Knee pain may occur because of chronic degenerative changes or an acute injury. Regardless of what causes the pain, a person's walking usually becomes disabled. A doctor can evaluate the underlying issue and guide treatment to help the sufferer walk correctly again.
Immediate Pain
Immediate pain occurs in the knee with a ligament injury. Ligament injuries may occur from a fall or direct injury to the knee. A popping sound may occur, and the person may find it difficult to walk using weight on that particular knee. Increased pain may occur as the person bends the knee or moves it, particularly for walking. The person also may complain that he feels the knee buckle as he tries to walk, MayoClinic.com reports.
Swelling
Swelling of the knee may occur with inflammation caused by tendinitis or arthritis. Increased pain may occur as the person attempts to walk up a flight of stairs. The person may also find she has difficulty straightening the leg. The pain associated with tendinitis and arthritis may occur in one knee or sometimes both knees, MayoClinic.com indicates.
Stiffened Knee
A stiffened knee may occur with an injury such as a meniscus tear, in which the cartilage becomes torn. The knee will present with pain as swelling continues to occur over a period of hours, MayoClinic.com reports. Increasing pain and difficulty of movement will continue despite resting the leg and knee.
Painful Movement
Painful movement of the knee occurs with an injury related to the bursae, the small fluid sacs that outline the knee. These sacs help guide movement over the knee. Injury to these sacs creates extreme pain, and it becomes difficult to move the knee, MayoClinic.com indicates.
Decreased Movement
Decreased movement of the knee occurs with degeneration of the knee and the breaking off of pieces of bone. The knee becomes locked in place, and the person has impaired movement, MayoClinic.com reports.
Difficulty Walking
Difficulty walking occurs with a kneecap that has suffered a dislocation, MayoClinic.com reports. The knee will appear out of place. Extreme pain associated with the dislocation of the knee occurs, and immediate treatment typically needs to follow.
Knee Tenderness
Knee tenderness occurs in sports-type injuries, especially in younger people. Jumping in the air and running fast also will trigger the knee tenderness. This type of injury classifies as Osgood-Schlatter disease, which correlates with overuse of the knee, MayoClinic.com reports.
