Knee joints are a very important part of the musculoskeletal system. Every day they have to withstand enormous loads, and given their superficial location and structural features, the risk of damage and various diseases is very high. Most often, people complain of pain in the knee joints themselves, which are caused by arthrosis or arthritis, but no less dangerous is the situation when pain begins to bother them under the knee. Such discomfort can be caused by serious reasons and significantly worsen a person’s quality of life. Therefore, let's figure out why the leg may hurt in the joint under the knee.
It is very difficult to immediately determine why a person is bothered by pain under the knee, since this area of the human body is complex. There are a large number of anatomical structures, damage to each of which can be accompanied by pain. So, pain at the back of the knee may be associated with injury:
The complexity of diagnosis forces the use of examination methods such as radiography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasound. Particularly informative is MRI, which allows you to clearly examine soft tissues and find the cause of pain.
The popliteal fossa contains a large number of important anatomical structures
As a rule, diseases of the knee joints are accompanied by pain along the front surface of the knee, but some ailments manifest themselves as painful sensations in the popliteal fossa.
This is a benign cystic formation, which consists of a dense connective tissue membrane, and inside is filled with viscous jelly-like contents. Anatomically connected to the capsule of the knee joint, therefore it is located nearby and most often in the popliteal fossa.
Women are more often affected, but the prognosis is favorable. The formation never degenerates into a malignant tumor, although it can bring a lot of inconvenience to its owner. The only way to completely get rid of a Baker's cyst is through surgery. But it is important to know that the cyst often recurs, so sometimes it may take 2-3 operations or more to get rid of it.
Baker's cyst symptoms:
Baker's cyst, or hygroma of the popliteal fossa
This is a fluid-filled formation in the thickness of the cartilage tissue of the menisci of the knee joints. This pathology often affects young and active people and athletes. Its cause is considered to be increased loads on the cartilaginous intra-articular tissue.
The main symptom of the disease is pain that occurs along the lateral surface of the knees and behind. Pain occurs when moving the knees and is absent at rest. In some cases, slight swelling may be noted in this area.
If treatment is not started, a meniscus cyst can cause secondary deforming arthrosis of the knee joint. The only way to completely get rid of the tumor is through surgery.
Meniscal cyst of the knee joint
If you have pain under the knee and it started after some kind of injury, then you need to think about damage to the back of the lateral or medial meniscus of the knee. Also, meniscal rupture can occur due to inflammatory or degenerative processes. Treatment for such an injury is only surgical.
Pain at the back of the knee can be associated with inflammation, strain, or damage to the muscles, ligaments, and bursae of the popliteal fossa. For example, the ligaments behind the knee often hurt after a long walk, heavy physical labor, or standing on your feet for a long time.
Tendinitis and bursitis, which are caused by aseptic or infectious inflammation, can develop in this area. In this case, a sharp or nagging pain occurs, which appears or intensifies with exertion. If the inflammation is purulent, then redness of the skin under the knee appears, it becomes hot to the touch, swelling forms, and the function of the joint is impaired. Symptoms of general malaise, such as fever, may also occur.
Treatment for knee pain of this nature is usually conservative. First you need to provide complete rest to the sore leg. For this purpose, special orthoses can be used. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic therapy is prescribed, and for infectious inflammation - antibiotics. After the elimination of acute inflammation, therapeutic exercises and physiotherapy begin. The prognosis for tendinitis and bursitis of the knee is favorable.
Several tendons are attached to the knee joint, which, when inflamed or stretched, are accompanied by pain
When an infection gets into the popliteal area, purulent inflammation of the fatty tissue may occur. Lymph nodes can also be involved in the pathological process. In such a situation, painful enlarged lymph nodes can be felt under the knee. The skin over them turns red and swelling develops. Treatment is conservative, with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial therapy. In case of ineffectiveness, surgical sanitation of the purulent focus begins.
The popliteal artery and vein pass deep into the popliteal fossa. Accordingly, pain may be due to damage to one of these anatomical structures. The most common causes of pain under the knee of a vascular nature are:
Stagnation of venous blood due to incompetent vein valves is often accompanied by pain in the legs. It usually appears under the knee and goes down to the shin. The pain is aching and appears in the evening or after standing for a long time. Accompanied by swelling of the lower extremities. With superficial varicose veins, you can consider dilated venous nodes under the skin or a vascular network, the favorite location of which is the popliteal fossa. In the case of deep vein varicose veins, there may be no external signs.
