What is pain above the kneecap a sign of? hurts to go up and down stairs. had meniscus surgery years ago on same knee.

Quad tendinitis: Pain could be from quadriceps (above knee cap) or patellar tendonitis (below knee cap- try a knee strap) or irritated/early wear of the patella cartilage or the surface cartilage of the thigh bone that rubs against the patella (behind knee cap-try knee sleeve with a cutout for knee cap). Avoid stairs, knee extension machines, deep knee squats, lunges etc. Try therapy, ice, advil/alleve. See ortho.