Left knee - lateral pain at night (semi-random)

[MrA79]

It's not an every night sort of thing, but over the last few months there have been numerous instances that I wake up in the middle of the night with a really horrible burning-sore type of pain on the outside of my left knee. It happened a lot more frequently when I was running more miles, but doesn't seem tied to it directly - some nights after running I'm fine, and some nights it's bad regardless of my activity that day.

Tried elevating the leg in question - seems to help sometimes, but most of the time I actually have to get up and walk around or take an NSAID to be able to get back to sleep.

Thoughts? My limited anatomy knowledge says it is probably some sort of inflammation in the IT band, but wouldn't say that with any certainty.

Edit for clarity - it's not patellar, more in the joint\muscles along the left side of my leg at the knee

 

[MrA79]

Well darn - was sure someone here would have some insight 🙁

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Do you get any numbness/tingling in addition to the burning? Could hint at common fibular nerve impingement as it passes by the fibular head. If you don't have any numbness or tingling, it could just be the tibiofibular joint. Have you ever sprained your ankle on that side? In addition, like you said, it could be ITB. Could also be lateral meniscus, lateral collateral ligament, lateral patellar retinacular fibers, etc. There's a ton of stuff at the knee so it's impossible to tell you what it is with your current report.

 

[MrA79]

No tingling/numbness and no injuries to that ankle. I have a pretty nasty sharp/shooting pain in the center patella area when I bend that leg and put weight on it (ex doing squats or leg press or getting up from a kneeling position).

Sounds like a trip to the ortho is in order

Edit: if it helps, no pain or instability while running or doing any other activity. Only seems to flare up overnight (or presumably also might if that leg were simply straight and immobile for an extended period)

 

[SociallyChallenged]

No tingling/numbness and no injuries to that ankle. I have a pretty nasty sharp/shooting pain in the center patella area when I bend that leg and put weight on it (ex doing squats or leg press or getting up from a kneeling position).

Sounds like a trip to the ortho is in order

Edit: if it helps, no pain or instability while running or doing any other activity. Only seems to flare up overnight (or presumably also might if that leg were simply straight and immobile for an extended period)

Is it deep to the knee cap? For some reason, you sounded sure it wasn't related to the patella, but that description sounds like patellofemoral joint pain. But keeping your knee straight bothers you? Hm. An ortho will probably do some imaging, but will likely refer you to physical therapy.

 

[MrA79]

Is it deep to the knee cap? For some reason, you sounded sure it wasn't related to the patella, but that description sounds like patellofemoral joint pain. But keeping your knee straight bothers you? Hm. An ortho will probably do some imaging, but will likely refer you to physical therapy.

Sorry for the lack of clarity - two different issues, I was just mentioning a separate (presumably unrelated but who knows) issue there since you'd asked about injuries. The left lateral issue is the main problem, yes. The kneecap one is only when I do squats or stuff along those lines.