Chronic Knee Problem: Advice needed

T

t_jania

Cathlete
Hey everyone!

December 2005, I injured my knees. I got crazy and decided to try leg press with 50 pounds. I'd been doing 40 pounds, so I didn't think too much of it... Duh.

Over the last year, my knee gets better but never IS better. Especially the right knee. It shoots a sharp pain at the kneecap on occasion. Also, sometimes it feels like the back of the knee swells up (sometimes if I've done cardio or sometimes from something like shaving my legs). Sometimes the kneecap area feels a bit swollen but I won't even have done anything.

Over the past year, I've been doing some yoga, doing light lower body work, and light cardio (walking the dog). I do NOT do knee lifts, touch my insoles or do hamstring curls as those things tend to inflame the knee.

Now, I'm not in pain all the time. Usually, if I have pain, it's a sharp and immediate "bark" and it's gone but then it could be sore and/or swollen for a day.

I do realize I'm going to have to eventually see a doctor about this. My main question is what in tarnation is wrong? Yeah, a doctor could tell me, right? But I would like to hear from anyone who's had a similar experience and what happened with your knees (surgeries, recovery, physical ability afterwards).

Thanks!!
 
Probably only a doctor can tell you for sure what is wrong. I would also go see one ASAP. Knees are not something to play around with (take it from someone who has experience with this).

Okay, I am off of my high horse now :) . I dislocated my knee cap 10 years ago and in August had this horrible pain in the back of my knee. The diagnosis before MRI was meniscus tear. After the MRI, it turned out I did have a meniscus tear and also had cartilage floaters that were being lodged and dislodged from between my thigh and shin bone. That is what was causing the pain. I am having knee surgery in March to repair the meniscus and to remove those floaters. I also neeed to have a lateral release to move my knee cap back to where it is supposed to be so that no more cartilage floaters are produced.

Maybe you have some cartilage floaters and they are getting lodged (when there's pain) and dislodged (when there isn't pain). Please see a doctor though. You need these knees for the rest of your life and it could get worse :( .

Karin
 
Karin,

How did you go about choosing a knee doctor? I think the thing I'm scared of most is going in and having some surgery done and never being able to do anything ever again. It's an irrational fear, for sure, but advice on choosing a doctor would sure help at this point.
 
Hi Tammy! I am really very sorry that you are dealing with knee issues. As far as choosing a doctor, the first knee surgery I went based on recommmendations. That one was a pretty clear cut case and I was in so much pain that it needed to be done quickly. I went to an appointment and liked the guy so I scheduled the surgery with him. My current doctor is awesome and I went on a recommendation from my GP. I had my first appointment with him and really liked and trusted him. He wasn't eager to do surgery and let me do PT for awhile before we decided to do the surgery. He didn't pressure me into anything and always answers my questions.

So, if you know some people with knee issues, you can ask them. You could also maybe call a PT place and get some recommendations from them. Also, your GP might know of good knee doctors. Also, if you schedule an appointment and don't feel comfortable you can go see someone else. You will find someone that you like and trust! It just might take time.

As far as limited activities, I am dealing with that right now. My doctor is thinking that I probabaly should steer clear of step workouts and anything where I pivot a lot. However, I can do elliptical, treadmill, and biking. It is up in the air about running. I understand about you being scared about not being able to do things. That is my biggest fear about post surgery. What if I have to get rid of all my Cathe's :( ? Please keep us posted on what is going on with you.

Karin
 
How timely is this post? My knees have been "annoying" for the past few months or so, then yesterday, during Kickmax, I really felt a lot of pain, and today I can barely walk down the stairs or kneel down with sharp pain. I made an appointment to see our "family" orthopedic surgeon... my DH has had a knee and shoulder operation, I had an ankle one, and my DD saw him when she dislocated/fractured her elbow. Are we an accident-prone bunch or what? Anyway, I second what Karin says about not fooling around with your knees... you need them for life!!
 
Thanks so much. I think I just needed some support in doing the right thing. I've made an appointment for March 13th and we'll at the very least get to the bottom of this.

My motivation, really, is that I want to do Imax2! I haven't done it in over a year and I miss it so much. Delfin is right, knees are for life. Hence the fear of not being able to do Cathe workouts (or any workouts!! *gasp* anymore!)

When I called, I explained and the guy I'm going to see is an orthopedic surgeon and a sports medicine doctor. I explained my problem and they put me in to see the guy who will be most compatible with my injury. The group of doctors has 4 surgeons within the practice so they matched me with Dr. Nikkel which is kind of cool because I see him on the surgery list all the time at my hospital. I work in the blood bank and often we stand ready for the knee replacements. *shudders* I do not want to have to do that. Hopefully it will be a quicky no problem thing like floaties or PT or whatever. Even if I have to have surgery, it's got to be better than hanging around the house moping because all of my beautiful workout DVD's are gathering dust. I'm such a dork. :9
 
Tammy you will do great! I sustained a meniscus tear which I incurred at a kickbox certification last August. After suffering for months I finally got an MRI in December that showed a substantial tear that only surgery would fix. I was pretty nervous about knee surgery but received a couple recommendations from my internist. He didn't recommend an orthopedic surgeon in particular but practices in general. I went to their sites and researched the doctors that they had.

I ended up with an orthopedic surgeon who specialized in knees, the the physician for a couple of the national sports teams here. As well, he is the head of the Sports Medicine Department at the hospital he is affiliated.

He turned out to be amazing and I am so lucky. I am almost three weeks post-op and I am kicking myself for allowing myself to suffer to so long, needlessley.

Good luck with your decision and best wishes for a speedy recovery.:)
 
Definitely see a doctor ASAP. Preferably a sports medicine doctor. And get PT ASAP as well. That may take care of whatever it is, but if you wait to have it checked out and go through rehabilitation, you might end up having a chronic problem, or something that can oly be help with surgery.
 
If your state has direct access for PT's you can skip the doctor and go and see them. They are usually specialist in muscular and skeletal problems. In nationwide tests, they scored higher in M&S diagnosis and anatomy than all doctors except orthopedic surgeons (and they only scored minimally higher). My DH (a pt), diagnosis and treats knee issues all the time. Of course he doesn't do surgery, but many times the patient doesn't need surgery anyway. I believe you can go to the APTA website and look for 'find a pt in my area' or something like that. Just a suggestion.

Carolyn
 
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