by Victor Mikulin

Created on: July 17, 2011   Last Updated: July 18, 2011

Knee pain can be either a simple or complicated problem to diagnose.  There are a variety of maladies such as gout, pseudo-gout, osteo-arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and septic arthritis (an infection of the knee joint) that can all cause chronic knee pain. Your age, the types of activity you do, the location of the pain, and how long the pain has been ongoing will all serve as important clues to your physician.

There are a few common knee injuries that can cause pain specifically on the inside (medial side) of the knee.  Medial meniscus tears and medial collateral ligaments are two of the most common.  Arthritis is also a common cause.  Tears in the medial meniscus are usually due to rapid turning motions such as in sporting activities like basketball and skiing.  The meniscus is a piece of cartilage that absorbs shock in between the bones of the knee. 

Symptoms of a meniscal tear include (but are not limited to): 

Pain on the inside of the knee in between the bones, a popping sensation or sound at the time of injury, locking of the knee joint, joint pain when walking, tenderness over the inside of the knee, recurrent knee catching, and difficulty squatting down

A medial collateral ligament injury can also cause pain on the medial or inner aspect of the knee.  The medical collateral ligament runs from the end of the thigh bone (the femur) to the top of the shin bone (the tibia).  It is a tough, fibrous tissue that serves to protect the joint from excessive motion by limiting the mobility of that joint.  The medial collateral ligament usually gets injured when the knee receives a substantial blow or force on the outer side of the knee.  Symptoms include (but are not limited to): Pain directly on top of the ligament, swelling over the ligament or of the joint itself, bruising, and the knee may “give out” or feel particularly unstable.  Frequently, when the medial collateral ligament is injured, there may be other ligamentous injuries as well.  

Medial meniscus tears and medial collateral ligament injuries can both be confirmed and treated surgically via a procedure called arthroscopy.  This is the introduction of fluid, a metal tube called a cannula and a camera into the joint to visualize joint structures.  It is usually done through a set of relatively small stab-type incisions.  If an injury to either structure is confirmed, there are several treatment modalities that can help alleviate symptoms and assist the structure in healing.

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