Cartilage tear — If you're experiencing a sharp, stabbing pain in your knee that comes and goes, it might be a cartilage tear. Your knee has cartilage called the meniscus, which protects the bones that intersect at the knee from grinding against each other. Sometimes, that cartilage can tear.
Sharp knee pain can be caused by a number of different conditions, including arthritis, bursitis, tendinitis, or ligament tears. It can also be triggered by overuse or a direct impact to the knee joint.
Some types of knee pain associated with arthritis include aching, dull, sharp, and stabbing. Arthritis can also cause stiffness in the knee.
Reported joint pain from osteoarthritis ranges from dull and aching to sharp and piercing. The pain may worsen during movement. It is also possible for the pain to lessen during activity and then worsen after the activity ends, as joints cool down. As symptoms progress, the pain may be felt almost constantly.
1. Knee Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that affects the cartilage in your joints, including your knee joint. It can cause pain, swelling, stiffness, and a decrease in range of motion. Sharp, stabbing pain in the knee can be a symptom of knee osteoarthritis, particularly during activity.
Walking as a form of exercise has enormous benefits, particularly for older adults. It's easy on the joints and helps boost heart health and improve circulation and balance. And new research now suggests that taking a walk can reduce and prevent knee pain related to osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis.
Some of the most common sources for nighttime knee pain include runner's knee, osteoarthritis, bursitis, or injuries. Some of these conditions, like runner's knee, may resolve after you rest your knee. Others, like osteoarthritis, are chronic in nature.
Examples of NSAIDs include diclofenac, ibuprofen and naproxen. Two other anti-inflammatory painkillers with a similar effect are celecoxib and etoricoxib. These are COX-2 inhibitors (also known as coxibs). They are taken as tablets or directly applied to the painful joint in the form of a gel or cream.
In general, the affected portion of your knee might feel warm, tender and swollen when you put pressure on it. You might also feel pain when you move or even at rest. A sharp blow to the knee can cause symptoms to appear rapidly.
Make an appointment with your doctor if your knee pain was caused by a particularly forceful impact or if it's accompanied by: Significant swelling. Redness. Tenderness and warmth around the joint.
Most people with gout in the knee experience intense pain during a gout attack. Swelling may also be noticeable during an active flare, as well as redness and warmth. The pain may develop in the night and hurt continuously for up to two weeks before the flare subsides, with the most intense pain in the first 24 hours.
The joint may become stiff and swollen, making it difficult to bend and straighten the knee. Pain and swelling may be worse in the morning, or after sitting or resting. Vigorous activity may cause pain to flare up.
Stress Inflammation One of the most common issues inside the body caused by stress is inflammation. Since anxiety causes long-term stress, inflammation is more likely. That same inflammation may cause your joints to swell, which ultimately leads to more pain with your movements.
Pain with movement or activity in the knee. Swelling in the knee. Walking with a limp or a feeling that the knee is going to “give out” with standing and walking. The feeling of a “pop” or “snap” felt in the knee when the injury occurred.
Best Sleep Position for Knee Pain
Sleeping with knee pain may require you to elevate the knee and leg. If so, sleeping on your back is the best option. Place pillow under both legs to elevate the knee above the level of the heart. If there is swelling in the knee, the elevation can help to reduce it.
Dropping pounds can help ease knee pain, as you may have heard. An important study published in June 2018 in the journal Arthritis Care & Research found that adults with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) who are overweight or obese experience less pain and inflammation and better knee function when they lose weight.
Causes of knee pain
Knee pain when bending is a common problem for many people and can have numerous underlying causes. Osteoarthritis, meniscus tears, bursitis, ligament strain, and tendonitis are some of the most common causes. Bone fractures or infections in the joint may also cause knee pain.
Sharp: When you feel a sudden, intense spike of pain, that qualifies as “sharp.” Sharp pain may also fit the descriptors cutting and shooting. Stabbing: Like sharp pain, stabbing pain occurs suddenly and intensely. However, stabbing pain may fade and reoccur many times.
Stabbing Pain
Nerve compression—many people experience sharp pain in various parts of the body due to a compressed nerve. Most commonly, the nerve may be pinched where it joins the spine, either through a herniated disc or other tissue impingement, but it may happen in other places as well.
Common causes of shooting nerve pain throughout the body may include brain, spine, or nerve injuries; vitamin B12 or thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency, poor blood supply to the nerves, use of certain medications, and heavy drinking.