Knee Pain at Night

Many a time several people suffer from severe knee pain at night only and not at other times. There may be several reasons for that, which may result in loss of sleep. The most common reason for aching knees especially during the night is osteoarthritis, but there may be other reasons as well. To get a clear picture of what's wrong, you may just need to go through a simple X-ray scan. The following is a list of the most common reasons for knee pain at night.

Common Causes of Knee Pain at Night

Patellar Tendinopathy
Initially called 'jumper's knee', patellar tendinopathy, is one of the most common reasons for sharp knee pain at night, especially among people who play sports which require a lot of jumping. In this condition the patella tendon gets injured, due to which there is severe pain. Usually it pains below the patella or in front of the knees and may get aggravated if a person jumps or hops around too much. Normally pain starts gradually and later becomes severe if preventive measures are not taken on time. It takes a lot of time for it to heal as the only methods of treating it are ice pack treatment, massage therapy and strengthening exercises.

Arthritis
Arthritis is also called osteoarthritis. It is also called degenerative joint disease and wear and tear disease. Usually people more than 50 years are affected by this condition, besides those whose weight is more than required. It has been found that losing weight can reduce pain associated with arthritis to a great extent. Moreover, if the knee has been injured somehow, it may result in arthritis thereby, causing severe pain in the knee at night. Many a time it has been found that the intensity of pain does not remain constant, but keep changing with the change of weather.

Injury to the Ligaments
Injury to the ligaments is another common reason for knee pain at night. There are three types of ligaments in the knee - anterior cruciate ligament, posterior cruciate ligament, lateral cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament. These ligaments provide stability to the joints, besides controlling excessive motions and are made up of fibrous materials. If due to some reason, the knee joint tries to widen itself and is stuck, the ligaments gets injured, thereby causing pain. If your knee has been injured due to any reason, there would be swelling in the knees, which means that the ligaments have been injured.

Irritation of the Fat Pad
The fat pad is situated at the patella's base, and when it gets impinged in between the femur's condyle and patella, it causes pain. Many a time this condition goes unnoticed and can be extremely painful. If you keep standing or if the legs remain straight for a long time, the pain may aggravate. The only way for knee joint pain relief is to provide adequate rest to the limbs, besides taping the patella.

Chondromalacia Patella
Commonly called runner's knee, this condition effects both young and old alike. It is caused as the undersurface of the kneecap, also called patella, gets irritated. A smooth layer of cartilage covers the patella, and this layer of cartilage glides smoothly across the knee when the joint is bent. Nevertheless, at times, it so happens that the kneecap rubs against the sides of the knee joints, thereby irritating the surface of the cartilage, which in turn results in knee pain at night. The only way to treat it is to provide adequate rest to the joints of the knees, besides following a well charted physical therapy program. You should try to avoid activities which irritate the knees for a few weeks before gradually returning to normal activities.

Plica syndrome, bursitis, Baker's cysts, meniscal tear are few other conditions which can give you knee pain. Whatever may be the reason for knee pain at night, apply ice/heat if there is inflammation and swelling of the knees. Low impact knee exercises, stretching and physical therapy under the guidance of an expert can help in strengthening the muscles of your knee and reduce the pain. As with all other medical condition, the doctor knows best, and you should consult a professional before applying or taking any medication.