This is a fairly rare pathology that can occur with inflammation of a vein (thrombophlebitis), with a blood clotting disorder (thrombophyllia) or occur as a complication of varicose veins. With thrombosis, patients complain of intense pain in the popliteal region. Over the course of several hours, the leg becomes dark cherry or bluish and hot to the touch. It swells greatly, sometimes increasing 2 or more times in diameter.
Treatment can be either conservative (administration of anticoagulants, antibiotics) or surgical. If therapy is not started in time, the patient may be left without a leg due to the development of gangrene.
Blocking the lumen of an arterial vessel with emboli is not so rare. According to the localization of thromboembolism, damage to the lower extremities is in 4th place after the coronary, cerebral arteries and aorta. The cause is mainly embologenic heart diseases (rheumatism, septic endocarditis, atrial fibrillation and other types of arrhythmias, heart defects, artificial heart valves).
In the case of popliteal artery embolism, sharp and very intense pain occurs. The leg becomes pale and cold to the touch. It is not possible to feel the pulse in the arteries of the foot. If help is not provided within 2-3 hours, gangrene develops, which requires amputation of the limb. Treatment is mainly surgical.
Embolism of the popliteal artery and its consequences
This is a protrusion of the artery wall to the side. It can be either a congenital defect or acquired as a result of damage to the arterial wall, for example, an atherosclerotic process. If an aneurysm is present, then in the popliteal fossa you can feel a soft and elastic formation that pulsates. Pain occurs when the aneurysm reaches a large size, causing pressure on surrounding nerves and other structures.
If an aneurysm is found, it must be removed surgically. Otherwise, it can rupture at any time and cause extensive and fatal bleeding.
The tibial nerve runs along the bottom of the popliteal fossa, damage to which can be accompanied by pain in this area. Main nerve diseases:
In addition to pain, when the tibial nerve is damaged, there is a violation of the sensitivity of the skin of the leg and foot, decreased tendon reflexes, paresis of the foot, decreased muscle strength and atrophy of the lower leg muscles. Treatment depends on the cause.
Thus, pain under the knee can be caused by more than a dozen reasons. In each case, determining the etiology of pain is very important, since the treatment and its success directly depend on this.
Pain in the head, in the lower abdomen in women, or in the stomach after poor-quality food is considered common and understandable for people. If there is pain behind the knee, what could it be?
With such a symptom, it is recommended to pay attention to your health and find out the cause of the pathology, which can cause a person both mild discomfort and unbearable pain. About 15% of people suffer from diseases of the knee joint, but few know that it is necessary to treat such conditions .
The popliteal cavity is surrounded above and below by the knee tendon, as well as muscles extending from the thigh and lower leg. At the bottom is the femur, and in the middle are the knee nerve, artery and vein. The free space is filled with subcutaneous fat. Don’t forget about the lymph nodes, which serve as a barrier against infection in the foot and leg area.
Such a complex structure makes it difficult to diagnose diseases.
In addition, the nerves in the popliteal fossa can also transmit pain from the lower parts of the spine.
What can cause pain behind the knee? In most cases, it is difficult to independently determine the cause and this will require consultation with a doctor and additional diagnostic methods.
A possible cause of pain under the left or right knee may be hidden in:
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Why do some people develop joint problems very early, while others lead an active lifestyle until old age?
There are several categories of people predisposed to bone or connective tissue diseases:
Pain under the kneecap can occur as a result of:
If tendons, ligaments, muscles, or joint capsules are inflamed or mechanically damaged, you may feel that the popliteal fossa hurts. If the back of the joint is inflamed, we can assume the presence of bursitis, in which the seal does not disappear when pressed, and the pain may radiate to the surface of the thigh.
The following may contribute to the appearance of pain under the knee:
Popliteal pain can be of different types, for example:
If discomfort or lumps appear under the knees, the patient can contact:
After asking about the nature of the pain and how long ago it appeared, the doctor may send the patient for an x-ray or ultrasound to see the presence of pathology or destructive processes.
