knee pain

[vernacular_life]

my knees are KILLING me lately.  The simple act of doing a dip/lunge (where you put one leg back, go up on the toe and dip down) is equivalent to stabbing me in the bottomof my kneecap with a knife. 

I went to the DR a few years back on it and got a knee brace (didn't work) and a refereal to PT (exercises were the same that I did in the gym), but am going to go back again for an MRI and, hopefully, a non-surgical solution like Prolotherapy

The last time they really felt good was when I was pregnant, but then the sciatica and leg swelling was a bigger complaint. 

eta: Dr Gheen is covered by my insurance! now, for a referral...
http://www.getprolo.com/prolotherapy_maryland_gheen.htm

Comments

[steen70.livejournal.com]

I have bad knees, too, which have gotten worse lately. I'm chalking it up to my weight gain, but I think it's probably more than that. Ugh.

[vernacular-life.livejournal.com]

I've found that those thermacare wraps for the knees help immensly, so need to pick up a few tonight.

Interstingl, a friend who's a radiologist says that women have a lot of knee probs, as we have wider hips than men, and (esp western women) stand with their feet too closely together, putting excess strain on the exterior of the knee. Add heels, and walking in a heel to toe manner (aka your runway walk, not clumping down the hall like a guy) and *boom* potential for fraked up knees.

msg from friend (and Sports Med guy) Randy..

[vernacular-life.livejournal.com]

Just to keep everything in one place...

I have heard of prolotherapy. Relatively new type of injection to the sports medicine scene. Most common method is to inject a sugary solution (usually dextrose) into inflamed tissues. The last report I read was a case study from Boston University. They used it on a BU men's hockey player who was failing conservative management of a groin problem called osteitis pubis. It required multiple injections. In this case it was really painful (i.e. injected into groin area). The proposed reason why it works on chronic pain is it kickstarts the 'pain-spasm cycle' & actually creates an inflammatory response.

In this day and age, medicine continues to evolve. They're doing all kinds of crazy stuff. I do not know anyone who does this in the B-more area. Dr. Levine (team orthopedist for the Blast & associate orthopedist for the Ravens, Cornell grad,etc.) does not appear to think highly of prolotherapy. I've asked him about it...& he kinda just blew it off.

I forget what your diagnosis was (chondromalacia, patello-femoral pain syndrome????). For some reason, I'm leaning to chondromalacia??? Chondromalacia is a degenerative condition under the kneecap (i.e. patella). Like arthritis, there is no way to stop the condition. Only to minimize discomfort and further aggravation. Pain usually increases w/ deep knee flexion, stair-climbing, and kneeling on the affected side. Usually there is a grinding sensation called crepitus. There is an abundance of treatment options and vary with each patient. Physical therapy would include: joint mobs, flexibility work, strengthening the VMO, pain modulation, McConnell taping and/or bracing, hip strengthening, discontinue painful activity, etc. If the degeneration is severe, arthroscopic surgery works well. Very quick recovery & excellant prognosis.

Since you already made plans for an MRI, why don't you re-connect w/ me when you get the results. If you can, email me the radiologists or MD's notes as to the findings of the MRI. Then I can give you some additional suggests and/or answer your questions... Who are you seeing for this condition? Specialist?? Where?

[tray85.livejournal.com]

Ugh - that sucks. My MIL actually went ahead with a knee replacement after her usual treatments stopped working (injections of...steroids, I think). But she's 65. Hopefully you can find something that helps.