"I didn't fall. I didn't twist it. So why does my knee hurt?"

Knee pain without a specific traumatic event is extremely common and often frustrating. Since there was no "accident," patients often delay seeking help, thinking it will just go away.

Here are the silent causes of spontaneous knee pain.

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1. Osteoarthritis (The Silent Wear)

Arthritis doesn't start with a bang; it creeps up.

• You might have had minor wear for years, and one day, a simple walk tipped the scale into inflammation.
• This is the most common cause in people over 45.

2. Gout / Pseudogout

Crystals can form in your joint overnight.

• You might wake up with a red, hot, throbbing knee without having done anything the day before.
• Diet (alcohol, red meat) often triggers this.

3. Referred Pain (It's Not the Knee)

Sometimes, the knee is the victim, but the criminal is elsewhere.

• Hip Problems: Arthritis in the hip often radiates pain down to the knee.
• Back Issues: A pinched nerve (sciatica) in the lower back can cause shooting pain in the leg and knee.

4. Tendinitis

Overuse—not acute injury—can cause micro-tears in tendons.

• If you recently increased your walking or stair climbing, your patellar tendon might be inflamed.

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Clues to the Cause

• Red & Hot? Think Gout or Infection.
• Stiff in the Morning? Think Arthritis.
• Pain Radiating Down? Think Back or Hip.

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Takeaway

Just because you didn't fall doesn't mean nothing is wrong. "Spontaneous" pain usually points to an underlying medical condition or mechanical imbalance.

Get a diagnosis to stop the guessing game. 👉 Consult Dr. Abhijit Kale.