Considering the many reasons why the legs hurt under the knees, how to treat this condition should be determined by a doctor. If the pain is nagging, the treatment may be one thing, but if the lump is sharp or clearly visible, it can be completely different. You should not take any measures or medications on your own.
In treatment, preference is given to conservative methods. However, in most cases, they only reduce the symptoms, but do not eliminate the cause of the disease.
Medicines prescribed:
In case of purulent lesions, meniscus rupture, vascular aneurysm, surgical intervention is recommended. Special knee pads for sore joints will help reduce the load and slow down the pathological process. If possible, the underlying disease (for example, osteoarthritis) should be treated.
Therapy with folk remedies is less effective than medication, but is widely used for orthopedic pain.
Basically, it includes external treatment on the leg:
If you don’t know the name of the place where you feel discomfort, go to an in-person appointment with a doctor.
If you feel heaviness, a burning sensation, the knee is swollen or pulling , it will be very difficult to find the reasons on your own. It happens that sharp knees are just a cosmetic feature, but it happens that the kneecap begins to hurt when pressed from the front and indicates pathology.
A small bruise at the bottom of the knee in children should not cause concern , even if it burns and stings. If the lymph node is inflamed or the baby is pulsating above the popliteal fossa, there may be vascular pathologies.
It is almost impossible to immediately determine why it hurts behind the knee, since in this place there is a fairly large number of various structural elements...:
It is almost impossible to immediately determine why it hurts behind the knee , since in this place there is a fairly large number of various structural elements:
In fact, without a thorough laboratory and instrumental examination, it is very difficult to accurately indicate what exactly caused the pain, because pain can accompany damage to any of these anatomical formations of the knee joint.
Let's look at the reasons why pain may appear in the back of the knee.
Diseases of the knee joint accompanied by pain in the back
Among diseases of the knee joint, Baker's cyst is one of the most common causes of pain in the back of the knee. Most often it occurs after 40 years as a result of inflammation of the synovial membrane - synoviitis.
The immediate cause of the development of Baker's cyst is that due to inflammation in the knee joint, an excess amount of intra-articular fluid accumulates, under the influence of which the periarticular bursa seems to be pressed in one of the weakest places - in the area of the posterior wall of the joint.
At first, characteristic unpleasant sensations occasionally occur behind the knee, and then a feeling of pain appears and intensifies, accompanied by other symptoms:
If Baker's cyst has developed relatively recently, then it is treated conservatively:
In advanced situations, to treat a Baker's cyst, they resort to surgery and remove it.
Usually the operation is tolerated well, the prognosis is good.
The almost imperceptible pain that grade 1 gonarthrosis causes can subsequently lead to disability.
What is Schlatter's knee disease and can it be cured? Read this article.
A very common disease in which the leg hurts under the knee. A meniscal cyst is a cavity formation that is filled with fluid and is located directly in the thickness of the meniscus. If such cavities form in the posterior horns of the meniscus, this is accompanied by pain in the back of the knee.
A similar pain syndrome can accompany small cysts that are invisible upon examination.
It is believed that the formation of such cavities in the meniscus is a kind of reaction of the joint to its constant overload, therefore the risk group consists of:
Conservative treatment is prescribed only for small cysts. The patient is recommended:
Surgical treatment is used if there is no effect from conservative methods of therapy and is reduced to removing the affected parts of the meniscus (for example, with endoscopic arthroscopy, which is used most often).
If your leg hurts in the area of the popliteal fossa, this may be a consequence of a tear of the posterior horn of the meniscus as a result of injury or any diseases of the joint of an inflammatory or degenerative nature.
Pain behind the knee can be caused by almost any soft tissue surrounding the knee joint:
During physical overstrain, as well as the same type of movements in the knee, performed for a long time, or when staying in a forced position, excessive swelling of the tendons or ligaments can occur: they literally swell, become swollen, pinched in their own membranes and contribute to the development of pain syndrome under knee. In this case, as a rule, a pulling pain is felt in the back.
Almost all patients, on the eve of the onset of nagging pain of this type, note the presence of a previous period of prolonged physical strain.
They are distinguished from Baker's cysts by the fact that the swollen areas do not decrease with pressure, are not associated with the capsule of the knee joint and are characterized by nagging pain.
The main factor in successful treatment is rest, to achieve which any movements of flexion and extension in the knee joint are limited.
