- Knee pain duration: Knee pain can be intermittent (e.g., caused by an injury or sprain) or constant (e.g., caused by arthritis). In some cases, persistent pain lasts longer than three months, in which case is also known as chronic pain, and it’s one of the most common reasons people see a doctor. However, some people experience constant pain that lasts less than three months, a symptom known as acute pain. Different pain durations can have different diagnoses.
- Knee pain onset (what’s the trigger?): Pain may start suddenly after a long period of being symptom-free, which is known as a sudden-onset knee injury. Knee pain that occurs with exercise can be due to overuse injuries, but if it is very severe, doctors will probably examine the possibility of knee trauma. Overuse injuries are caused by repetitive stress on the knee that causes micro-tears in the tissues of the knee and can happen to anyone regardless of their age. It is also important to determine if the pain improves or worsens with exercise or another factor.
