Leg Pain Above the Knee: From Hip to Knee, Causes

Pain in the leg above the knee rarely appears out of nowhere. It can come from muscles, tendons, a joint, or a nerve, and the location of the pain suggests where to look first. Below are guides to the location of sensations and how doctors look for the cause.

Why the leg hurts from the hip to the knee

The knee joint consists of bones, cartilage, ligaments, and fluid, while muscles and tendons provide movement. When any of these structures is damaged or diseased, pain and difficulty walking appear. Knee problems are very common and occur in people of all ages. The most common knee disease is osteoarthritis: cartilage gradually wears away, causing pain and swelling. Ligament and tendon injuries also cause pain, and a common sports injury is damage to the anterior cruciate ligament during a sudden twisting movement.

Pain above the knee in front and over the kneecap

Sensations between the kneecap and the shin that worsen with repeated running or jumping loads are characteristic of tendinitis. In adolescents and young people, pain and swelling below the kneecap are described as Osgood-Schlatter disease.

Pain on the outer and inner side of the thigh

Burning and numbness along the anterolateral surface of the thigh is a typical sign of damage to the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, Roth-Bernhardt disease. The nerve is compressed under the inguinal ligament or at the anterior superior iliac spine. Causes include a tight belt and corsets, tight underwear, obesity, pregnancy, spinal curvature, pelvic and hip joint injuries, osteochondrosis and radiculitis, hematomas, tumors, as well as diabetes mellitus, vasculitis, rheumatic and infectious diseases. The cause of the pain is determined by a doctor during examination.

Burning pain in the leg above the knee

Burning pain on the anterolateral surface of the thigh has been described in Roth-Bernhardt disease. In Roth disease, areas of skin on the anterolateral surface of the thigh first become numb, then burning pain appears. Some feel "pins and needles," tingling, loss of temperature sensitivity, and sometimes severe itching. With painful sensations in the knee accompanied by redness and heat around it, a sign of infection is possible.

Pain when bending the knee and in the leg muscles

Pain in the muscles above the knee and when bending occurs after overstretching, overload, or twisting, especially during training — this is how strains and overexertion manifest. Instability, when the leg gives way when trying to stand up, the knee cannot be straightened, and a click is heard at the moment of injury, points to a rupture of a ligament, tendon, or meniscus, or cartilage damage. Displacement of the patella after a blow or a sudden change of direction is a dislocation of the kneecap.

How the cause is diagnosed and when to see a doctor

For knee pain, the doctor may refer you to physical therapy, scanning, or a specialist, including surgical treatment as indicated. In Roth disease, the main method is examination by a neurologist; electroneuromyography is used for confirmation. To rule out other causes, X-rays of the pelvic bones and hip joints, ultrasound of the abdominal organs, and sometimes CT and MRI are performed. If the pain does not go away within several weeks, a doctor is needed.

• Knee pain does not improve within several weeks.
• The knee hurts severely or cannot bear weight.
• The knee is severely swollen or has changed shape.
• The knee locks, gives way, or clicks painfully.
• High fever together with redness and heat around the knee.

Pain above the knee by itself is not a reason to call an ambulance; 103/112 — for a life-threatening condition or serious injury.

This material is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation.

This content is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation. Medical disclaimer