Differential Diagnosis for Knee Pain while Walking up the Stairs
- Single most likely diagnosis
- Osteoarthritis: This is the most common cause of knee pain in adults, especially when associated with activities like climbing stairs. The pain is typically worse with weight-bearing activities and relieved by rest.
- Other Likely diagnoses
- Patellofemoral pain syndrome: This condition is characterized by pain around or behind the patella, often associated with activities that put stress on the knee, like climbing stairs or squatting.
- Meniscal tears: Tears in the cartilage of the knee can cause pain, especially with twisting or bending movements, which are common when walking up stairs.
- Ligament sprains: Injuries to the ligaments around the knee can cause pain and instability, particularly with activities that involve bending or twisting the knee.
- Tendinitis: Inflammation of the tendons around the knee, such as the quadriceps or patellar tendon, can cause pain when walking up stairs due to the increased tension on these tendons.
- Do Not Miss diagnoses
- Septic arthritis: Although less common, an infected joint can cause severe pain, redness, and swelling, and requires immediate medical attention to prevent long-term damage.
- Osteonecrosis: A condition where the bone tissue dies due to lack of blood supply, which can cause severe knee pain and requires prompt diagnosis and treatment to prevent collapse of the bone.
- Tumor: Both benign and malignant tumors can cause knee pain, and while rare, they are critical to diagnose early for effective treatment.
- Rare diagnoses
- Rheumatoid arthritis: An autoimmune disease that can cause knee pain, stiffness, and swelling, but is less common than osteoarthritis and often involves multiple joints.
- Gout or pseudogout: Forms of arthritis that can cause sudden, severe knee pain, but are less likely to be directly associated with stair climbing.
- Neuropathic pain: Pain caused by nerve damage, which can manifest as knee pain but is less common and usually has other associated neurological symptoms.