Yeah i'm kinda the expert in this field due to my medical condition.
The knee pain sounds like you hurt it putting pressure when doing DIYs, lifting heavy stuff in a wrong bodily position, exiting your van on a bad step or on sitting/sleeping in awkward positions for long durations. Thats the most common causes of the joint knee pain. However there can be an underlying issue that has formed and you are unaware such as :
Are you having pain bending the knee, putting weight on it and also when you are moving it?
1. sprained ligaments - this can hurt really bad and can make the entire knee hurt badly
2. meniscus (cartila
ge) tears - If you tear a cartilage while lifting something , you need to see a doc
3. tendonitis.
4. runner's knee - Common if you do alot of sports or outdoor activity.
5. Sprained muscle - Most common and can produce the same pain as sprained ligaments or tears.
For th e course of the days ahead you can try to
- Keep massaging the knee with a teraputic rub everyday such as Ice hot, Benji's , hot iodex, white cross etc.
- Rest the knee and keep away from intense activity
- Elevate the knee a few times a day
- Practise light stretching and strengthening exercises . See youtube for this
- Compress the knee a few times a day with a knee bandage for added support
- Try taking an anti-inflammatory medication when it hurts to see if it passes
- And lastly ice the knee when it hurts
If it still persists , please see a doctor as the problem can be deeper and you might need an Xray to see the knee itself.
Please don't be frightened but these are other conditions that cause knee pain
- Bursitis. A bursa is a sac of fluid that resides below the skin overlying your joints. Overuse, a fall, or repeated bending and kneeling can irritate the bursa overlying the knee cap (patella), causing pain and swelling. This is known as prepatellar bursitis but commonly referred to as ''housemaid's knee'' or ''preacher's knee'' since they are often caused by repetitive kneeling.
- Iliotibial band syndrome. The iliotibial band is a piece of tough tissue that runs from your hip down to the outer part of your knee. If it's irritated by overuse or other problems, it can become inflamed and cause pain on the outer side of the knee.
- Osgood-schlatter disease- This condition causes a painful bump below the knee, where a tendon from the kneecap connects to the shin. It's usually caused by overuse and irritation at the tendon insertion known as the tibial tubercle. The pain may come and go over time. It's especially common in teenage boys and girls (13 and 14 years of age).
- Osteoarthritis This condition is a frequent cause of knee pain in athletes and non-athletes alike who are over 50.
- Dislocated kneecap (or patellar dislocation). In this condition, the kneecap slides out of position, causing knee pain and swelling.
- Patellofemoral pain syndrome. This condition often results from issues associated with muscle imbalance, tightness, alignment of your legs, rather than an injury. It's particularly common in teenage girls.
- Patellar Tendonitis, results from inflammation of the tendons surrounding your knee. Tendons are tough bands of tissue that connect muscles to your bones. Overuse can make the tendons inflamed and sore. The most common type of patellar tendonitis is called ''jumper's knee.''
- Loose bodies. Sometimes, a knee injury an break loose cartilage. These pieces can get stuck in the joint, causing it to freeze up and producing pain and swelling.