Diagnose my knee?
Discussion
About a month ago we got a contract to replace a load of guttering / downpipes. Due to access restrictions we had to use an 8m tower scaff, rather than a cherry picker. This meant that for about a week I was up and down the tower 20 times a day. By the end of the week my right knee was killing me.
Had a weekend off, sat on the sofa, taking some pretty strong pain killers, and it was bearable to walk on by Monday. Over the following weeks it eased off to a dull ache.
Then last week we got another job, similar spec, ended up going up and down the tower another 30 - 50 times. Again knee is in bloody agony and this time it won't settle down.
Went to the docs on Monday who said "you've not done anything serious, go see the physio". Phoned the physio, the first appointment they have is in a month.....
So, I have a very painful, slightly swollen right knee, that has a full range of movement. However I can't extend it straight using my quads, I have to sort of kick it out straight when I walk. If I sit in a chair, I can't get my shin more than 45 degrees from vertical without serious pain in the top of my knee. When I'm walking around site I'm OK, if a bit sore. But if I've been in the car / sat at my desk for any length of time, the first movement of the knee is very stiff / sore.
Anything I can do in the interim between now and the physio appointment??
Had a weekend off, sat on the sofa, taking some pretty strong pain killers, and it was bearable to walk on by Monday. Over the following weeks it eased off to a dull ache.
Then last week we got another job, similar spec, ended up going up and down the tower another 30 - 50 times. Again knee is in bloody agony and this time it won't settle down.
Went to the docs on Monday who said "you've not done anything serious, go see the physio". Phoned the physio, the first appointment they have is in a month.....
So, I have a very painful, slightly swollen right knee, that has a full range of movement. However I can't extend it straight using my quads, I have to sort of kick it out straight when I walk. If I sit in a chair, I can't get my shin more than 45 degrees from vertical without serious pain in the top of my knee. When I'm walking around site I'm OK, if a bit sore. But if I've been in the car / sat at my desk for any length of time, the first movement of the knee is very stiff / sore.
Anything I can do in the interim between now and the physio appointment??
GuinnessMK said:
About a month ago we got a contract to replace a load of guttering / downpipes. Due to access restrictions we had to use an 8m tower scaff, rather than a cherry picker. This meant that for about a week I was up and down the tower 20 times a day. By the end of the week my right knee was killing me.
Had a weekend off, sat on the sofa, taking some pretty strong pain killers, and it was bearable to walk on by Monday. Over the following weeks it eased off to a dull ache.
Then last week we got another job, similar spec, ended up going up and down the tower another 30 - 50 times. Again knee is in bloody agony and this time it won't settle down.
Went to the docs on Monday who said "you've not done anything serious, go see the physio". Phoned the physio, the first appointment they have is in a month.....
So, I have a very painful, slightly swollen right knee, that has a full range of movement. However I can't extend it straight using my quads, I have to sort of kick it out straight when I walk. If I sit in a chair, I can't get my shin more than 45 degrees from vertical without serious pain in the top of my knee. When I'm walking around site I'm OK, if a bit sore. But if I've been in the car / sat at my desk for any length of time, the first movement of the knee is very stiff / sore.
Anything I can do in the interim between now and the physio appointment??
Yes! Make sure you can describe and pinpoint to the physio exactly where in the knee the pain is. Where is the swelling? Same place? Had a weekend off, sat on the sofa, taking some pretty strong pain killers, and it was bearable to walk on by Monday. Over the following weeks it eased off to a dull ache.
Then last week we got another job, similar spec, ended up going up and down the tower another 30 - 50 times. Again knee is in bloody agony and this time it won't settle down.
Went to the docs on Monday who said "you've not done anything serious, go see the physio". Phoned the physio, the first appointment they have is in a month.....
So, I have a very painful, slightly swollen right knee, that has a full range of movement. However I can't extend it straight using my quads, I have to sort of kick it out straight when I walk. If I sit in a chair, I can't get my shin more than 45 degrees from vertical without serious pain in the top of my knee. When I'm walking around site I'm OK, if a bit sore. But if I've been in the car / sat at my desk for any length of time, the first movement of the knee is very stiff / sore.
Anything I can do in the interim between now and the physio appointment??
. . .EDIT Could be fat pad impingement but need more info!
Edited by Digger on Friday 23 April 00:35
I bet you have a bit of meniscus or a small chip of bone floating around your knee. It may well be stopping you extend you leg fully.
