What Causes Swollen Nodes Behind The Knee?

Oh my God I can't believe I found this so quickly on the internet!!! I have bone on bone knees but they do not bother me very much, However, when I push on my thighs they burn. I can hardly bend my right leg because the pain in the poplitel cavity is so intense when I try I can not do it. I can feel little noduals that burn and some when pushed on burn intensly ! Lately I have begun to feel larger nodes in back of knee on lateral side of popliteal cavity moving up my leg. Tthey are in a cluster and some are just random somwhere else in my thigh!

My leg achs and aches all the time and sometimes it aches so bad that I can not stand any longer and have to sit down. Then if I sit putting pressure in the path of whatever this is it just makes it worse. I know that this is alot all at once. I am going to a vascular surgeon on Monday, and an orthopedic doc on thursday.. Can you specifially talk about the swollen nodes behind my knee. I am scared that they my be something serious as not each and every one of them hirt when pushed on! Take your time I know that I thru alot at you all at once!!

Joyce