Like the warning lights in your car, your knees can also give early signs
of potential issues down the road.
Knee pain is a common complaint for many people. It is estimated that frequent
knee pain affects 25 percent or more American adults at any given time.
Generalized knee pain can have a variety of causes. Whether from a traumatic
injury like an ACL tear or rupture, or a chronic condition such as osteoarthritis,
there are various reasons pain in the knees can arise throughout a lifetime.
Pain that has lasted more than a few weeks without progressively getting
better warrants a visit to the doctor. But sometimes, other knee symptoms
can present without the presence of pain. For example, below are some
of the ‘check engine’ lights for your knees that can signal
issues down the road. These, too, are symptoms that should be evaluated
by a health care professional.
Stiffness – Knee stiffness is a common issue among a wide variety of people. Stiff
knees can be experienced by those who are highly active, as well as those
who are of more advanced age. In some cases, the stiffness can result
from a muscular imbalance in the legs or poor flexibility. In other instances,
stiff knees can result from meniscal or ligament injury or the beginning
stages of arthritis.
Swelling – There is a variety of potential causes for a swollen knee. A traumatic
injury, overuse, infection, and underlying disease can all be reasons
for swelling in the knee. Depending on whether other symptoms are present,
a physician may need to obtain a fluid sample that is causing the swelling
to determine its cause more precisely.
Sounds – Clicking, popping, or crunching sounds can all indicate a problem with
the proper function of the knee joint. Knee clicking can signal a ligament
tear, osteoarthritis, or extra tissue present in the knee. Popping sounds
can sometimes signal a meniscus tear or a piece of cartilage that has
become loose within the knee joint. When the sound takes on more of a
“crunching” quality, it can be due to the surface of the articular
cartilage in the knee becoming roughened over time and not allowing the
bones to glide over it smoothly.
Instability – Also described as weakness or buckling, an unstable knee can feel like
it might or does “give out” with any movement. Many cases
of knee instability are caused by an injury – commonly an ACL tear,
torn meniscus, loose pieces of cartilage floating around the knee joint.
Still, other causes of knee instability may also be to blame. These can
include arthritis, nerve damage (femoral neuropathy), or Plica Syndrome.
Plica Syndrome is characterized by inflammation of a fold in the middle
membrane (called the medial plica) that covers the knee joint.
Extension – The inability to fully straighten the knee is always a cause for concern.
As previously mentioned, even if you don’t experience pain when
trying to flex the knee, the inability to do so can indicate a problem
that should be evaluated. The joints in our bodies were designed to achieve
a normal range of motion. When that ability is diminished, no matter the
cause, it can put us at an increased risk of future injury. When a person
cannot achieve full range of motion in their knee joint, it can lead to
overcompensation or an imbalance in other areas of the body – that’s
a flashing warning sign for disaster ahead.
Though unresolved knee pain alone is plenty of reason to visit the doctor
to have it evaluated, so too are the five knee symptom ‘check engine’
lights mentioned in this article. Remember, pain isn’t the only
signal that something might be wrong. There can be some signs that precede
knee pain. Knowing what to watch out for, and talking to your doctor if
the symptoms occur, can stave off the pain and get you back in the last
line of healthy living much faster.
Sources:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/knee-pain/symptoms-causes/syc-20350849
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-you-can-do-about-stiff-achy-knees/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327499#causes
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/swollen-knee/symptoms-causes/syc-20378129
https://www.verywellhealth.com/popping-and-snapping-2549494#:~:text=Mechanical%20Popping,-Patients%20may%20experience&text=This%20type%20of%20popping%20symptom,forth%20causing%20a%20popping%20sensation.
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/by-itself-knee-crunching-sound-generally-not-cause-for-concern/#:~:text=The%20crunching%20you%20hear%20likely,or%20rising%20from%20a%20chair.
https://www.betterbraces.com/injury-info-center/knee-injury-guide/clicking-knees
https://www.healthline.com/health/knee-buckling#nervedamage