Meniscus surgery can relieve knee issues, but discomfort is common during recovery. If you experience pain at the back of your knee, several reasons may be at play. Understanding the source of this pain can help manage your recovery.
Common Explanations for Back-of-Knee Pain
Immediately following meniscus surgery, the knee joint often experiences inflammation and swelling as part of the natural healing process. This fluid accumulation, known as edema, can create increased pressure within the joint capsule, which may then be felt as pain or tightness in the popliteal fossa, the area behind the knee. The knee might appear puffy and feel stiff, making bending or straightening difficult.
Muscles surrounding the knee, like the hamstrings and calf, can also cause discomfort. After surgery, altered gait or compensation for weakness may lead to muscle guarding, stiffness, or spasms. These changes can stress the knee, causing pain, and are often a normal part of the body’s response to surgery and rehabilitation.
Less Common or Specific Causes
Beyond general post-surgical reactions, other conditions can cause pain behind the knee after meniscus surgery. One such condition is a Baker’s cyst, also known as a popliteal cyst. This fluid-filled sac forms at the back of the knee, typically resulting from increased fluid within the knee joint due to underlying issues like osteoarthritis or a meniscus tear. While a pre-existing Baker’s cyst can be exacerbated by the surgery, new ones can also form if the knee produces excess fluid as it heals.
Nerve irritation or compression in the popliteal area is another cause of pain. Knee arthroscopy carries a low risk of nerve damage. Nerves can be affected by direct injury from surgical instruments, improper positioning, or compression by sutures. This can lead to stinging or electric shock-like pain, which may worsen with activity.
Warning Signs and When to Contact Your Doctor
While some pain is normal after meniscus surgery, certain symptoms warrant immediate medical attention. Sudden, severe, or worsening pain that does not improve with prescribed pain management should be evaluated by a doctor. Significant swelling, especially if it extends into the calf, accompanied by redness, warmth, or tenderness in the affected limb, could indicate a deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot in the leg.
A DVT forms when a blood clot develops in a deep vein, often in the leg. This can lead to a pulmonary embolism if the clot travels to the lungs. Symptoms like shortness of breath, coughing up blood, sudden chest pain, or painful breathing are signs of a pulmonary embolism and require emergency care. If you experience a fever, or if your pain is persistent and not improving with your rehabilitation plan, contact your doctor for further evaluation.