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Knee Medial Pain

Pain in the medial portion of the knee--that is, inside the joint--can be caused by several different conditions. Injuries to the medial collateral ligament (MCL), the ligament on the inner knee, or medial meniscus, the fibrocartilage band across the inner knee joint, can cause pain, as can arthritis.

  1. Medial Meniscus Tears

    • Medial meniscus tears cause medial knee pain, as well as stiffness or swelling. Surgery may be required for severe tears, but in many cases is not necessary. (See Reference 1)

    Medial Collateral Ligament Tears

    • Tears in the medial collateral ligament may cause swelling, stiffness, tenderness, and mild to severe medial knee pain. Surgery is rarely needed for this type of injury; rest and rehabilitation exercises are usually recommended. (See Reference 2)

    Arthritis

    • Degenerative arthritis, like osteoarthritis, may cause pain on the inside of the knee, as well as stiffness, tenderness and bone spurs. Anti-inflammatory drugs and cortisone injections are often used to treat arthritis. (See Reference 3)

    Surgery

    • For severe medial knee pain relating to arthritis, joint replacement surgery or viscosupplementation (injection of "cushioning" materials in the knee) may be recommended. (See Reference 3)

    Prognosis

    • Most medial knee pain is mild and easily treated, but surgery may be required for more severe cases. See your doctor if you have medial knee pain to identify the cause and your best treatment option.

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