Unraveling the Mystery of Knee Pain: Why Do Some Joint Deformities Hurt While Others Don’t?

Explaining why certain individuals with specific joint deformities experience symptoms, whereas others do not.
With the array of advanced imaging technologies at their disposal, healthcare professionals can diagnose tissue and joint deformities through non-invasive methods with exceptional precision. Yet, a vexing question persists: why do certain patients with specific joint deformities experience symptoms, while others do not?

The meniscus is a piece of cartilage that cushions the knee joint between the femur (thigh bone) and the tibia (shin bone). Some people are born with a congenital morphological variation in their meniscus, called a discoid lateral meniscus (DLM), where the meniscus is thickened on the lateral, or outer side of the knee. DLM malformations cause the lateral meniscus to form a circle rather than a crescent shape, thickening the cartilage and making it more prone to tears. Some patients develop symptoms such as knee pain and a locking, leading to surgery.