If the pain is intense, then experts recommend wearing a splint or a patella, as well as applying a plaster splint for a certain period of time.
In addition to rest, physiotherapy and standard anti-inflammatory treatment are prescribed.
If there is pain in the back of the knee and at the same time there is a wound infection on the leg or foot, such pain may be a consequence of an abscess of the popliteal fossa, since it is here that there is a fairly large accumulation of lymphoid tissue, including regional lymph nodes that collect lymph from the distal parts of the lower limb.
If, as a result of cracks or microtraumas of the leg or foot, an infection gets into them, then purulent lymphadenitis can develop, leading to an abscess and aching pain under the knee.
Due to the fact that the lymph nodes of this area are practically immersed in the subcutaneous tissue and are located relatively deep, classic redness of the skin or severe swelling is practically not observed .
As a rule, if an abscess has already formed, treatment is only surgical, which involves opening the abscess with subsequent drainage.
The use of traditional medicine for grade 2 gonarthrosis can significantly alleviate suffering.
What reasons can cause crunching in the knees during extension? About this here.
The tibial nerve, together with the veins and artery, is located at the bottom of the popliteal fossa. When it becomes inflamed or a tumor appears, severe sharp pain occurs behind the knee and spreads to the foot.
Treatment of the tumor is only surgical and is aimed at removing the formation. In the preoperative period, painkillers are prescribed.
An aneurysm of the popliteal artery is a dissection of its vascular wall with the formation of a sac-like protrusion. This disease is characterized by throbbing, nagging pain in the popliteal fossa.
Externally, such an aneurysm may resemble a Baker's cyst, but differs from the latter in the presence of pulsation upon palpation.
Typically, an aneurysm develops only on one side; treatment is surgical.
Although blood clots in the vein under the knee are quite rare, severe pain that occurs in the popliteal fossa can be due to this very reason.
Unfortunately, thrombosis of the vein under the knee is completely asymptomatic for quite a long time and makes itself felt only when complications arise.
So, pain behind the knee occurs due to a wide variety of causes. The immediate source of pain can be a damaged meniscus, tendons, cysts, tumors, or vascular diseases.
To successfully relieve pain and eliminate its cause, it is very important to conduct an accurate diagnosis and identify the source of the disease.
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Every person has encountered leg tumors in their life. However, chronic edema is a malaise that is noticeably uncomfortable. Such a nuisance is no longer associated with simply being in the wrong position, causing blockage of blood vessels and a feeling of wobbly legs. If the swelling rises higher - from the toes to the foot, then to the knee, problems with blood circulation are considered serious and can become symptoms of diseases.
The main reason for the occurrence of a tumor behind the knee (or in front) is the nature of a person’s movements. We are talking about the load that falls on the knee joints every day. In the indicated place, four large bones are connected simultaneously, providing support to the person. The joint is regularly subjected to severe stress.
Among the common pathologies are:
In some cases, knees become swollen not due to leg disease. The source is hidden higher - in the spine. For example, spinal nerve endings can become pinched or osteochondrosis develop. The main pain sensations arise lower due to the fact that the human skeleton is a single large system; difficulties in a certain place can cause pain in the opposite part of the body.
Often people spoil the development of the disease with their own interference, causing harm to themselves. It's better to wait to see a doctor. Before visiting the clinic, you should not take drastic measures to eliminate the tumor behind the knee.
At the appointment, the doctor will ask the patient questions regarding lifestyle and heredity. It happens. selected nervous, muscle and bone diseases are transmitted from parents to children. Genetics does not guarantee the inevitable incidence of disease, but the doctor must take into account the hereditary factor during the examination.
The doctor will examine the leg from the front, from the back - at the knee and below. By listing an exhaustive list of symptoms, the diagnosis is made quite quickly, and the clinical picture will emerge clearly and distinctly. In opposite cases, treatment will take on a gentle nature with a preliminary diagnosis, often becoming ineffective.
When determining the cause of pain in the knee and swelling in the back, radiation is used as diagnostic measures: a common method is x-rays. In equipped medical clinics there are devices for computer and magnetic resonance imaging. Any radiation has sufficient permeability, demonstrating what is happening under the skin, including processes in the bones.
Remember, the best examination is comprehensive; a lot of procedures and tests mean that doctors are trying to find the optimal treatment for the patient.
