Knee question

[WickerBill]

Any doctors in the house?

I've had some knee problems before, but I have something now that feels strange/unstable and I'd like to self-diagnose a little bit before going to see someone.

Walking down the stairs two weeks ago, left knee felt like it kinda gave out and bent outwards -- not far, but it hurt pretty bad. Since then, it has definitely gotten better from a pain perspective, and doesn't really hurt too badly, but the knee feels unstable and I cannot bend it all the way. When I try, it hurts on the outside of the knee and the entire knee feels .... I don't know how to describe it ... thick? Swollen? However:

- If it is swollen, it is barely swollen.
- Nothing bruised up externally
- Scared to lock it, so I've been keeping it bent a little as I walk
- Hurts most after being stationary for a long time


Nothing I've read seems to point to these symptoms directly. Should I wait and see? I can walk fine, but it's been two weeks. I really, really, really don't want to go see more doctors if I can avoid it.

[Methanolandbrats]

Any doctors in the house?

I've had some knee problems before, but I have something now that feels strange/unstable and I'd like to self-diagnose a little bit before going to see someone.

Walking down the stairs two weeks ago, left knee felt like it kinda gave out and bent outwards -- not far, but it hurt pretty bad. Since then, it has definitely gotten better from a pain perspective, and doesn't really hurt too badly, but the knee feels unstable and I cannot bend it all the way. When I try, it hurts on the outside of the knee and the entire knee feels .... I don't know how to describe it ... thick? Swollen? However:

- If it is swollen, it is barely swollen.
- Nothing bruised up externally
- Scared to lock it, so I've been keeping it bent a little as I walk
- Hurts most after being stationary for a long time


Nothing I've read seems to point to these symptoms directly. Should I wait and see? I can walk fine, but it's been two weeks. I really, really, really don't want to go see more doctors if I can avoid it.

GP is useless. Go to a sportsmedicine clinic. Chances are you have a torn meniscus.

[Elmo T]

I think the sports medicine dudes are the way to go. Helped me with a back problem years ago.

Trammell?

I say that only half jokingly. My bro-in-law is a police officer who was struck by a car while on duty. Seriously damaged both legs - spent 38 days in hospital and had 20+ surgeries in Philly.

I tried to push him to contact Trammell and his group.

[Andrew Longman]

IME neither ligament or cartilage damage produces much swelling or bruising.

Cartilage tears will cause stiffness and/or feeling of "locking". Ligaments damage, even badly torn, can actually be pretty pain free after the initial trauma and some healing but create feelings of instability.

Before the days of arthroscopic surgery, unless you were an athlete, you might consider just putting up with either injuries, especially ligaments.

Given your (presumed) age, arthritis is likely something you might want to consider as a possibility, even though this seems to have a clear trauma as a starting point. Until/Unless knee replacement is forced on you, condroiten (sp)

GPs are IMO going to tell you about as much as I just did and send you to a specialist.

That's my 2c. Spend it wisely.

[cameraman]

If your insurance allows you to go straight to the orthopedic guys just do it. There is no real point in waiting for things to get worse as structural problems in knees don't heal on their own.

[Methanolandbrats]

I crushed a corner of meniscus in my left knee tripping on a curb. Sharp pain that went away, then the next morning swollen like a balloon, so cartilage damage can cause swelling. Go to sports med now and get an MRI. That will tell you a lot. Hopefully there is just something floating around in there and they can clean it out. Also, if they say you need some surgery, explore other options. My meniscus was crushed in one corner and they wanted to do a meniscusectomy. I did some research and that would have left me with bone on bone and a lifetime of ibuprofin. I knew my serious running career was over and I just wanted to be able to go jogging. Talking to other people who had the surgery, some trainers at the UW-Madison and others, I decided to skip the surgery and do light weights, biking and flexibility to rehab the knee. That was 10 years ago and now I can slowly run 30 miles a week with no pain and only a slight loss or range of motion. Good luck.

[Indy]

I know someone who saw Trammell recently for a back problem. Got excellent care.

Life is too short to waste time on bad docs. Find out who is the best, and go straight to them.

[WickerBill]

Well, I guess it's Jack Farr in Indianapolis, then. I do NOT want to do this!!

[cameraman]

Or you could try the sports medicine folks at the IU School of Medicine.

http://www.sportsmed.iu.edu/

You might want to start with this attitude...


More than 90% of exercise and sports-related injuries require non-surgical intervention, and new developments in sports medicine continue to support conservative treatment options. Whether someone is a professional athlete, competitive amateur, or simply enjoys recreational activity, a multi-disciplinary team of physicians is ready to treat injury or illness by focusing, when possible, on non-surgical techniques.

[oddlycalm]

Life is too short to waste time on bad docs.
Yup, that's the beginning, middle and end of that subject. :thumbup:

oc

[Andrew Longman]

QUOTE=Methanolandbrats;273576]I decided to skip the surgery and do light weights, biking and flexibility to rehab the knee. [/QUOTE]

Good advice.

I tore meniscus about 15 years ago. Orthopedic said to try 6+ weeks of weights and flexibility before surgery. If it worked it worked. If it didn't (it didn't) it would greatly reduce rehab time/issues. It did.

Sorry too I wasn't clear on another issue. Tearing a ligament or meniscus by itself sometimes creates no swelling or bruising at all. Other trauma to the knee that happens at the same time surely can.

[TKGAngel]

Life is too short to waste time on bad docs.

Exhibit A: the doc who diagnosed me with a "sinus infection" that wasn't a sinus infection at all but really shingles.

Not that I'm bitter/po'd/frustrated or anything.

And WB, I hope you get your knee sorted out soon.

[Methanolandbrats]

I tore meniscus about 15 years ago. Orthopedic said to try 6+ weeks of weights and flexibility before surgery. If it worked it worked. If it didn't (it didn't) it would greatly reduce rehab time/issues. It did.

Sorry too I wasn't clear on another issue. Tearing a ligament or meniscus by itself sometimes creates no swelling or bruising at all. Other trauma to the knee that happens at the same time surely can.

I squashed my meniscus, so there were probably bits floating around in there which caused the swelling. Much worse than a tear.

[WickerBill]

TKGA -

A couple of years ago, I was flying all around the world for work. Flew to Mexico City, came home, totaled my car, then flew to Disney with the family for a vacation. First full day, I got sick, ended up with double pneumonia, sinusitis, bronchitis, and (of all things) shingles. Docs couldn't tell me if the shingles outbreak was related to the lowered defenses and heightened stress from the traveling and car wreck, but I recovered more quickly from the pneumonia, sinusitis, and bronchitis than I did from that case of the shingles. I wouldn't wish that on anybody. Even dando.

[RaceGrrl]

Shingles are indeed teh suck. :thumdown:

Agree with the others- if you can go straight to a specialist, do so. Don't bother with the primary care doc.