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Here's to Your Health:  Knee pain  |
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prariehawk
True Blue Farmgirl
2914 Posts
Cindy
2914 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 18 2010 : 11:55:28 PM
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Has anyone ever experienced pain in the bend of their knee--not the joint, but I guess the tendons or ligaments? I'm not sure what's up with my knee, just that it hurts when I bend or stretch a certain way. I went to the dr. today and she prescribed some meds. and she wants me to get an x-ray. I'm supposed to go back in two weeks and if it still hurts, she said something about an injection. That sounds painful! I've been doing some exercises with a yoga strap to stretch it, and that seems to help temporarily, then the pain returns. I do a lot of bending at work, so I need to get better fast. And I really don't want to get an injection. I've tried putting both heat and ice on it with no results. I guess time will have to heal it?
cindy |
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LakeOntarioFarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
933 Posts
Brenda
North Rose
NY
USA
933 Posts |
Posted - Jan 19 2010 : 05:59:21 AM
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Hi Cindy,
5 years ago I had arthroscopic knee surgery. I had had pain for at least a year. Mine was felt mostly on the sides of the knee cap, and one of the deciding factors to surgery was the pain that I had when my knee had no support. In other words, if I put weight on my right leg and just let me left leg dangle, the left knee was extremely painful. I had a short muscle in that knee, so it was fixed. Chondromalacia(sp) I think it's called.
The cortisone shot does not hurt when you get it, I really didn't mind it, but it didn't work. While doing surgery, the doc discovered quite a bit of arthritis, due to injuries in my youth. So, that was probably adding to the pain. I have had problems off and on in the last few years with both knees. I have noticed that since I started taking Vitamin D last summer to build up my immune system, that my knees feel much better! Not perfect, but not as bad as they were. There are some studies that show that increasing vitamin D can help with arthritis symptoms. (of course I don't even know if you are old enough to have arthritis yet!)
Go get the x-ray, and then a ct scan if they want to do it, the ct scan will show more. I hate doing that, but it can really show a lot that's going on. See if she would send you for physical therapy too. Sometimes just building up certain muscles helps.
Let us know what's going on with it!
Brenda
FarmGirl # 711
Nothing we achieve in this world is achieved alone. It is always achieved with others teaching us along the way. Lee J. Colan
http://theviewfromhere-brenda.blogspot.com/ |
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prariehawk
True Blue Farmgirl
2914 Posts
Cindy
2914 Posts |
Posted - Jan 20 2010 : 3:25:46 PM
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Thanks, Brenda--I got the x-ray done today and should know the results in a day or two. It's weird--I can walk on it OK, just that when I bend a certain way (even when I'm driving my car), it hurts. During the x-ray session, it almost felt like something was out of joint, and that's what was causing the pain. Come to think of it, I was half awake one night about three weeks ago, and I banged my knee against a door. didn't think about it much at the time, but it was afterwards when the pain started. I sure hope I don't have to have surgery (though I doubt it). I don't think I have arthritis. I hope it's something minor. I can't afford to take time off from work. The only vitamin supplement I'm currently taking is a B-complex supplement. I should probably add some others, huh? I have recently discovered the new V-8 fruit/vegetable juices that have NO SUGAR and are 100% real juice. Now I'm drinking them instead of soda. And yes, they are chock full of vitamins and taste good. But I've digressed. I'll keep you posted on my knee.
Cindy |
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StarMeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
940 Posts
T
MI
940 Posts |
Posted - Jan 23 2010 : 06:35:17 AM
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Same symptoms for me too. Mine was a torn miniscus. The xray won't show that but it will show if there are bone issues/arthritis. You will need an MRI or CT scan to show soft tissue damage. I thought I just had arthritis and kept working through the pain (for months). The tear wasn't so bad but the doc (and some investigation) indicated that they needed to fix it because it will just deteriorate further and the could cause other issues.
It was a Friday out of work, then a weekend of rest, then back to work on Monday. (Wish I'd taken off Monday too though.) It was out patient too. Surgery was first week of Dec. Just recently it started hurting again just beneath my knee cap.... :-( I might have to do PT or something I guess. Was hoping to avoid that. Two small holes on either side of the top of the knee and two stitches, one for each.
Try ibuprofin to reduce the swelling. Mine was fickle though...sometimes an icepack was the key to relief...other times I needed the warmth of a heated rice bag/heating pad. It's all that swelling in there that is contributing to the pain. Good luck and keep us posted! |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Jan 23 2010 : 1:41:04 PM
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My husband tore the meniscus in his knee a couple weeks ago (at work doing snow removal he slipped badly on ice) and will be having surgery on Friday. It was the second time it happened. Sounds like his symptoms too. He had to have an MRI to get it diagnosed for sure.
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
Edited by - Aunt Jenny on Jan 23 2010 1:41:29 PM |
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prariehawk
True Blue Farmgirl
2914 Posts
Cindy
2914 Posts |
Posted - Jan 23 2010 : 5:26:52 PM
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Well, I got the results of the x-ray and it showed nothing was wrong. So I guess I'll talk to my dr. and see about an MRI or CT. My dr. had said something about a shot, but I don't want that. I've talked to a few other people who said it didn't help them at all. I can't take the pain med. she prescribed (Vicadin) because it kept me awake all night long. Also made me feel slightly high. I'm trying to just give it some rest this weekend, but I know it'll hurt when I go back to work Monday. I'll mention the miniscus issue to my dr. when I go back. I know drs. don't like it when you give them suggestions, but I want to get this resolved as soon as possible. Thanks for all the advice and hopefully, I'll have a diagnosis soon.
cindy |
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StarMeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
940 Posts
T
MI
940 Posts |
Posted - Jan 24 2010 : 06:54:36 AM
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The vicodin is a narcotic. It keeps you awake because it disrupts your natural sleep to kill the pain. Mine says take every 4-6 hours but after 4 I'm wide awake and needing another. I'm surprised your doc gave you that right out of the gate.
The cortizone shots are painful but do take care of the pain (for a while) if its like a carpal tunnel or golfer's elbow...an irritation, if you will, from the swollen ligaments/tendons. I'm not sure it will help if you have an actual injury like a torn miniscus.
A colleague at work has lived with hers for years, choosing to NOT have the surgery...but she's also just learned to live with the pain of it for years. And now the arthritis is setting in. Have your doc send you to a specialist. They see these types of injury every day and know just what to do.
It's like going to a new restaurant...can't go wrong by choosing what's on special...it's what the chef choose. |
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Here's to Your Health: Knee pain |
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Knee pain
