Burning Pain in Knee

In human body, knee is one of the most used joints and so is an important joint. The thigh bone (femur) meets the largest lower bone (tibia) in the knee. The knee cap (patella) lies in front of this joint. Synovial sac is the lining membrane in the joint, which produces synovial fluid. This synovial fluid is the natural lubricant, which promotes smooth movement of our knees. It acts exactly same as the oil lubricant of a moving part of a machine. Muscles, cartilages, tendons and ligaments are the other tissues that constitute the knee-joint. There are shock absorbers like 'menisci' and 'bursae' which act as cushions for the areas of friction in the joint. Burning pain in knee can arise, due to any type of functional problem with the above parts of the knee-joint. Knee joint is a complex joint which gives us a considerable range when it comes to mobility. A knee-joint allows us to bend, straighten, rotate, glide or roll around, according to our wish. Regular knee exercises help keep the knees fit and active.

Knee Pain: Causes

1. The signs and symptoms of burning pain in one knee or in both the knees may vary widely; because of the complex structure of our knees and because of the active participation of our knees in various activities, over the entire lifespan. Knee pain itself can be a symptom of different diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS), osteoarthritis, etc. ITBS is one of the common causes of knee pain in runners.
2. Knee pain can be experienced during different conditions like cold, diabetes, heat/chemical/sun burn, sciatica, cerebrovascular accident or knee injury etc. Leg exercises for bad knees help a lot to overcome the knee pain caused by cold, aging etc.
3. Sometimes, you suddenly stumble or fall; when the knee 'gives out'. You may experience sudden sharp pain and/or painful clicking in the knee. When a meniscal cartilage is torn, torn flaps of the cartilage may get trapped in the knee bones, leading to knee pain.
4. Knee joint is one of the most vulnerable joints of the body. The joint is very prone to injury. Knee injury can cause inflammation of the bursae (bursitis). Warmth, swelling and redness over the inflamed area is noticed in case of an injury. A patient with an injured knee is likely to have burning pain in the knee while bending (while walking or going upstairs or downstairs).
5. Sometimes, the knee gets stuck (locked) in one position and you are not able to straighten your leg. This can lead to severe pain. Torn meniscal cartilage or a loose piece of cartilage or bone in the knee-joint can lead to locking of the knee. The condition requires proper examination and prompt treatment by an orthopedic surgeon. Inflammatory arthritis, gout, septic arthritis, etc. can also cause locking of the knee.
6. Excessive stress on the knee may lead to burning pain at the site, and the pain may last for a short period or may continue for a longer period. Obesity or excessive weight can cause knee pain when bending or walking.
7. A sharp burning pain in one of the knees can be sometimes due to peripheral nerve compression or peripheral nerve trauma. The nerves of the knee are connected to the spine and hence, back injury can lead to knee pain.
8. Ligaments, tendon, meniscus injuries can also cause burning pain in one of the knees. In such cases, a patient won't be able to straighten the knee. Sharp pain is experienced even while resting.
9. Tearing of a ligament can result in unstable ligament. This can lead to sharp knee pain and sudden fall or stumbling.
10. Softening of the cartilage under the knee-cap is known as chondromalacia and it is quite common in young women. It can cause burning pain in knee.
11. Dislocated knee cap is a major and serious cause of burning knee pain and is observed when patella slips out of its place. It can be easily seen from outside. Excessive movement of the knee cap from side to side can be felt.
12. If a broken piece of bone or cartilage is floating in the space inside the knee-joint, it can affect the movement of the knee-joint. This leads to severe pain and a locked joint.
13. In case of athletic teens and preteens, overuse of knee-joint leads to swelling and pain in the knee, which is known as Osgood-Schlatter disease.
14. In case of patients diagnosed with gout (generally young adults), intense and sudden knee pain, without any warning can be experienced.
15. Patello femoral pain is observed in young adults, especially, in athletes and also in older adults who have knee cap arthritis.

Burning pain in the back of the knee, or burning pain when kneeling, straightening, standing, walking, or burning pain in front part of the knee is found in almost all the above cases. Swelling, stiffness or loss of flexibility in knee-joint is found in some cases, along with a low-grade fever. A general discomfort is also observed.

Knee Pain: Treatment

As seen above, causes of knee pain may vary from person to person. Treatment of knee pain varies according to the cause. Prompt diagnosis and proper treatment play an important role in relieving knee pain and discomfort. X-rays, MRI, arthroscopy (keyhole surgery of the knee), etc. help detect the problem. Sometimes, fine needle aspiration of fluid is done to find out the cause behind burning pain in the knee.

If the pain is not disabling or very severe, applying ice for 10 to 20 minutes, 3 or more times a day or placing the knee in elevated position, or just resting, will be helpful. Avoid alcoholic beverages, hot packs or even hot showers as they might worsen the condition. You can take an anti-inflammatory non steroidal drug to reduce inflammation and pain. When swelling is gone, you can apply heat and start with low intensity exercises. Depending upon the cause, wrapping the knee with an elastic bandage can help improve the condition. Massage with oils or ointments helps improve blood flow in the knee area and gives instant relief. As smoking affects blood supply and delays tissue repair, one should avoid smoking.

If you have worrisome or unbearable sustained pain, you should consult a physician. Doctors can repair the injured ligament by performing a surgery. Any type of numbness or tingling or burning pain can be a symptom of a damaged sensory nerve. Severely injured patients or elderly patients may have to undergo a partial or total knee replacement surgery. Corticosteroid injections and hyaluronic acid shots help lower stiffness, swelling and pain in the knee. The effect usually lasts for a few months. Various types of braces help protect and support the knee-joint. Wearing perfect shoes helps avoid excess pressure on the knee. Physical therapy helps strengthen the muscles around the knee-joint.

I hope you found the above information on knee pain, helpful. As knees bear the weight of the body, maintaining the weight within normal range helps prevent knee problems. Regular exercises and healthy diet help maintain the health of the joints in the body. Sports persons and athletes should take proper precautions to avoid knee injuries and they should follow instructions of doctors and trainers religiously.