Pain on the right side of the knee when bending is a common concern impacting daily activities. This discomfort often arises from various factors, from acute injuries to chronic conditions affecting the knee joint. Understanding the pain’s origins is key to finding solutions. While many instances can be managed with self-care, persistent or severe symptoms warrant professional medical evaluation.
Understanding the Possible Causes
Pain on the right side of the knee when bending can stem from several distinct conditions, each affecting different components of the joint. A Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) injury involves damage to the ligament on the inner side of the knee. The MCL stabilizes the knee against outward forces. Injury often results from a direct blow or sudden twisting, making bending painful.
A medial meniscus tear affects the C-shaped cartilage pad cushioning the inner knee joint. Tears result from forceful twisting, deep squatting, or direct impact, especially when the knee is bent. A pinched torn meniscus during bending causes sharp pain, clicking, or a locking sensation, hindering smooth movement.
Osteoarthritis, particularly affecting the medial compartment, is a degenerative condition where inner knee cartilage wears away. This loss of cushioning leads to bone-on-bone friction, causing pain, stiffness, and reduced flexibility, often exacerbated during bending, squatting, or prolonged activity. Pain typically worsens as cartilage deteriorates.
Pes Anserine Bursitis involves inflammation of the bursa, a fluid-filled sac on the inner knee, below the joint line. This bursa reduces friction between tendons and bone. Overuse, tight hamstrings, or direct trauma can inflame it, causing tenderness and pain that intensifies with knee bending, especially during climbing stairs or repetitive motions.
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS), or “runner’s knee,” primarily causes pain around or behind the kneecap, but can radiate to the inner side. This condition often arises from issues with kneecap tracking in its thigh bone groove, caused by muscle imbalances, overuse, or poor foot mechanics. Activities like squatting, climbing stairs, or prolonged sitting with bent knees commonly aggravate the pain.
When to Seek Professional Help
While some knee pain resolves with rest, certain symptoms require professional medical evaluation. Seek immediate attention for sudden, severe pain, especially if it prevents weight-bearing. A visible deformity or significant, rapid swelling also indicates prompt medical assessment.
Difficulty fully bending or straightening the knee, or a sensation of locking or giving out, indicates a potential structural problem. Numbness or tingling in the leg or foot, or signs of infection like fever, warmth, or redness around the knee, also require urgent medical consultation. If knee pain persists or worsens despite a few days of home care, or recurs frequently, seek medical advice to identify the underlying cause and prevent complications.
Initial Steps for Relief
Self-care strategies can provide immediate relief for knee pain. The R.I.C.E. protocol—Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation—is a common approach. Resting the knee by avoiding aggravating activities helps prevent further strain and allows tissues to heal. Applying ice packs to the painful area for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, daily, reduces pain and inflammation. Compression with a bandage or wrap minimizes swelling and supports, while elevating the knee above heart level aids in reducing fluid buildup.
Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as NSAIDs like ibuprofen or naproxen, manage pain and reduce inflammation. Acetaminophen is another option for pain relief. Modifying activities to avoid pain-increasing movements allows the knee to recover without stress. Gentle movement and stretching, if pain allows, helps maintain range of motion, but avoid pushing into discomfort. Wearing supportive footwear with cushioning, stability, and arch support reduces stress on the knee joint.
Medical Diagnosis and Treatment Approaches
When knee pain persists or is severe, a healthcare professional begins diagnosis with a medical history and physical examination. They ask about the pain, injuries, and daily impact, while inspecting the knee for swelling, tenderness, range of motion, and stability. Imaging tests may be ordered. X-rays identify bone issues like fractures or arthritis, while MRI provides detailed soft tissue images, helpful for diagnosing conditions like meniscus tears.
Treatment approaches vary based on diagnosis. Physical therapy is a primary recommendation, focusing on strengthening knee and hip muscles, improving flexibility, and correcting movement patterns. Exercises like straight leg raises, bridges, and wall squats build strength and stability. Medications may include prescription-strength NSAIDs or other pain management drugs.
Injections directly into the knee joint offer targeted relief. Corticosteroids reduce inflammation and pain for several months, while hyaluronic acid injections lubricate the joint and improve mobility. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injections, derived from the patient’s own blood, promote healing and longer-term pain relief, particularly for osteoarthritis. Bracing or supportive devices also stabilize the knee and reduce stress.
For severe cases or when conservative treatments are insufficient, surgery may be considered. Arthroscopic surgery, a minimally invasive procedure, can repair or remove damaged meniscus tissue or address other internal joint problems. For advanced cartilage damage, partial or total knee replacement surgery may be discussed as a final option.