Knee problem...any clues?

[FitMom]

I haven't posted in quite a while, but do lurk quite a bit. I know knee pain is talked about quite a lot and we have some very well educated people on the subject. I am trying to figure out what I have done to my right knee. Maybe someone here might be able to help.

Let me start by saying my knees have always been sensitive. They get sore easily, pop all the time, but I've never really injured them. 2 weeks ago, I noticed when I went down the stairs there was sharp pain directly behind my right knee cap. Through the day it got to the point that I could no longer go up or down the stairs without intense pain. I have 2 sets of steps in my house so it's impossible for me to not use them. I have been trying to come up with clever ways to use the stairs, but all I've done is manage to make my other knee sore and strain my right hip flexor. I am (well I was able to until I strained my hip flexor) able to walk without a problem. It's when I bend my knee, even slightly, and put weight on it that the pain is there. Not to sound whiney or anything, but boy does it hurt!

I have done an internet search to try to find out what's going on, but am unable to come up with anything that fits.

Any clues?


http://home.comcast.net/~fitmom/allisigpostboard.jpg
"Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt and dance like no one's watching.."
~JBJ~

 

[dutchgirl]

From what you've described I think it's time that you get yourself to a doctor to have your knee looked at. Since I'm not a doctor, only a fellow knee problem sufferer, I don't want to speculate about a diagnosis. I do know that you a) should not be in that much pain, and b) when you start trying to compensate for a bad knee and wind up in pain elsewhere in the body as a result, it's time to take the issue seriously.

Make a doctor's appointment and try to get in right away. In the meantime, rest, ice, mild compression dressings, and elevate. And stay off those stairs as much as you can.

Good Luck!

 

[Dutchie42]

I second that. Go see your doctor, don't take it lightly. If you've had it for two weeks and it didn't get better, you need profesional help.

Dutchie
still running despite the bad right knee

 

[hippahips]

I agree with everyone. Do see a doctor or a physical therapist.

Here's a link I found a long time ago when I was nursing my knees back to health. I hope this helps.
http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/knee_injuries.htm

Hope you feel better soon,
Pinky

 

[lesliew]

I used to get knee pain when I climbed stairs. They say climbing stairs can be very stressful on the knees, and after hurting mine several time doing this activity I believe it. The pain went away after a few days but it wasn't until I took advice from Karen Voight that I stopped having this problem. She said when climbing stairs you should land first on your heel. It's a little awkward at first because most people walk up the stairs toe, ball, heel. I guess putting the impact on your calf muscle, which is what happens when you put your heel down first, lessens the impact on your shins and knees. Makes sense to me, and it's prevented further knee problems.

Don't know about descending stairs though. Never had that problem.

 

[FitMom]

Ahhhh! How did I know you all were going to say that?!?!

Ok, next question...who do I go to? Should I see a specialist or go with a general practitioner?

If anyone has any clues as to what this might be, please tell me. I have tried staying off my leg as much as possible. Since my dh travels, I'm the only adult here. My kids are trying to help, but they can't do everything. Right now, I'm not sure which hurts worse, my knee or my hip flexor.

On top of it all, we have a nest of honey bees that have moved in our walls in our den. For the past 2 hours, I've been chasing and swatting bees. I must be a sight...hahaha.

Alli
http://home.comcast.net/~fitmom/allisigpostboard.jpg
"Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt and dance like no one's watching.."
~JBJ~

 

[runninggal]

Alli, I am a runner and unfortunately have had to deal with several knee injuries over the years. Through personal experience, I have found that self-diagnosis can have disasterous results. My advice is to seek a medical opinion. Now, having said that, I will tell you that I have had the best experiences seeking out doctors who specialize in sports medicine. My orthopedic surgeon and my podiatrist are athletes (runners and triathletes). They "get it" when it comes to wanting to get better, so that you can get back to working out. Just a suggestion;-)

 

[Timber99]

Your symptoms sound somewhat like my knee injury. I have Chondromalacia Patella. I first noticed intense symptoms after the Breast Cancer Three Day and it got very bad very quickly. We experienced extremely bad winter weather on our walk and I pushed through it, despite the warnings signs. The next day, it was very bad. Stairs were a problem right away. I distinctly rememebr the doc honing in on me when I mentioned the stair issues and asking all sorts of questions about going up versus down, etc.

This is a link that has some good info on this issue adn some good suggestions for treatment:

http://www.jointhealing.com/pages/knee/chondromalacia.html?source=goto

All that being said, it;s time to go see the doctor. You don't want to self-diagnose adn injury that is this serious and is already preventing you from doing every day things (ie climbing stairs).

Good luck,
Christine

Edited to add: In the interim, ice as often as you can throughout the day & start taking an anti-inflammatory and Glucosamine daily. Stretching will help you feel relief, as well as staying off that knee. All of that should help without interfering with healing until you get to the doc.