Experiencing knee pain at night is more common than one may think. It can make it hard to sleep, and affect your mood, health, and quality of life. A brief look at the top reasons for knee pain at night and how to get relief:
Common Reasons for You to Experience Night Knee Pain
Arthritis: Knee arthritis can cause pain and stiffness in the knee joint, which may worsen at night when lying down.
Gout: An accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joints causes gout, a type of arthritis. It can cause pain and swelling in the knee joint, especially at night.
Injuries: If you have recently injured your knee, you may experience pain and discomfort at night when you are not moving around as much.
Overuse: Overuse of the knee joint, such as from running or jumping, can lead to knee pain, especially at night.
Bursitis: Bursae or fluid-filled sacs cushion the knee joint, but if these sacs become inflamed, you can experience knee pain at night.
Tendinitis: The tendons attaching the muscles to the bones may become inflamed and cause stiffness and pain, especially at night.
Osteoporosis: Your bones become weak and brittle if you have osteoporosis. It can lead to knee pain, especially at night. According to Medical News Today, 13% of women in the US suffer from osteoarthritis.
Why Does Knee Pain Get Worse at Night?
Reduced activity: During daytime, you may be active and engaged in various activities such as walking, standing, or exercise, which can help to keep your knee joint lubricated and reduce stiffness. However, at night, when you are less active or sleeping, the knee joint may become stiff and painful, observes a pain expert at QC Kinetix (Superior) near Louisville. Follow the map
Inflammation: Inflammation is a common cause of knee pain, which can worsen at night. The body’s natural anti-inflammatory response is less active during sleep, which can result in more inflammation and pain.
Fluid Accumulation: Fluid accumulation in the knee joint can cause pain and stiffness, particularly at night when the body is in a horizontal position. The fluid may also put pressure on the nerves, causing pain.
Poor sleep posture: Poor sleep posture can contribute to knee pain. Sleeping with your knee in a bent position can exacerbate pain in the knee, particularly if you have an underlying knee condition.
How to Find Relief from Knee Pain at Night
Resting the knee and elevating it can help reduce inflammation and pain. You can help reduce pain and inflammation by applying an ice pack to the knee. Wearing a compression bandage or knee sleeve can help reduce swelling and support the knee joint. Over-the-counter pain medications can help relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Physical therapy can help improve knee strength and flexibility, reducing knee pain over time. A knee brace can provide additional support and stability to the knee joint, particularly if you have an underlying knee condition.
Conclusion
You can experience knee pain at night for several reasons. If home therapies do not succeed, or your knee pain persists or worsens, you should seek medical attention to identify the underlying cause and receive appropriate treatment.
Knee pain at night can become troublesome and greatly reduce overall quality of life. Fortunately, this type of discomfort is often manageable with the right treatment. To help those who are experiencing knee pain while sleeping, we will look further at the reasons why this might be happening, as well as ways to work with it.
One of the most common causes of knee pain at night is arthritis. As the body ages, our joints can suffer from wear and tear, causing inflammation and pain. Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout can all affect our knee joints and lead to increased pain while sleeping. Not only can arthritis bring sharp or throbbing knee pain, it can also cause swelling, stiffness, and difficulty bending and moving the leg.
Other causes of knee pain at night can include an injury to the area, such as a sprain or strain. The pain may also be caused by inflammation in the tendons, ligaments, or cartilage of the knee joint. Overuse of the area can also cause pain, as well as bursitis, a condition caused by inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs that cushion the knee joint.
Regardless of the cause of knee pain at night, there are ways to tackle the discomfort. Many arthritis sufferers find relief with heating pads or cold compresses. Sleeping with a pillow between the legs can help keep the body in a comfortable position and reduce discomfort. Gentle stretching during the day and strengthening exercises, such as squats, can help strengthen the knee muscles and support the joints.
In addition to at-home remedies, it is important to visit the doctor to get a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. This could include physical therapy or medications to help reduce inflammation. Over-the-counter or prescription pain medication may also be recommended.
Knee pain at night can be very disruptive and difficult to manage. Fortunately, there are many ways to work with the pain and help reduce its severity. To ensure your condition does not become worse, it is important to visit your doctor for a diagnosis. From there, you can work together to develop a plan to find relief and help improve quality of life.
