Pain in side of the knee

Pain on the outside part of the knee:

This is known as the lateral part of the knee. This area can be further divided into two parts: what happens above the joint line and what happens at the joint line. The joint line is where the femur (thighbone) meets the tibia (shinbone). With the knee bent to 90 degrees, the joint line is the soft part just below the femur. Pain at the joint line may mean a tear in the cartilage ring called the meniscus or a tear/sprain of the lateral collateral ligament. Pain above the joint line may mean problems with either the kneecap (patella), the lateral collateral ligament ( LCL), or strain involving the joint capsule. Pain on the outside of the knee can also be due to arthritis. Another possible cause of pain is tendonitis involving the iliotibial band which is a tendon bundle along the outside part of the knee. This problem often affects runners. Bursitis may also occur in this area.


Pain on the inside part of the knee:

This is the side closest to the other knee. This side is known as the medial side of the knee. This area can be divided into three major areas. The first is the spot where the femur (thighbone) meets the tibia (shinbone). This area can be located with the knee bent at 90 degrees. At the corner of this angle is the joint line. Pain at this site may mean a tear in the cartilage ring called the meniscus. Because the collateral ligament is attached to the medial meniscus, pain here could mean an injury to the collateral ligament - the medial collateral ligament (MCL). Pain on the inside of your knee can also be due to arthritis.

Pain above the joint line may mean an injury to the collateral ligament or even injury of the joint capsule.

Pain just below the joint line may indicate bursitis of an area where three tendons come together to attach to the shinbone called the pes anserine bursa. If the pain is located more to the inside joint line, this could indicate an injury of the MCL.

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