Getting rid of a tumor from behind takes on a different character. A common feature of a number of treatment systems is early diagnosis associated with successful early treatment. For example, if a patient is diagnosed with a Baker's cyst, it is enough to perform a puncture to pump out excess synovial fluid from the joint. Then a medicinal drug is injected, and an elastic bandage tied below is applied to the knee.
The best treatment is considered to be complex: various procedures (including physiological) are combined with taking medications and using folk remedies (if desired). If the patient has knee pain or a small tumor has formed, anti-inflammatory drugs should be prescribed.
Treatment necessarily includes physical exercises, which are regulated by the attending physician. The leg never stops moving, but therapeutic exercises are aimed at warming up the leg, trying to return the limbs to full motor functionality.
Surgical intervention is performed when the disease is severely advanced and begins to spread throughout the limb. It is better not to delay contacting a doctor.
To stay healthy, it is enough to exercise regularly. Exercise is one side of the health coin. In addition to exercising, you need to eat right so that substances accumulated after training and processed by the body are not excreted from the body along with feces and urine. You should include more fresh vegetables and fruits, white meat, nuts and grains in your diet. Less fatty and fried foods are better for humans.
The chosen sports activities must take into account your physical condition. If your knee has already undergone surgery as a result of treatment, avoid exercises that involve active flexion and extension of the joint, such as cycling. Swimming is considered the best sport for rehabilitation; water relaxes a person and helps to better navigate previously impossible exercises.
Remember, a tumor under the knee can turn out to be a serious disease leading to complications if treatment is not prescribed on time.
Pain behind the knee, usually of a pulling nature, can occur in anyone. Such sensations can be associated with many diseases. Often, by noticing such a symptom in time, you can identify the pathological process at an early stage, which will help start therapy in a timely manner. Typically, pain occurs when walking or bending the leg.
Important! You can read more about knee pain when walking up stairs in the article.
There are cases in which the pain only radiates to the knee; the disease itself is localized, for example, in the back. Therefore, if any painful sensations appear, you should immediately contact a specialist. It is difficult to get by with just an external examination; the popliteal fossa has a complex structure, problems can be in the joint itself, muscles, and blood vessels. It is especially dangerous if there is pain in the knee from the inside on the side, in which case the help of a doctor may be required immediately.
There are a number of diseases that cause nagging pain under the knee. For different reasons, other symptoms and signs may appear.
Important! If you suspect a disease and pain in the knee, you should immediately contact a specialist, the consequences can be serious.
The choice of doctor depends on the symptoms accompanying the pain behind the knee and the nature of the pain. If the sensations appear after an injury, you should go to an orthopedic surgeon; if the pain is aching, radiates to other parts of the body, is accompanied by loss of sensitivity, circulatory disorders, its origin is unclear, it is better to go to a neurologist.
Important! If you don’t know which doctor treats knee pain or who to contact first, then read about it in the article.
After the examination, the doctor may change depending on the problem found. Typically, any research includes the following procedures:
Other means may be required. After treatment is prescribed, all recommendations should be followed.
In children, such pain is often normal. The pulling sensation is a consequence of growth, it just means that the child continues to grow at a fairly fast pace. There is no reason to worry.
However, if the pain does not go away for a long time, the sensations are strong, other symptoms, tumors, and inflammation appear, this is a reason to consult a doctor. The knee could have been injured.
Treatment depends on the disease that is causing the pain. The main areas of therapy can be divided into several groups.
In some cases, surgery is necessary. You can do without it if you start treatment at an early stage, when the disease is amenable to drug treatment.
Important! It is unacceptable to prescribe medications on your own.
In general, if you experience discomfort under your knee, you should immediately limit physical activity, especially if it occurs after playing sports or other vigorous activity. Under no circumstances should you heat your knee, as this may worsen the inflammation. Non-steroidal drugs can be used against pain; if these are not possible, a cold compress of ice or cold water will help.
It is impossible to cure diseases that cause pain under the knee using folk remedies alone. However, they often become an auxiliary therapy and help relieve pain and are suitable as a preventive measure for the development of complications. We have already described the treatment of knee pain at home, so now we will tell you only the most effective methods.
They are used for many joint diseases and help improve the condition. A fresh cabbage leaf is applied to the knee at the site of the lesion and secured with woolen cloth. You can keep the compress all night.
