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Causes of Sharp Stabbing Pain in Knee Comes and Goes

The knee is the most prevalent area for intense stabbing pain at any age. The knee is your largest and heaviest joint. Thus, damage or inflammation causes intense agony. Stinging knee pain usually subsides quickly. If sharp-stabbing knee pain recurs, a condition may be serious. Sharp stabbing pain in knee comes and goes caused by different conditions like ruptured ligament. 

Reasons for Sharp Stabbing Pain in Knee Comes and Goes

Following are the few causes of stabbing pain in the knees:

Cartilage Tear

If your knee hurts sharply and intermittently, you may have a cartilage tear. Your knee's meniscus cartilage prevents bones from rubbing together. Sometimes cartilage tears. Tears frequently occur unexpectedly during exercise or sports. Too rapid loading and twisting can cause this tear.

Ruptured Ligament 

A ruptured ligament can also cause severe, stabbing knee pain. This injury may cause intermittent knee pain. Twisting the knee ligaments too sharply might cause severe pain. Athletic activities and sports often cause this ailment. Until treated, it greatly limits knee movement.

Knee Tendonitis

Knee tendonitis is inflammation and irritation of the knee tendons. Tendinitis can cause stiffness and burning discomfort; thus, inflammation may be to blame. Overuse and repetitive actions can cause tendon inflammation. You may be in discomfort if you play sports or practice the same routines.

Bursitis 

Bursae, small fluid sacs surrounding knee joints, protect bones and tissue from rubbing. Irritation might create pain that improves with rest. Inflammation or irritation of the bursae can cause acute knee discomfort.

Arthritis

Arthritis, a joint-inflammation disease, could be the cause. Knee arthritis is possible anywhere you have joints. Joint inflammation can induce dull, throbbing pain or severe, intermittent discomfort.

This pain could also be caused by a bone fracture. A physically traumatic injury that broke your bone or knee may be the cause. Surprisingly, compressed nerves in the spine can produce knee pain. If none of these apply, you may have a compressed or pinched nerve.

Activity-Caused Sharp Knee Pain

  • Sharp Knee Pain When Walking: Arthritis is likely if the knee pain is greater at first and subsequently eases. Sharp knee pain that worsens with walking is likely neurological. If walking uphill or slightly forward is easier than downhill or upright, it may be spinal stenosis. If your knee discomfort worsens after bending, you may have arthritis or a cartilage tear. If it hurts worse when bending over to put your shoes on, it may be a lower back issue.

  • Sharp Knee Pain When Standing: Arthritis is prevalent if knee pain worsens when standing but improves with movement. A cartilage tear or lower back discomfort may cause severe knee pain that worsens with movement.

  • Sharp Knee Pain Twisting: A loose body or torn cartilage flap could get caught in the joint. It may also suggest knee instability from ligament sprains or tears. Stability issues, mainly ACL injuries, cause sharp knee pain during kicking. sharp, needle-like knee discomfort when kneeling usually suggests a squashed bursa, known as knee bursitis. With bursitis, squashy orange swelling is common.

  • Sharp Knee Pain When Climbing Stairs: Sharp knee pain going upwards usually signals a tibiofemoral joint condition, whereas if it's worse descending down stairs, it's likely the kneecap. See knee pain on the stairs for more.  Running with sharp knee pain is rare and usually suggests joint compression. Aching, throbbing knee pain is more common when jogging.

Pain Caused by Knee Disorders

There are two causes of intermittent knee pain. You can find out the pain location with the help of a knee pain location chart. Knee discomfort can vary. It can feel like a dull soreness or a knee stab. Some knee disorders can cause random, intense knee pain. Two issues can cause intense, infrequent pain:

Meniscus Rupture

Two C-shaped knee cartilage fragments form the meniscus. To cushion the shinbone and thighbone, this structure sits on top. Meniscus tears can result from sudden stops or direction changes. Up to 14% of Americans rupture their meniscus annually, according to studies.

Running Knee

Patellofemoral pain syndrome is an issue. The tissues under or surrounding the kneecap become irritated and inflamed. Runner's knee is often caused by overtraining or bad form. Medical studies estimate that 23% of Americans suffer from PPS annually.

How to Treat Sharp, Stabbing Knee Pain?

Consider these knee pain solutions to live a happier, healthier life. Knee pain can be treated with over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Before using any new drug, follow the dosage and consult a doctor for knee pain.

Physiotherapy

It is an effective treatment option for chronic knee discomfort like knee valgus. Physiotherapists can help identify and treat your pain. And improve knee flexibility and pain alleviation. If a sports-related knee injury requires mobility or technique exercises, physical therapy is a popular knee pain treatment. Some sports are strenuous and repetitive. Therefore, by mastering movement correction techniques, you may properly engage the knees without risking pain or harm.

Injections 

Knee pain is often treated with injections of medicines into the afflicted joints. Knee injections can treat osteoarthritis, tendonitis, degenerative arthritis, and other joint diseases. But, if the condition gets worse, you may need orthopedic surgery in Dallas. There are two main injection categories:

  • Corticosteroids: They are often used to relieve arthritic flare-ups for a few months. 

  •  Hyaluronic Acid: A thick fluid like the body's natural fluid is injected into the problematic knee or knees to lubricate them. Hyaluronic acid injections can relieve pain for six months, letting you resume your favorite hobbies.

PRP may help osteoarthritis patients, according to studies. IT band syndrome, pre- and infrapatellar bursitis, and other disorders can produce knee stabbing pain. If you're experiencing this kind of discomfort, you need to see a knee specialist in Dallas to diagnose it, determine the cause, and develop a treatment plan.

Dr. Rao K. Ali M.D.

Dr. Rao Ali, a board-certified pain management physician, leads the clinic, which specializes in nonsurgical treatment. The physician has experience in the emergency room as well as training in pain management and rehabilitation. As a personal physician, he works with each patient to develop a treatment plan that will minimize or eliminate their pain. Providing expert diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of conditions, Pain Management In Dallas, PA provides a comprehensive range of services. These services include neck pain, back pain, hip and knee pain, fibromyalgia, neuropathy, complex regional pain syndrome, headaches, migraines, and many others.