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Pain in the Knee - Knee Pain

Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors

The knee is a joint where the thigh bone, or femur, and shin bone, or tibia, meet. Knee pain refers to any pain or discomfort in this area of the body.

What is going on in the body?

Pain in the knee can occur for many reasons. It can be mild or severe, and involve one or both knees. Most cases of knee pain do not pose a serious threat to a person's health, but a few are serious.

What are the causes and risks of the condition?

There are many possible causes of knee pain, including:

trauma or injury

overuse of the knee

arthritis

infections in or around the knee, such as septic arthritis

disease or infection throughout the body, which may produce generalized joint pain. Examples include sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and flu.

gout or pseudogout, which are disorders that can deposit crystals into the joint space

autoimmune disorders, conditions in which a person produces antibodies against his or her own body for unknown reasons. Autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus can cause knee pain.

Baker's cyst, a small abnormal sac that may develop behind the knee

Osgood-Schlatter disease, a condition that usually occurs in teenage boys

deep venous thrombosis, which is a blood clot in the leg

a tumor or cancer affecting the bone

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