Helps in treating cysts. The crushed plant is poured with vodka in a ratio of 3 to 1 and infused for three weeks in a dark place. For a compress, the golden mustache grounds should be placed on a cloth and applied to the knee. The compress can be kept overnight.
Celandine is also effective for cysts. A couple of tablespoons of dried herbs are brewed in one hundred milliliters of boiling water, leave for twenty minutes. Strain, place on a cloth napkin, and wrap around your knee. This compress can be kept for no more than two hours.
Important! If allergies occur, folk remedies should be abandoned.
It is also important to strengthen the immune system during treatment, especially if there is an inflammatory process. You can take vitamin complexes and increase the body's resistance with fresh vegetable and citrus juices, honey, herbal infusions and teas, such as mint.
It is difficult to fully insure against diseases accompanied by pain in the knee. The main thing that anyone can do is to listen carefully to their body, contact a specialist as soon as pain appears, in order to prevent the development of the disease.
Physical activity is important for children and adults. If there are no contraindications, morning exercises are enough to keep your joints in good shape. It is worth using the elevator less and taking the stairs more often, and giving up public transport for short distances. In general, you should maintain a healthy lifestyle.
For most diseases associated with knee pain, the prognosis is favorable with timely and competent treatment and prevention.
The knee is one of the most important components of the human skeleton. Every day it experiences enormous physical stress. And this in itself often turns out to be the cause of the disease. If you understand the structure of the knee joint, you can understand how easily it is susceptible to injury. People often go to doctors with complaints about pain in the knee itself, which is caused by articular pathologies, but pain under the knee, which occurs for a variety of reasons and significantly complicates a person’s life, requires no less attention.
Why does my knee hurt? It is impossible to answer this question unequivocally. There are many reasons that cause pain in the knee and behind the knee. It may crunch, ache, feel a burning sensation, etc. It happens that it hurts in the front or back, on the side or in the middle. A person may experience knee pain when walking and at rest. This symptom can be observed in various diseases, which are classified into the following types:
Joint pathologies are very often the cause of pain in the knee and popliteal fossa. Such pathologies include:
Practicing rheumatologist Evdokimenko Pavel Valerievich will talk about the main causes of the disease:
This group includes various inflammations observed in the structures located near the knee: muscles, tendons. Doctors consider such conditions to be less dangerous and less likely to cause limitations in a person’s physical activity.
The popliteal artery and vein are located behind the knee. If a person notices unpleasant pain behind the knee that is felt in the calves, then the cause may be disturbances in the functioning of the blood vessels. Very often there is pain under the knee due to the following pathologies.
The “Health” program with Elena Malysheva will help you understand why varicose veins occur and how to treat the disease:
Tibial nerve injury is likely due to the following:
Damage provokes difficulties in moving the foot, a burning pain reaction, and a gradual loss of sensation in the ankle part of the leg. To correct the condition, painkillers, anti-convulsants, vitamin complexes, herbal medicine, acupuncture, and massage are used.
It is impossible to independently answer the question of why your knee hurts due to the ambiguity of the signs of the disease, so you need to contact a specialist.
Sharp, unbearable pain under the knee is observed with traumatic injury to the leg. Knee injuries include:
In case of any injury, if the leg hurts under the knee, the person must be urgently sent to the emergency room to determine the disease and provide qualified medical care.
When people have pain behind the knee, they wonder how to treat it. Therapeutic treatment is usually used. It includes the following measures.
In some situations, surgery cannot be avoided. For example, with meniscus injuries, aneurysm. Arthroscopy and endoprosthetics are prescribed if there is no other way to solve the problem.
In almost all cases, physical activity (walking, running) should be limited, the knee joint should be kept at rest, and a fixing bandage should be used.
Additional methods of treatment can be the use of traditional recipes. But they can only be used after discussing them with your doctor, because Possible individual intolerance to components, allergic reaction, etc.
The following remedies are recommended to relieve pain.
Dear readers, see the video below for even more recipes for traditional treatment:
Home remedies are used as supplements, but they cannot completely replace drug therapy.
There are a lot of diseases that cause pain in the knee on the side on the inside, as well as below the knee. Only a specialist will help determine what it may be, and also recommend the necessary measures and procedures for its treatment.