Knee-please help

NewMomma09 · 03-17-2009, 07:55 AM

Sorry! I know that this has probably been asked a ton of times before, and I first tried the search feature, but it came up with SO many results, and right now I have my 3 year old running around, so I don't have a lot of time to sit and look. I really want to work out today, so I thought I'd save time and ask someone. I used to have pretty bad knee pain, and figured that I needed to strengthen the muscles around the knee....after "working through the pain" I could tell that as my legs got stronger, the pain went away. I wasn't feeling good last week and took a few days off. After I worked out yesterday morning (step aerobics that included weighted lunges and squats, and upper body work), my knee was hurting all day and when I tried to w/out this morning, it started hurting all over again so I stopped. Here's what it feels like...the pain is on the outside on the left of the kneecap (left knee), and directly behind it and in front (top I guess). It feels kind of unstable and wobbly and if I continue the w/out it spreads from just behind my knee down the back of my calf. I stopped about 5 minutes in because I wasn't sure if this type of pain was the type I should try to work through. How can I tell if my knee is really unstable and I should stop (for danger of dislocating), or if it's just the type of pain that I can push through? Sorry this is long....I guess I might have been able to search a little more! Thanks for any help!

|}373r/\/\1n3|) · 03-17-2009, 09:39 AM

Kind of hard to tell you specifically what is going on without a proper diagnostic testing but it could be a laundry list of things. You describe a difuse area of pain which eliminates the meniscus from being involved probably. You describe an overall unstable feeling which sounds like ligament involvement. The area of pain is consistent with ACL/PCL involvement but kind of throws me off when you say the pain travels to the back of the knee and down the calf. This may be due to the fact that these muscles are having to compensate for the unstable ACL and therefore tend to cramp up because they are being overworked. It may also be that your knee cap is not tracking correctly (this can be an easy fit if you see a physical therapist because they can do some O'Connell taping to help it move correctly). Hate to say it but if the pain persists then definitely go see your doctor. Pretty pointless to work through the pain if your knee feels unstable because things will only get worse.

NewMomma09 · 03-17-2009, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by |}373r/\/\1n3|)

The area of pain is consistent with ACL/PCL involvement but kind of throws me off when you say the pain travels to the back of the knee and down the calf. This may be due to the fact that these muscles are having to compensate for the unstable ACL and therefore tend to cramp up because they are being overworked. It may also be that your knee cap is not tracking correctly (this can be an easy fit if you see a physical therapist because they can do some O'Connell taping to help it move correctly). Hate to say it but if the pain persists then definitely go see your doctor. Pretty pointless to work through the pain if your knee feels unstable because things will only get worse.

Thank you so much....very good answer....I think you're right about the muscle cramping due to overcompensation. I'm not new to knee pain, I played soccer for 8 years and had my fair share of injuries, it's just that this pain is different because of it involving the area behind my knee and calf, so overcompensation makes sense. I wondered too after I posted, if it's possible that I possibly didn't stretch good enough and the muscles are tight and pulling my knee off track. I'm wondering if a good rubdown and stretch would work. Thank you again! I'll Rep you in a sec....(I just figured out what that was....haha!

).

Dr Clay · 03-17-2009, 01:33 PM

My guess would be a patellar tracking problem - very common, especially in females.

Foam rolling the thigh and hip regions usually does wonders for this. Likewise, good ol' stretching and strengthening will help as well.

Best,

NewMomma09 · 03-17-2009, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Clay

My guess would be a patellar tracking problem - very common, especially in females.

Foam rolling the thigh and hip regions usually does wonders for this. Likewise, good ol' stretching and strengthening will help as well.

Best,

Thank you! I'll try that and see if it helps! Rep to you too! Thank you!