Knee Pain Only When Sleeping?

Updated on December 20, 2012
M.M. asks from Detroit, MI
8 answers

Wondering if anyone else has experienced this.

I've been running injury-free since May. I typically push my son in a jogging stroller when I run, so when it got too cold for him I moved inside to the treadmill. Around the same time, I started getting a pain in my left knee, behind the kneecap and to the right (inside) of it. I took about two weeks off from running and it pretty much went away. I would put it at a 0.25 on a 10-point pain scale. I can walk around all day and run without any trouble, and most of the time I don't feel any pain at all in my knee.

I feel like it's (mostly) healed -- EXCEPT at night. When I'm sleeping, it hurts so bad it wakes me up. Changing position usually helps (bending my knee if it was straight, for example), and I've been putting a pillow between my knees when sleeping as well. I've been icing it first thing in the morning, and for the past couple nights I've taken Aleve before bed (not sure it's helping though).

Why does it only hurt at night and when I wake up? What can I do to get some sleep?

What can I do next?

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So What Happened?

Finally got so bothered at night I went to the doctor about this. He suspects a tear of the medial meniscus cartilage -- I'm scheduled for an MRI Tuesday. Apparently pain at night when rolling over in bed is characteristic of this kind of damage -- didn't realize I was rolling over when it hurt but it makes sense!

More Answers

J.H.

answers from San Antonio on

I was told by my physical therapist when I complained of similar pain that I needed to do clams after running. Lay against the wall, back flat, knees bent and feet flat against the wall. You're going to open your legs, using the hip muscles to open. (http://www.mikereinold.com/2011/04/the-hip-external-rotat... )

I know you said it was your knee, on the inside, but that muscle goes from the groin/hip area all the way down and connects inside the knee. It can cause groin pain and knee pain. Try those and see if that helps at all.

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B.S.

answers from Lansing on

Maybe because your keeping so still at night. It also can be that your mind is not busy with other things so the pain may feel intensified because it is all you have to think about.

I would probably go to the Dr's and ask for an Xray to see if something is wrong.

1 mom found this helpful

R.H.

answers from Houston on

I try to elevate my feet at night on an extra pillow

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Stretch. Often.

Change your shoes. Shoes that are not a good fit, will also sometimes cause problems/pains.
Try a different shoe or brand.

Or, do you tend to put most of your weight on one leg versus the other??? It can be stress pains. Most people, do not walk or run equally. For example.

When sleeping, the leg is in a fixed position most of the night. It freezes. Hence pain. And upon waking. The body is all tight.
Try elevating it.
And stretch, before getting out of bed.

Take an anti-inflammatory. ie: Advil.
I tried Aleve myself. But that didn't work for me. Advil does. You need to take what works for you. Versus, my Husband likes Aleve. That works for him.

Ice it.
And stretch.... and do exercises that strengthens your hamstrings and thigh muscles.

Keep in mind, that anytime there is pain in the legs, it will change the gait of a person and their posture, Then, that also causes pain, too. Still.

Eat bananas.

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L.O.

answers from Chicago on

Do you powerwalk to cool down after jogging, or do cool down stretches? Did you have new shoes? Did you take a different way that day? You may have pulled muscles, tendons, or ligaments. When I used to run, I had that happen. I took a new path, and miss-stepped. Pulled the ligaments attached to my knee, and had pain for over a month(didn't goto doctor because ti was just a little thing). Turned out I should have gone, and fixed all the nonsense early on.
It's muscle memory. The injury is still there, and you are working those muscles, even though it is just walking, so at night when you are still, it remembers what you did, and is reminding you.

I'd goto the doctors and check it out...just in case--better safe than sorry, ne?

Just my 2cp.

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I put a rice filled tube sock in the microwave for 1 minute then put that on the area that hurts. The pillow helps it stay right where it's needed. This seems to help a lot of the time. BUT sometimes it needs ice to take care of inflammation.

I bought those really long white tube socks in a package at Walmart and a big bag of long cooking white rice. I filled the sock about 2/3 full the tied the end shut. That's all. I heat them about 1 minute each and sometimes pack them in all sorts of achy spots during the night.

I have heard that if you get your feet nice and warm you will sleep faster and better. I think that's really true of me.

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P.S.

answers from Boston on

I had the same thing, waking up with a dull pain in either my knees or hips. My wife recommended taking Chondroitin, which has helped. In my case, I'm probably just getting older and on my way to getting Arthritis. Chondroitin is supposed to help relieve Arthritis, which my wife has. Everyone is different, and obviously men and women are different, so I'd suggest checking it out before just going ahead and taking it.

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K.L.

answers from Savannah on

I am not sure if this applies to you or not, but I had this only when I was pregnant. The doctor had told me that since pregnancy loosens your joints for childbirth, you can get joint pains all over (the body doesn't know how to only loosen pelvic joints)

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