The lateral portion of your knee is the side that is on the outside of your leg. Lateral posterior knee pain is in this region on the back side of your knee. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, pain in this region can be from ligament injuries, arthritis or cysts. Each one of these problems can affect you differently. If pain persists or is unmanageable, you should see a physician.
Symptoms
Posterolateral knee pain might have other symptoms that can provide a clue to what is wrong. If your knee appears unstable, the posterior cruciate ligament might be damaged, according to the Mayo Clinic website. If you experience a fullness in the poplitieal fossa area, it might be a sign of a baker's cyst, according to the Physician and Sportsmedicine website. If your knee is stiff or the pain is greater in the morning, you could have arthritis or a degenerative joint disease.
Diagnosis
If an injury was present before the pain, the details of this can help the doctor determine what is causing your pain. If pain has developed without an injury, the physician will need to do a full examination to find the cause. An MRI of the knee is one of the best ways to diagnose posterior knee pain.
Treatment
Treatment for your posterolateral knee pain depends on the cause. In some cases you can use braces and physical therapy, but in severe cases you might need surgery. If you have arthritis, your doctor might prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs or suggest alternative treatments.
Prevention
There are some things you can do to prevent knee pain. Maintaining a healthy weight is the best thing you can do for your knees, according to the Mayo Clinic site. Exercise to build muscle around your knees, and remember to stretch before activity. Try to avoid sudden stops and stick with low-impact activities.
Considerations
Do not use drugs or painkillers to manage your knee pain without approval of your physician. Knee pain might be the result of something worse than a minor injury, so a professional should diagnose the cause of your pain.
