What causes pain on the inside of the knee?

Q: What causes pain on the inside of the knee?

Inner knee pain often stems from three common conditions: **saphenous neuritis** (irritation of the saphenous nerve), **pes anserine bursitis** (inflammation of the bursa where three tendons meet on the inner shin), or **medial plica syndrome** (irritation of a fold in the knee joint lining). Each has distinct symptoms and treatments, so identifying the cause is key to relief. Because these conditions can mimic one another—and sometimes point to more serious issues like ligament or meniscus injuries—guessing is rarely a good strategy. A free, instant, online symptom check can help you narrow down the likely cause based on your specific symptoms, giving you clearer next steps before booking an appointment or trying home care. It takes just a few minutes and could save you time, worry, and unnecessary trips to the doctor. Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/14/2026

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Inner knee pain often stems from three common conditions: saphenous neuritis (irritation of the saphenous nerve), pes anserine bursitis (inflammation of the bursa where three tendons meet on the inner shin), or medial plica syndrome (irritation of a fold in the knee joint lining). Each has distinct symptoms and treatments, so identifying the cause is key to relief.

Because these conditions can mimic one another—and sometimes point to more serious issues like ligament or meniscus injuries—guessing is rarely a good strategy. A free, instant, online symptom check can help you narrow down the likely cause based on your specific symptoms, giving you clearer next steps before booking an appointment or trying home care. It takes just a few minutes and could save you time, worry, and unnecessary trips to the doctor.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/14/2026

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Explanation

There are several reasons why you might feel pain inside your knee:

Saphenous Neuritis: This happens when a nerve near your knee becomes irritated or swollen. It can cause sharp or burning pain on the inner side of the knee.
Pes Anserine Bursitis: There is a small pouch called the bursae near the inner knee. If it becomes inflamed, it leads to pain and sometimes swelling where your thigh bone and shin bone meet.
Medial Plica Syndrome: Inside your knee, there are folds of tissue called plicae. If one of these folds gets irritated or catches on other parts of the knee, it can cause pain on the inside.

These conditions can result from activities that put stress on your knees, such as running or jumping, or from injuries. If you are experiencing inner knee pain, you can start by using a free symptom checker to better understand what might be causing your discomfort, then follow up with a healthcare provider who can examine your knee, confirm the diagnosis, and recommend treatments to help you feel better.

(References)

Morganti CM, McFarland EG, Cosgarea AJ. Saphenous neuritis: a poorly understood cause of medial knee pain. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2002 Mar-Apr;10(2):130-7. doi: 10.5435/00124635-200203000-00008. PMID: 11929207.
Updated 2024 Jan 29]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532941/
Bellary SS, Lynch G, Housman B, Esmaeili E, Gielecki J, Tubbs RS, Loukas M. Medial plica syndrome: a review of the literature. Clin Anat. 2012 May;25(4):423-8. doi: 10.1002/ca.21278. PMID: 22331585.

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