I have a sharp, stabbing pain in my knee that comes and goes: What is it?

Knee pain can seriously put a damper on your daily activities, especially if it’s unpredictable and intense. If you need some help figuring out the source of your knee pain, keep reading below for some potential causes and treatments.

What are some of the causes of sharp, stabbing knee pain that comes and goes?

• Cartilage tear — If you’re experiencing a sharp, stabbing pain in your knee that comes and goes, it might be a cartilage tear. Your knee has cartilage called the meniscus, which protects the bones that intersect at the knee from grinding against each other. Sometimes, that cartilage can tear. Tears usually happen suddenly, like during physical activity or a sports game. This type of tear can occur when the knee is bearing weight and is turned too far and too quickly.
• Ruptured ligament — Ruptured ligaments are another cause of sharp, stabbing pain in the knee. If your knee pain comes and goes, this type of injury could be to blame. When the ligaments in the knee are twisted too sharply, the result can be a very painful injury. This type of injury usually occurs during physical activity and sports games. It significantly impacts the mobility of the knee until addressed during treatment.
• Tendinitis — The tendons in the knee can become inflamed and irritated, which is called tendinitis. Some of the symptoms of tendinitis can be stiffness and sharp or burning pain, so inflammation might be the root of your issue. Inflammation of the tendon can result from repetitive motions and overuse. If you’re involved in a regular sports activity or do the same exercises with little variation, this might be why you’re in pain.
• Bursitis — Bursae are tiny sacs of fluid that sit near the joints in your knee that help protect your bones and tissue from rubbing against each other. They can become irritated and subsequently cause pain that gets better with rest. When the bursae become inflamed or irritated, this can cause sharp and stabbing pain in the knee.
• Arthritis — Arthritis is the term used to describe the disease involving the inflammation of the joints, which could also be to blame. Arthritis can happen pretty much anywhere you have joints, so experiencing knee arthritis isn’t unheard of. Joint inflammation can cause a dull, throbbing pain but it has also been known to cause sharp, stabbing pains that come and go as well.
• Fracture — A bone fracture can cause pain of this type too. If you’ve gone through a physically traumatic injury that caused the knee in your bone to break, this could be the cause.
• Compressed nerve — Compressed nerves in the spine can cause pain in the knee, interestingly enough. If none of these other conditions seem to apply to you, you might be dealing with a compressed or pinched nerve.

What can you do about a sharp, stabbing pain in the knee that comes and goes?

• Get help from a physical therapist — Physical therapy can help with this type of pain for several different reasons. Therapists will work with you to perform movement within your pain threshold. They’ll help you build muscle strength to protect any weaker ligaments, joints and tendons. They will also work with you to increase your range of motion so that you can move more confidently and with less pain.
• Take anti-inflammatory medication — Anti-inflammatory medications will not only help decrease some of the inflammation you’re experiencing from your injury or condition, but also reduce some of the pain, temporarily.
• Rest — This depends on the type of injury or condition you’re dealing with. For some of these conditions, rest may be beneficial. If you’re dealing with inflammation, it can help reduce some of the swelling and irritation. However, if you’re dealing with something more severe like a bone fracture, it’s recommended you speak with a physician about what will work best for your case.
• Ice and heat therapy — Ice can be helpful for dealing with inflammation and pain, and heat can help soothe the pain as well. 

Alliance PTP is ready to help you find top-notch PT for that sharp, stabbing pain in your knee that comes and goes

At Alliance Physical Therapy Partners, we’re proudly bringing together physical therapy practices across the country to help people get the high-quality PT they need. 

Want to see a physical therapist in person? We can put you in touch with an Alliance PTP partner that’s close to you and that can help you address your knee pain. You don’t have to keep waiting for your knee pain to come and go when you get help from a physical therapist. They can help you find the root cause based on your description of your symptoms and can subsequently address that condition with efficiency and compassion. 

Not keen on in-person PT sessions or not close to an Alliance PTP partner? No worries. We also offer effective and affordable virtual physical therapy through our Agile Virtual Physical Therapy platform. 

Come find help for your injury or chronic condition today!