Burning in the knee
introduction
A burning sensation in the knee is a burning pain that can also feel like a stinging or severe itch. It often occurs in the knee joint behind the kneecap.
Most of the time, the burning sensation in the knee is caused by a disease that is accompanied by inflammation. The inflammation makes the knee warm and painful. The causative disease can be a problem that affects the various structures of the knee. For example, parts of the bones, tendons, muscles, nerves or the bursa of the knee joint can be affected.
Read more on this topic at: Pain in the knee
causes
Below is an overview of the most common causes of a burning sensation in the knee. The diseases mentioned are then discussed in detail.
- Overloading or improper loading
- Bursitis in the knee
- arthrosis
- rheumatism
Depending on the age and previous history of the person affected, the burning sensation in the knee can have very different causes. In young, active people, the symptoms are usually due to excessive or incorrect loading of the knee joint. When the leg muscles are stressed, the tendons and ligaments of the knee are repeatedly pulled. For example, sports that involve long runs or frequent knees knees can lead to knee problems. If the resulting irritation of the tendons and ligaments becomes too high, they can become inflamed and cause a burning sensation in the knee. Depending on where the burning sensation can be felt, the overloaded muscle group can be determined.
Bursitis can also cause problems in the knee. This can be triggered by overload or by an attack of gout.
In addition, the cause of the burning sensation in the knee can be osteoarthritis. This often occurs due to prolonged incorrect or excessive stress. A misalignment of the legs or a heavy load such as braking when playing tennis leads to pressure on the cartilage in the knee joint. If this is worn out, one speaks of osteoarthritis. This is very painful and can become infected.
Inflammatory processes also occur in rheumatism and infection with bacteria, which become noticeable as a burning sensation in the knee. Damage to or irritation of the nerves running in the knee joint can also be the cause of the symptoms. The pain often radiates to other parts of the legs.
Also read on this topic:
- Pain in the kneecap - these are the causes
- Cruciate ligament overstretched
Bursitis
In front of and behind the kneecap there are bursa, which are covered by a kind of mucous membrane. They are designed to cushion the kneecap sliding up and down when the knee is bent. They also prevent the kneecap from rubbing against the thighbone.
If the load is too high, this creates a high pressure on the bursa, which can lead to bursitis in the knee. A gout attack can also trigger bursitis. In the process, individual uric acid crystals, which occur more frequently in the joint in gout, can become detached and irritate the bursa. This creates bursitis, in which even the smallest movements or pressure on the knee joint can trigger severe pain and burning.
Also read our articles:
- Symptoms of gout
- Inflammation of the synovial membrane
I would be happy to advise you!
Who am I?
My name is dr. Nicolas Gumpert. I am a specialist in orthopedics and the founder of .
Various television programs and print media report regularly about my work. On HR television you can see me every 6 weeks live on "Hallo Hessen".
But now enough is indicated ;-)
The knee joint is one of the joints with the greatest stress.
Therefore, the treatment of the knee joint (e.g. meniscus tear, cartilage damage, cruciate ligament damage, runner's knee, etc.) requires a lot of experience.
I treat a wide variety of knee diseases in a conservative way.
The aim of any treatment is treatment without surgery.
Which therapy achieves the best results in the long term can only be determined after looking at all of the information (Examination, X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, etc.) be assessed.
You can find me in:
- Lumedis - your orthopedic surgeon
Kaiserstrasse 14
60311 Frankfurt am Main
Directly to the online appointment arrangement
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Further information about myself can be found at Dr. Nicolas Gumpert
arthrosis
Osteoarthritis is a disease in which the cartilage in the joint is lost. It arises, among other things, from wear processes. The loss of the cartilage puts more stress on the underlying bone. The joints become stiff and restricted in movement. In addition, there is brief pain at the beginning of the movement and increasing pain during exercise. If the already damaged joint becomes inflamed, it is supplied with more blood. This makes it red, warm, and swollen. In addition, a burning pain can be felt in the knee joint, especially with active inflammation.
Read more on this topic at: Osteoarthritis of the knee
Burning knee after a fall
Many parts of the knee can be severely damaged in a fall. Muscles can be pulled, ligaments tear or bones broken. The pressure on the knee can also cause bursitis.
After the fall, the body tries to repair the damage. During the healing process, the joint is supplied with more blood and the body's immune cells migrate. This process can be accompanied by overheating, swelling and a burning sensation in the knee, even if the damage caused is so small that it is not clearly visible from the outside.
Burning knee after exercise
If the burning sensation in the knee usually occurs after exercise, this indicates an overload of the ligaments, tendons or muscles in the knee area or arthritis.
In the case of unusual or excessive stress, the tension on the ligaments and tendons can be so strong that they are irritated and, with repeated stress, cause great pain. In osteoarthritis, the bones rub against each other due to the loss of cartilage, which in turn leads to increased pain.
In the so-called patellar tip syndrome, excessive stress also causes inflammation of the tendon attachment on the knee and thus a burning pain.
