Sharp debilitating pain outside of knee backside

[innocuous76]

Hi,
I was trekking with some friends when half way through the trek I experienced Sharp pain on both legs near the knee. It's on the outer dude and back of knee.
With each step its so severe that I cannot take a step with leg bent.

It seems to be coming somewhere near the lcl or where the hamstring tendon attacks to lower foot, just behind and to the outer side of the knee.

The first time I noticed this was 6 months ago on the treadmill. The pain came suddenly and was so severe that I could not take another step. However if I stop, the pain is not there. Upon resting for the day, it's gone but comes back with any physical activity.

I cannot seem to pinpoint the pain exactly, hence I can't find any good explanations through Google, but I believe it's coming from the Collateral Ligament or Collateral Meniscus area.

There is no pain when I relax the leg muscles (I can move my leg in all directions using my hands, without causing any symptoms to occur), and there is no pain when the leg is fully extended or fully bent.

However, there is severe pain as soon as I lift my leg to walk or step forward. The pain is especially strong walking downhill or downstairs - it seems to occur only when I contract the hamstrings to lift the lower leg during a step motion. The pain is there when I walk on level surface too, so unless I walk with a straight leg, the pain is there whenever I make the step motion.

I love to trek but scared to do so now.
Can anyone help?

[innocuous76]

Hi,
There is no pain for normal activity. Its only upon extended walking or going downhill in activities like trekking, running or walking fast for long period does the pain arise.

If I stop the activity, the pain goes away and I am fine the next day.

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi!
If the pain comes on bending the knee as in walking step or running downhill or down a flight of stairs, then it could be due to Patellofemoral syndrome or runners knee. This happens due to mal-alignment of the knee cap on bending the knee (and hence any imaging study has to be taken with the knee bent), injury to the knee (you may have sustained it in past), flat feet, over tight or over lax muscles around the knee joint. All these aspects will have to be investigated by your doctor. Other possibilities are bursitis (inflammation of fluid filled sac over joints), tendonitis (inflammation of cords joining muscles to bones) or due to weakness of patellar bone. Please discuss all these possibilities with your treating doctor. Take care!



The medical advice given should not be considered a substitute for medical care provided by a doctor who can examine you. The advice may not be completely correct for you as the doctor cannot examine you and does not know your complete medical history. Hence this reply to your post should only be considered as a guiding line and you must consult your doctor at the earliest for your medical problem.