Choosing a heart-healthy diet can help you maintain your weight and blood sugar levels. This can help reduce some of the risk factors that can lead to PAD.

• Cross-training. If your leg pain is related to overuse from physical activity, try a new activity that’s less repetitive on the legs and feet.

Maintaining a healthy weight and taking care of your body can help reduce sharp, shooting pains whenever possible.

Premier Pain Centers

In the United States,Premier Pain Centers provide high-quality medical treatment for patients suffering from severe muscle pain. In order to fulfill the organization's mission, comfort and peace must be provided.

Located in a one-stop medical clinic, the center offers a variety of ways to treat chronic and acute pain. At the center, a wide array of medical professionals are employed. Our comprehensive patient care program includes interventional pain management, physical therapy, and therapy management.

We are happy to schedule appointment if you need them.