You may also be interested in this topic:
- Patellar tendinitis
- Patellar tendon irritation
Concomitant symptoms
Common accompanying symptoms with burning in the knee:
- inflammation
- fever
- aching
- Pain
- Restrictions on movement
Depending on the disease underlying the burning sensation in the knee, the accompanying symptoms may vary. Most diseases involve inflammation. This is similar to an allergy and is accompanied by an increase in blood flow. This will make the knee red and warm. In addition, the increased pressure in the blood vessels leaks fluid and the knee swells. If the affected joint has become infected with bacteria, purulent accumulations can occur in the knee. In addition to the symptoms in the knee, a fever can occur.
Fever can also be an accompanying symptom if you have pre-existing conditions such as rheumatism or gout, in which the knee burns during the acute episode. When certain muscles in the leg are overloaded, the pain can occur on the respective side from the thigh to the foot. Pronounced muscle soreness in individual muscles can also occur. If the tendons and ligaments are affected, there is often a pulling or stinging of the side of the knee with movement.
With osteoarthritis, so-called starting pain can occur as accompanying symptoms at the beginning of a movement. They come about because more synovial fluid must first be formed so that the bones of the joint do not rub against each other too much despite the lost cartilage. In addition, pain occurs after prolonged exertion and restricted mobility. Furthermore, severe changes in the joint structure can lead to a misalignment of the legs.
You might also be interested in:
- Chronic knee pain
- Joint effusion in the knee
Burning when kneeling
If the discomfort and the burning sensation in the knee occur more intensely when kneeling, this can have various causes.
When kneeling, different structures in the knee are put under greater strain and damage in this area can lead to pain. For example, increased pressure is exerted on the bursae that are in front of and behind the kneecap. If they are damaged by a bursitis, kneeling can cause very severe pain. Also, the ligaments of the knee are stretched when kneeling. If they are irritated, torn or even torn, the increased pull when kneeling brings increased pain.
Kneeling can also cause severe problems with osteoarthritis. Due to the loss of cartilage in the joint, the bones increasingly press against each other. Since the periosteum is very sensitive, kneeling in osteoarthritis is very painful. However, it is very important to know that kneeling is also a healthy knee and can be painful after a while without a knee disease being responsible.
Burning knee at night
A burning sensation in the knee that occurs at night can have different causes. First of all, it should be noted whether the person concerned assumes an unusual position while sleeping. A misalignment can also lead to discomfort when lying down.
Any disease that is associated with inflammation of the joint can cause a burning sensation in the knee even at night. If night sweating occurs in addition to the pain, it should be checked whether the causal disease is rheumatism.
Read more on this topic:
- Rheumatoid arthritis
Burning on the inside of the knee
If the burning occurs in the knee, especially on the inside, it may be damage to the inner ligaments. These run along the side of the knee and can be damaged in the event of unintentional kinking in the middle, for example through sports injuries.
In addition, problems on the inside of the knee can result from misalignments such as knock knees. When moving, increasing pressure is exerted on the inner cartilage, which can lead to isolated osteoarthritis on the inside of the knee.
Read more on this topic at: Knee pain on the inside
Burning in the knee when bending
When the knee is bent, the tension on the ligaments increases. If they are already irritated, this can lead to a burning sensation.
The bursa are also pressed in by the kneecap when the knee is bent, which can lead to discomfort in the case of bursitis. In addition, the bones in osteoarthritis are closer to one another due to the bending of the knee and therefore cause pain.
Burning knee at rest
In the event of a new complaint, the knee may burn even when the patient is resting. The healing or inflammatory process is still in full swing and the symptoms do not go away completely even when you are completely calm.
If the problems have existed for a long time, it should be checked whether the cause of the burning sensation in the knee is rheumatism, as this disease often causes pain at rest.
therapy
Treatment for a burning sensation in the knee depends on the underlying disease.
It is advisable to take care of the affected leg and raise it up for every cause that has an acute inflammation. In addition, the relevant area should be carefully cooled. This will stop the inflammatory process and reduce the redness, swelling and pain. This treatment is usually sufficient for slight knee discomfort caused by one-time overload. Bursitis also usually heals quickly when immobilized.
In addition, if symptoms persist, medication can be taken to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Ibuprofen or diclofenac, for example, are used here. Pre-existing conditions such as gout, osteoarthritis or rheumatism should also be treated with appropriate therapy.
In the case of osteoarthritis, weight loss relieves the knee. Exercise also promotes healing and can reduce knee pain. In severe stages of osteoarthritis, it may be necessary to give painkillers directly to the joint through an injection or an operation.
If the symptoms continue to increase, this can also be due to the fact that the affected area has become infected with bacteria. In this case, these must be fought and killed with an antibiotic.
diagnosis
Talking to the doctor is very important for diagnosing a burning sensation in the knee. Targeted questioning can help pinpoint possible causes. In particular, questions are asked about the exact complaints and accompanying symptoms. Accidents that have taken place, heavy exposure, taken medication and previous illnesses are also important for the diagnosis.
The doctor also looks at the corresponding knee and pays attention to redness, swelling and misalignments. If osteoarthritis is suspected, an X-ray can be taken for further diagnosis. If there is an injury to the ligaments of the knee, an MRI scan is performed. However, the discussion with the doctor and the patient's complaints are also in the foreground of the diagnosis.
