Knee pain is a common symptom in people of all ages. It may start suddenly, often after an injury…

Knee pain is a common symptom in people of all ages. It may start suddenly, often after an injury or exercise. Knee pain also may begin as a mild discomfort, then slowly get worse.

Causes

Knee pain can have different causes. Being overweight puts you at greater risk for knee problems. Overusing your knee can trigger knee problems that cause pain.

Medical conditions that lead to knee pain include the following:

degenerative tissue disorders, such as osteoarthritis infections obesity auto-inflammatory disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis tendinitis, an inflammation of a tendon, leading to pain when walking upstairs bursitis, an inflammation resulting from overuse chondromalacia patella, or damage to the cartilage below the kneecap gout, a type of arthritis a Baker’s cyst, when fluid builds up behind the knee a tumor, either benign or malignantin the knee.