I would where possible follow RICE for treatment even if it isn't swollen. You have twice done activity on the knee agrivating it so you should stop until this is sorted as you may well make the cause worse.
Best case is a muscle imbalance, worse case you will probably need a MRI scan and op.
Not a quack just someone with 1 repaired knee and the other giving me some jip.
I would where possible follow RICE for treatment even if it isn't swollen. You have twice done activity on the knee agrivating it so you should stop until this is sorted as you may well make the cause worse.
Best case is a muscle imbalance, worse case you will probably need a MRI scan and op.
Not a quack just someone with 1 repaired knee and the other giving me some jip.
ADLATR said:
I bet you have a bit of meniscus or a small chip of bone floating around your knee. It may well be stopping you extend you leg fully.
I would where possible follow RICE for treatment even if it isn't swollen. You have twice done activity on the knee agrivating it so you should stop until this is sorted as you may well make the cause worse.
Best case is a muscle imbalance, worse case you will probably need a MRI scan and op.
Not a quack just someone with 1 repaired knee and the other giving me some jip.
could be this. if the pain and swelling is at the top of the knee (OP didn't say if it was whole knee) it could well be tendonitis of the quads. it could be god knows how many things.I would where possible follow RICE for treatment even if it isn't swollen. You have twice done activity on the knee agrivating it so you should stop until this is sorted as you may well make the cause worse.
Best case is a muscle imbalance, worse case you will probably need a MRI scan and op.
Not a quack just someone with 1 repaired knee and the other giving me some jip.
OP does it hurt when you fully flex the knee?
ADLATR said:
I bet you have a bit of meniscus or a small chip of bone floating around your knee. It may well be stopping you extend you leg fully.
I've got a tenner here that says he doesn't It sounds more like pain inhibition than true locking.Best thing in the interim is RICE (As in active rest, ice, compression and elevation.) Keep it mobile and try to avoid aggravating it until you see someone - if you do need to use a ladder try to minimise the amount the bad leg does.
Bill said:
ADLATR said:
I bet you have a bit of meniscus or a small chip of bone floating around your knee. It may well be stopping you extend you leg fully.
I've got a tenner here that says he doesn't It sounds more like pain inhibition than true locking.
Bill
Nice website, we spent two weeks in Africa for the Honeymoon would love to do some touring like yourself.
Back on knees when I finally had an arthoscopy on my knee the amount of damage to the bottom of my patella was emmense, 2/3 of the suface of the patella was worn away and floating about.
I wonder what the OP's sporting back ground is?
Nice website, we spent two weeks in Africa for the Honeymoon would love to do some touring like yourself.
Back on knees when I finally had an arthoscopy on my knee the amount of damage to the bottom of my patella was emmense, 2/3 of the suface of the patella was worn away and floating about.
I wonder what the OP's sporting back ground is?
Quick update.
Been to see the physio, got a cancellation appointment.
Turns out there is a muscle just above and to the side of the knee cap that locates it. Mine is torn, allowing my knee cap to move side to side. Hence the pain / swelling and loss of strength in the knee.
Have a set of exercises to do 3 times a day and another appointment in a week.
Been to see the physio, got a cancellation appointment.
Turns out there is a muscle just above and to the side of the knee cap that locates it. Mine is torn, allowing my knee cap to move side to side. Hence the pain / swelling and loss of strength in the knee.
Have a set of exercises to do 3 times a day and another appointment in a week.
GuinnessMK said:
Quick update.
Been to see the physio, got a cancellation appointment.
Turns out there is a muscle just above and to the side of the knee cap that locates it. Mine is torn, allowing my knee cap to move side to side. Hence the pain / swelling and loss of strength in the knee.
Have a set of exercises to do 3 times a day and another appointment in a week.
I had something similar a few years ago, being a strong cyclist me upper leg muscles were very strong, after I completed a 25 mile charity walk the mucles decided to 'shift' slightly causing a lot of dis-comfort in my knee. I had about 2 months of treatment by the physio, none of which felt like it was helping but the pain did eventually go away so I guess that it did.Been to see the physio, got a cancellation appointment.
Turns out there is a muscle just above and to the side of the knee cap that locates it. Mine is torn, allowing my knee cap to move side to side. Hence the pain / swelling and loss of strength in the knee.
Have a set of exercises to do 3 times a day and another appointment in a week.
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