Burning Knee Pain: Causes, Treatments & Tips
Burning Knee Pain: Causes, Treatments & Tips
The knee is one of the most active joints in the body making it a hotspot for pain, discomfort and overuse injuries. One of the most common and uncomfortable types of knee pain is what people describe as burning knee pain.
Whether you're an athlete or someone facing knee discomfort in daily life, understanding the underlying issues and finding the right solutions is crucial for maintaining your knee health, treating your pain effectively and avoiding knee surgery.
Common Causes of Burning Knee Pain
Burning knee pain can manifest all around the knee or in specific areas of the knee. The two main causes of this type of pain are overuse of the joint over time or a single event like a trauma, fall or tear.
We recommend letting your doctor know if you are experiencing pain. That being said, identifying the location and source of your pain can give you valuable clues about the underlying issues and how you can begin treat it.
Front of the Knee
Patellar Tendonitis
The patellar tendon connects the kneecap to the shin and can become inflamed due to overuse or increased repetitive motions.
Runner's Knee (Chondromalacia or PFPS)
Runner’s Knee is caused by the deterioration of the knee cartilage from repetitive pressure or increased stress. Activities like running that put high stress on the knees can be catalysts for damaging the cartilage that serves as a cushion for our joints, making it more painful to absorb the force being applied to it.
Osteoarthritis
This is the most common form of arthritis in the US and can affect pretty much any joint. As the protective cartilage in the knee joint wears down, our knees become more susceptible to pain. This cannot be reversed so it's important to be aware of the signs and take precautions as early as possible.
Side of the Knee
Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITBS)
Common among athletes, ITBS is a Repetitive Strain Injury that occurs when the iliotibial band rubs against the outside of the knee during physical activity causing a burning feeling.
Back of the Knee
Overuse
Overuse injuries or Repetitive Strain Injuries are caused by repetitive stress on the knee from daily activities or sports. Since the knees are one of the most used joints in our bodies, unfortunately overuse is a common cause of various knee injuries. Preventative measures go a long way in maintaining your knee health.
Ligament Tears
Ligament tears typically occur from direct impact, a fall or trauma that damages a ligament in the knee causing a sharp, burning pain.
Cartilage Tears
Damage to the knee cartilage, or meniscus, can result from sudden motions and cause a burning pain and even limit mobility if not treated.
Treatments for Burning Knee Pain
Treatment plans for burning knee pain depend on the underlying cause and location of the pain. Always consult a medical professional before trying to treat your pain yourself but there are some general ways to manage your knee pain and alleviate discomfort.
RICE Method: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation is a good place to start when you begin to notice pain after a minor injury or physical activity.
Knee Braces or Straps: Supportive knee braces or straps can help stabilize the knee, reduce inflammation and minimize the amount of stress being placed on the knee allowing it to strengthen, heal and relieve pain. These supportive devices can be worn during your activity for added support and pain relief, at rest for increased stability or even preventatively if you participate in activities that make your knee susceptible to overuse injuries or repetitive motions.
Consult Your Physician: All treatment plans should be discussed with a medical professional who may recommend physical therapy, strengthening exercises, therapeutic techniques or further intervention.
Key Takeaways
Experiencing knee pain can be discouraging, not to mention uncomfortable and frustrating. Depending on the severity of the cause of your pain, there are ways to continue doing the activities you love with minimal recovery time.
Just like with all injuries, preventing knee injuries is a lot easier than recovering from them. Supportive knee straps are a great, cost effective way to prevent overuse injuries by providing a little extra stability to all of the moving parts that keep our knees working.
The ProBand KneedIT and KneedIT XM do just that and provide functional relief by exerting gentle intermittent compression on the soft knee tissues, providing active decompression to the joint and absorbing shock, supporting the patellar tendon and tracking the patella, and reducing stress on tendons and muscles during knee activity.
If you’re already trying to recover from an injury, the ProBand KneedIT and KneedIT XM are designed to target, at their source, the physiological causes of knee pain associated with Repetitive Stress Injuries like arthritis, tendonitis, runner’s knee and so much more.
This device can also help relieve pain, swelling, and soreness, promoting natural healing and improving knee function.
Understanding the causes and locations of burning knee pain is crucial in determining the most effective approach to manage it. Whether through rest, exercise, medication, or the use of supportive devices, there are solutions available to help you on your journey to better knee health. For over 30 years, ProBand’s KneedIT and KneedIT XM have been highly effective in relieving pain, inflammation and discomfort associated with many of the ailments listed above.
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https://www.irisespineandjoint.com/blog/2019/april/common-conditions-that-cause-a-burning-pain-in-t/