Pain Above Knee Cap

Pain above knee cap is not uncommon. You may find many people around you suffering from it. The most common victims are old people and sportspersons. In case, you or someone known to you is suffering from such an uncomfortable situation of knee pain, you need to know about its common causes. There can be several reasons behind pain in knee, particularly above knee cap. The present article describes some of the common causes of sharp pain above knee when bending, walking, running and doing various other activities.

Causes of Pain Above Knee Cap

Knee Injury: The knee generally gets injured by a direct physical blow. It may get injured by twisting or stretching, if the joint is taken through a greater range of motion which it cannot tolerate. When the knee is stressed from a particular direction, then the ligament which tries to hold it in place against that force, gets torn. The twisting injuries can put stress on the cartilage or meniscus may pinch the knee in between the tibial surface and the femoral condyle edges and cause tears. Knee injuries give rise to shooting pain above knee cap.

Intermittent Claudication: Intermittent claudication occurs with walking and eases out with rest. It is characterized by aching, tired, cramping, and burning pain in the legs. The pain comes and goes with movement and rest respectively. It is caused by poor circulation of blood in the arteries supplying the legs. In serious form of claudication, pain is felt even at rest. Intermittent claudication may affect one or both knees, and it often continues to aggravate over time. Many patients of this particular disorder complain only of weakness in the legs while walking. However, intermittent claudication may give rise to impotency. Intermittent claudication is one of the common causes of pain above knee cap when squatting, walking, etc.

Osteoarthritis: The progressive disorder of the joints which is caused by gradual loss of cartilage and leading to the development of bony spurs and cysts at the edges of the joints is referred to as osteoarthritis. It is also known as osteoarthrosis and degenerative joint disease (DJD). It is caused by the deterioration of the cartilage which acts as a protective cushion between the bones. The cushioning is particularly important for weight-bearing joints such as the knees and hips. As this disorder progresses, pain occurs due to deformation of the bones and accumulation of fluid in the joints.

Peripheral Neuropathy: Peripheral neuropathy is described as the malfunctioning of the nerves outside the spinal cord. It is symptomized by numbness, burning pain, weakness and loss of reflexes. It can result from problems such as traumatic injuries, metabolic problems, infections and exposure to toxins. It can be caused by several diseases and disorders which include diabetes, kidney failure, medication effect, vitamin deficiency, etc. In majority of the cases, the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy improve with time. The improvement is fast if the underlying cause is being treated. Pain killers can be taken to ease the knee pain when bending and performing other movements.

Sciatica: Sciatica is referred to as pain which results from the irritation of the sciatic nerve. The pain is felt originally in the lower back to behind the thigh, and then radiate down below the knee. It radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve and its branches. Sciatica can be caused by a herniated disc which directly presses on the nerve. Sciatica can be treated by avoiding the movements which further irritate the condition. Fast relief is achieved by medication, physical therapy and surgery if needed.

The medical conditions that have been described above are only some of the causes for pain above knee cap. There can be several other reasons behind it. You need to seek medical intervention to get the exact underlying cause determined. This is very necessary as the treatment for knee cap pain depends upon its causative factor. Therefore, do pay a visit to a doctor and get the necessary medical assistance.