Knee pain is a symptom of several different conditions and injuries, many of which are often characterized by knee pain getting worse at night.
Understanding the cause of your pain is the first step to being able to treat it and get back to a good, uninterrupted night’s rest.
What Causes Knee Pain at Night?
1. Knee Osteoarthritis
This is a condition characterized by the loss of cartilage around a joint and is the most common cause of nocturnal knee pain. It accounts for approximately one third of cases.
2. Fat Pad Irritation
There is a soft tissue at the base of the patella known alternatively as “Hoffa’s fat pad” or the “infrapatellar fat pad.” In some cases, usually following a direct blow to the kneecap or a sudden twisting motion, the fat pad can become pinched (“impinged”) between the femoral condyle and the patella, resulting in pain.
3. Ligament Injury
The knee houses three different ligaments—the anterior, lateral, and posterior cruciate ligaments. These provide joint stability while helping control excessive motion. If the knee joint becomes stuck while attempting to widen itself, like from a football tackle or other sources of excessive pressure, the ligament will get injured. This will result in aching knee at night, along with swelling.
4. Jumper’s Knee
Also known as “patellar tendinopathy,” this condition is most commonly found, as the name would suggest, in athletes who play sports involving a lot of jumping. Those with this condition suffer from an injured patella tendon. The pain is usually focused on the front of the knees or below the patella, worsening when you jump.
5. Osteoid Osteoma
This is a rare, but thankfully benign, type of bone tumor that is usually located in the femur. Osteoid osteoma is more likely to occur in men, along with anyone between 5 and 25 years old.
Why Knee Pains at Night?
There are several theories as to why knee pain can worsen at night. These may not all be true for a single person, but chances are your cause of nighttime knee pain will fall under one of the following:
1. Psychological
Trying to relax and go to sleep makes your brain more aware of things that can disrupt your efforts or put you in danger. Being alone and more isolated at night can also make pain feel worse.
2. Blood Vessels
The body’s blood vessels increase in diameter while you sleep. This puts pressure on many nerves in the body and narrows available joint spacing.
3. Lower Hormones
Many hormone signals are reduced during sleep. This could allow the brain to more easily receive pain signals.
4. Activity
Many people with knee or hip pain report increased night pain following daytime activities. The triggering activities can be variable. Some patients report increased pain following everyday things like walking or standing while others only report an increase when they run, jump, or lift heavy objects.
5. Weather
This is more common in those with osteoarthritis: low pressure weather, typically weather that is cold, damp, and windy, can exacerbate knee pain.
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Treatments for Knee Pain at Night
The good news is that regardless of what causes your knee pain or why it worsens at night, many treatments for it will work regardless of origin.
1. Medication
Pain medication is the most common method to treat aching knee. If you are already on pain medication and find it ineffective, consider switching to a type with a slow-release or “12 hour” dose. This should ensure the medicine’s continued effectiveness during the nighttime hours. However, it’s not advisable to stop or switch medication without consulting your doctor.
2. Pillows
Some patients with osteoarthritis reported their pain was eased by sleeping with a pillow pressed between their legs. However, those who frequently shift in their sleep are less likely to receive benefit from this method.
3. Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation (RICE)
This is a first-aid treatment protocol that aims to reduce swelling and pain responses, promoting blood flow through the limb. It’s important to remember not to apply ice for more than 20 minutes at a time and never to apply it directly to the skin. Ensure that the compression bandage is snug, but loose enough to avoid restricting blood flow.
4. Warmth
The warmth from a hot water bottle has also been known to assist in soothing sore knees. This is more likely to be successful if the source of the pain is injury-related.
5. Posture
Sleeping with your legs straight puts a minimal amount of strain on the joints.
Knee Pain at Night: Cure and Prevention
As with most medical conditions, prevention is better than cure. Making sure that knee injuries are treated quickly and effectively minimizes the chance of developing long-term damage. Stopping activities that make your knee hurt, regardless of how urgent they feel, is additionally important.
Since knee pain is a symptom, cures involve treatment of the underlying condition. For most common injuries, taking it easy and keeping up with physical therapy will result in eventual healing and recovery. In the case of tendon or ligament damage, or in event of a bone tumor, surgery is the recommended route.
Regardless of cause of knee pain at night, minimizing stress to the knee and doing physical therapy exercises to strengthen the joint can also prove fruitful. Just remember to know your limits and listen to your body when it tells you to stop.
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