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Dull knee pain that happens mostly at night, up to 3 times a week, what could it be?

Posted , 5 users are following.

Kay219
Kay219

Hi everyone, for the past almost teo years, I've noticed that only my right knee is randomly getting a dull but very painful pain all around, including right above and below my knee cap. It mostly happens at night anywhere between 5pm and later, sometimes it begins later than midnight, and I've never been able to connect any patterns of what could be causing it. Some nights the pain bothers me too much where I am unable to sleep and any over the counter pain meds like Advil, etc, do not seem to help. I have noticed that movement does not cause it to hurt more or less, or resting it in the same position for extended periods of time, nothing seems to trigger the pain or worsen the pain when I happen to get it. It typically lasts around two or three hours. I have only a few thoughts about what this could be and would like someone's opinion, so thank you so much in advance!

  1. In 2015, it was my final year of marching band and without any specific injury, (like a fall or bumping it, etc, to my knowledge), I ended up experiencing about a week or so worth of random extremely sharp pain a couple times a day in my knee, where it would then send a very sharp pain down the very front of my shin, causing it to buckle. It was very painful and I had to make a dumb face trying to deal with it the best I could until it was over. It would happen when I was sitting in my class or walking down the hall, and eventually I had a minor limp. Just like now, nothing encouraged it to be triggered in any way. I did go to the doctor for this because at the time I was afraid I actually did get some sort of injury and had an x-ray done but they did not x-ray my knee which was the main area of pain, they only x-rayed my shin. Nothing showed and the doctors INSISTED it was shin splints! I have had shin splints before from marching band and it was nothing like this! I tried explaining the best I could, the pain originated in my knee, and shot it down my shin and everything but their final answer was only shin splints. I trust nurses and medical professionals but in this case it was hard for me to. Could I have actually gotten an injury that would still be hurting me once and a while to this day?

  2. Arthritis. My family has a history of arthritis and I know it can be passed down. My only doubt is that from what I know, movement does not create or cause pain and it mostly happens at night, even after days of very little use and after days of much more use, it is always the same pain no matter when I get it. I am very ignorant with what causes/ influences arthritis so if it was just that, it would make a lot of sense considering it is in the family!

More information that may or may not be useful:

  1. I am currently 20 years old and female
  2. I admit I am not at a great weight currently, but I have been losing weight recently and have had problems with my knee before my weight become a problem.
  3. My entire knee and leg tend to pop or crack a lot, it's like cracking your knuckles.
  4. Per month, out of the times I get this knee pain, maybe once or twice I will get the very sharp pain down my shin but it only ever lasts up to about 20 seconds before it goes away in my shin.

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • jenny25655
    jenny25655 Kay219

    Posted

    Hi Kay,

    Knee pain at night can be caused by lots of things. Arthritis can occur at any age and is most painful when the joints are not moved for a period of time. I am a 63 year old female and all of my adult years i have been overweight. For the past 10 years both of my knees went from being ok to crippling pain due to osteo arthritis. I found that doing regular low impact exercise delayed surgery and really helped with the pain.

    I do not know where you are from but you need to see a doctor and perhaps be referred to a orthapedic specialist. The sharp pain you describe could be something floating in the knee joint . This may require your knee joint to be scraped clean by a procedure called Arthoscopic sugery. You could also have a tear in your meniscus.

    Have a look at goggle for knee tape methods and try putting tape on your knee before you go to bed.

    One thing that i have learnt is to listen to your body, if your Doctors treatment does not resolve the problem go to another Doctor.

    Do some online research also so that you have a better understanding of how a knee functions. Learn the knee parts by name so when you go to the Doctor you can tell him what part of the knee is painful.

    You are way too young to have such knee pain.

    I wish you well and hope that you knee gets better soon.

    Good luck and keep in touch with this group.

    It has been 13 weeks since i had total knee replacement surgery and this group has helped me cope with the stress.

  • CHICO_MARX
    CHICO_MARX Kay219

    Posted

    No one on here is a doc and can do any diagnosis. Besides the ibuprofen, there are topicals like Voltaren Gel (RX in US) and Lidocaine patches. But I think you need to see a knee doc. By twisting, turning and flexing your knee, they can pinpont the area of concern and develop a treatment plan. Look for a group that specializes in sports orthopedics, one that works with local high schools, colleges and pro teams.

  • 1951grumpa
    1951grumpa Kay219

    Posted

    Just a thought and my experience with knee pain and leg pain. When in my mid to late 20's i had sciatica pain that laid me up fo a week. Now fast forward to today. I'm 67 and in 2016 Ihad a left TKR knee replacement.

    Construction was hard on that knee. A year after my surgery my knee along with some pain and numbness from my knee to ankle. I would hurt at night, wake me up and I at times couldn't get comfortable. I made an appointment with the Dr that did the surgery. After an mri showed nothing. HE said I think your problems in your back. I was surprised at what he said. After more testing i was told there was some nerve problems in my left leg. It finally went away until late October when I lifted a heavy landscape rock

    and I herniated a dics. in my lower back. My pain is in my knee and there is numbness from the knee to my ankle. Also the pressure on my sciatic nerve has almost deadened my left thigh muscle. It's so weak Ihave to go up stair one stair at a time. I had surgery a month ago and am now in PT. All this to say that get to a doctor for a proper diagnosis. I hope you can get to the cause of your problem. Geo.

  • susan25378
    susan25378 Kay219

    Posted

    HI KAY, I HAD SOMETHING CALLED OSGOOD SCHLATTER DISEASE AS A LATE TEEN. IT IS A DULL PAIN AROUND THE KNEECAP. IT CAN COME AND GO, BUT IS ANYWHERE FROM VERY PAINFUL TO A DULL ACHE. IT'S COMMON IN TEENAGERS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN SPORTS. I HAD A SERIES OF CORTISONE SHOTS BEFORE BEING DIAGNOSED. IT WAS ALWAYS CONSIDERED A MALE DISEASE, WHICH THEY LATER FOUND TO BE WRONG. IT IS EASILY TAKEN CARE OF WITH SPLINTING THE LEG. LUCKY ME DURING MY YOUNG DAYS THEY PUT ME IN A STRAIGHT CAST FOR 4 MONTHS LOL. PLEASE SEE A DR SO YOU CAN QUIT WORRYING. YOUR SYMPTOMS SOUND SO FAMILIAR. TAKE CARE

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