Why Your Knee Joints Hurt: The Role of the Synovium in Pain

If you’ve ever felt aching, stiffness, or swelling in your knee, you’re not alone. Knee pain is one of the most common reasons people visit clinics. But what’s really causing that pain? One key player is a thin layer of tissue inside your joints called the synovium.

What Is the Synovium?

The synovium is a soft lining that surrounds your joints. It produces synovial fluid, which keeps your knees and other joints lubricated and moving smoothly. In healthy joints, the synovium is quiet and does its job without causing problems. But when knee inflammation hits, things change.

How Inflammation Triggers Knee Pain

When your body detects damage or stress in a knee joint, like from injury, arthritis, or everyday wear and tear, it sends immune cells to the area. These cells release inflammatory cytokines, which are chemical messengers that tell your body to respond.

In conditions like knee osteoarthritis, the synovium becomes inflamed. It starts producing more cytokines like IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6. These cytokines attract even more immune cells, creating a cycle of inflammation. The swollen synovium presses on nearby nerves, causing you to feel pain and stiffness.

Why the Pain Keeps Coming Back

The interaction between immune cells and the synovium doesn’t just cause pain: it can keep it going. The inflamed synovium can stay active for a long time, especially if the knee joint continues to be stressed or damaged. Over time, this leads to chronic knee pain and loss of mobility.

What Can Be Done for Knee Pain?

Understanding the role of the synovium helps doctors target treatments more effectively. Anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, and lifestyle changes can help calm the synovium and reduce pain. In some cases, newer therapies aim to block specific cytokines to stop inflammation at its source.

How a Dextrose Lavage Can Help

One promising treatment for chronic knee pain is called dextrose lavage. This procedure involves flushing the knee joint with a dextrose solution. The goal is to wash out inflammatory cytokines and other irritants from the synovial fluid.

By removing these pain-causing substances, dextrose lavage can help reduce inflammation and improve knee comfort. Patients often report feeling less pain and stiffness after the procedure. It’s a minimally invasive option that can be part of a broader, non-surgical treatment plan.

Frequently Asked Questions About Knee Pain and the Synovium

Can inflammation in the synovium cause knee pain?

Yes. When the synovium becomes inflamed, it releases chemicals called cytokines that irritate nerves and cause swelling. This inflammation is a common driver of chronic knee pain, stiffness, and swelling.

What causes the synovium in the knee to become inflamed?

The synovium can become irritated by osteoarthritis, injury, repetitive stress, or autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. Over time, this leads to ongoing inflammation and joint discomfort.

What is dextrose lavage for knee pain?

Dextrose lavage is a minimally invasive procedure where the knee joint is flushed with a dextrose solution. The goal is to wash out inflammatory cytokines and other irritants that trigger knee pain.

Does dextrose lavage work for all types of knee pain?

It may be especially helpful for patients with chronic inflammation or osteoarthritis-related pain. Not every type of knee pain is suited for this procedure, so a consultation is important to see if it’s the right option.

What are other treatments for knee pain caused by synovial inflammation?

Options include physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, lifestyle changes, regenerative medicine, or targeted injections. At Albano Clinic, we focus on non-surgical approaches to help patients move better with less pain.