Knee discomfort occurs very frequently. Burning in the knee is an ailment that can appear at any time in life, no matter what age or lifestyle you lead. As it seems, in some cases, it can disappear without realizing it, but in others, medical treatment may be needed.
Multiple causes can give rise to the appearance of burning in the knee. These range from sports injuries to inflammatory, vascular and degenerative diseases. This burning sensation manifests itself as tingling, numbness, or pins being driven into the inside of the knee. Even the simple act of walking can trigger a burning knee.
If this is your case and you also have a limitation when walking, this ailment should be supervised by a doctor who will rule out the causes that may be triggering this pathology. Next, in this FastlyHealarticle, you will learn much more about Burning in the knee: causes and treatment.
Table of Contents
Osteoarthritis
This alteration of the knee is characterized by the wear of the joint in older adults, something natural of age. But several types of arthritis can occur even at young ages with specific characteristics which affect the knees, starting with pain, burning, and inflammation.
Treatment
The treatment of osteoarthritis aims to reduce pain and allow better mobilization of the joint. The doctor will prescribe Paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Ibuprofen to relieve knee pain. The following indications can also be carried out:
- The physiotherapy will help to strengthen the muscles that surround the joint. This will improve flexibility, as well as reduce pain and burning.
- In cases where the aforementioned does not work, the application of cortisone injections in the joint will be recommended to relieve knee pain for several 3 or 4 during the year.
- As a last option, joint replacement, known as arthroplasty, will be recommended, which consists of removing the damaged joint surfaces that are replaced with plastic or metal pieces.
Bursitis
Knee bursitis is inflammation of a sack near the knee joint. This is filled with liquid, which causes symptoms such as:
- It was burning in the knee.
- Inflammation in the knee.
- Pain and functional limitation.
Treatment
This injury can improve over time. However, the doctor will indicate the treatment according to your symptoms. The relief of the ailment and burning will subside with the intake of pain relievers or anti-inflammatories such as Paracetamol and Ibuprofen. An antibiotic will be indicated if an infectious process gives rise to bursitis in the knee.
In addition to drugs, there are other treatment recommendations for knee bursitis :
- Application of therapies by the hand of a physiotherapist can improve joint mobility, relieve knee pain, and strengthen muscles.
- If it does not respond to the previous treatment, the application with corticosteroid injections in the affected bursa will be indicated to reduce pain, burning, and inflammation.
- The surgery is an option in cases where bursitis recurrences, chronic or not, respond to conventional treatment. By this method, the bag will be removed.
Patellofemoral syndrome
This syndrome is characteristic in people who run or practice jumps. In this case, the patella pushes the sides of the knee, generating the following symptoms:
- It is burning in the knee.
- Knee pain and swelling.
- Functional limitation to mobilization.
Treatment
The doctor will proceed to indicate rest, analgesics, and anti-inflammatories. Rehabilitation exercises will accompany the pharmacological treatment to strengthen the knee muscles. In addition, he will recommend using ice to relieve pain in the knee.
Suppose the above does not improve the ailment. In that case, the doctor will indicate resolution by utilizing an arthroscopy. This procedure removes the cartilage that is damaged through a pencil-shaped device with a camera lens and light.
Arthritis
Arthritis is an infectious or rheumatoid joint inflammatory process, and it can give rise to:
- Joint pain.
- Inflammation in the knee.
- It is burning in the knee.
- Tenderness in the knee.
Treatment
Arthritis treatment aims to relieve symptoms and allow the joint to function better. For this, the doctor will indicate:
- Pain relievers: to decrease knee pain.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: to reduce swelling.
- Anti-rheumatic: they prevent damage to the immune system and the joint part.
- Corticosteroids: allow to counteract inflammation and the immune part.
Physical therapy is indicated in some types of arthritis to improve movement and strengthen the muscles around the knee joint.
If this does not work, the doctor will order surgery to repair or replace the joint.
Patellar tendonitis
This alteration is characterized by the involvement of the tendons that join the patella with the tibia. The patellar tendon allows the knee to be extended to run, jump or kick. This alteration frequently occurs in athletes who practice volleyball and basketball.
Treatment
Treatment for this condition begins with physical therapy to strengthen and stretch the muscles around the knee. They do this with stretching exercises to reduce muscle spasms; strengthening exercises are used in weak muscles that help to improve tension in the patellar tendon.
The doctor will prescribe drug treatment to improve pain, inflammation, and burning in the knee.
If the desired results are not obtained, corticosteroid injections and platelet-rich plasma will be placed in the knee joint.
Learn more about Knee Tendonitis: symptoms and natural treatment.
ankylosing spondylitis
Ankylosing spondylitis is inflammation that occurs at the backbone level and may affect the knee, causing pain, swelling, and knee pain.
Treatment
The treatment of this condition is based on reducing inflammation and pain. In this way, it will reduce the burning in the knee. This is with anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or naproxen. Likewise, it will be necessary to carry out:
- Corticosteroid therapies, with strict medical supervision
- Physiotherapy to improve posture and strengthen muscles.
Sciatica
It is a sciatic nerve injury. The main symptoms of the alteration are the following: initially, pain in the back is evident at the lumbar level, and this can radiate to the knee, causing pain in addition to burning in the knee.
Treatment
For sciatica, the doctor will recommend rest and medications such as anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxants, and antidepressants. Also, the following measures:
- Physical therapy to relieve pain and burning. With it, you can also prevent future injuries.
- Corticosteroid injections into the nerve to reduce burning and pain in the knee.
Peripheral neuropathy
This alteration known as peripheral neuropathy arises due to the involvement of the peripheral nerves, which are responsible for carrying nervous information from various parts of the body to the brain and vice versa. At the same time, these nerves are connected to the spinal cord with other parts of the body, such as the knees.
In this way, you can suffer from burning, pain, and inflammation of both the knee and other body parts.
Treatment
In principle, it will try to alleviate the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. Analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs will be used and ingested orally.
Similarly, you can go-to topical treatment such as capsaicin or Lidocaine patches, used to relieve burning and pain in the knee.
Physical therapy will help treat muscle weakness, thereby improving movements.
Surgery will be an option when pressure on the nerves is generated by a tumor, which must be removed to eliminate the alteration.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease that causes increased levels of blood sugar. This disease does not directly affect the knee. However, the circulatory and nervous part of the body is injured so as not to have adequate glucose levels in the blood, which is why one of the areas of the body that can be affected by nervous disorders and circulatory are the knees. This causes symptoms of pain, inflammation, and burning in the knee.
Treatment
Maintaining glucose levels in the blood prevents damage to the circulatory and the nervous part of the body. You do this with:
- Medical control.
- Diet for diabetes.
- Hypoglycemic drugs.
- Rehabilitation therapy.
- Analgesics.
- Anti-inflammatories to relieve pain.
Arterial hypertension
The increase in blood pressure above the usual causes conditions such as:
- Headache.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Nasal bleeding.
- Burning in the knees due to the vascular disorder that it causes.
Treatment
Controlling blood pressure with pharmacological treatment such as antihypertensives improves circulation at a general level, especially in the knee joint, thus eliminating burning in the knees.
If you suffer from any of these pathologies and are generating burning in your knees, go to your doctor, he will make the precise diagnosis and then indicate the treatment to follow.
This article is merely informative. At FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor if you present any condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Burning in the knee: causes and treatment, we recommend that you enter our category of Bones, joints, and muscles.
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.