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Post by Auf Kiltre on Jan 13, 2021 11:39:30 GMT -5
Ok all ye geezers, gimme some perspective on knee problems. My left knee has progressively been becoming a problem. Its always been a-poppin' like most of my joints, but in the past year a disconcerting crackling noise is guaranteed when raising from a crouch. I've also had the sensation that my left foot is wet, which sounds like some descriptions for neuropathy. In the past week my knee pops with virtually every step and has started to swell, from above the knee, the back of the knee and down to the calf. It not excruciating, but tender and always feel like its going to give out.
I couldn't make an appt with my doc until later this month, so made an appt with his PA tomorrow.
Shared experiences?
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Post by Larry Madsen on Jan 13, 2021 11:45:13 GMT -5
I had my left knee torn up about a year and a half ago (Work related).
I had an incident with it this past Christmas day at work.
As you note I have ongoing minor this and that with it, but on X-mas day I took a step while opening a door and felt a sharp pain in the rear of the knee and down into the calf area.
We know the knee has a torn MCL and meniscus. The MCL (really the entire injury) was treated only with PT, no surgery. I know the knee is not as stable as it once was and I attribute all of the "this and that" stuff to the instability. I was told most knee issues are a result of mis-alignment, my knee instability has to contribute to bouts with alignment issues coming and going.
The meniscus had not been any problem ... However, at the time of the original injury I was told, if the meniscus were to act up, it would be felt in the rear side of the knee. Hence, that sharp pain to the rear caught my attention.
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Jake
Wholenote
Posts: 568
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Post by Jake on Jan 13, 2021 12:22:07 GMT -5
I may need both replaced.
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Post by HenryJ on Jan 13, 2021 12:28:38 GMT -5
Is anybody else seeing a banner ad below relating to sore knees?
My knees are okay, but years of taking Rosuvastatin have made it harder for me to go from a sitting to a standing position. No pain, just weakness from the statin drug.
At least, I'm still alive.
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Post by Ragtop on Jan 13, 2021 12:35:11 GMT -5
That left foot sensation might be unrelated to the knee problem. Could be a sign of high A1C. Had a blood test lately?
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Jan 13, 2021 13:03:58 GMT -5
No issues with A1C/diabetes, but that sensation seemed to have started shortly after starting a new bp med (amlodipine).
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Post by Mfitz804 on Jan 13, 2021 13:18:50 GMT -5
Left worse than right. A lot worse. Crackling and popping are the least of my issues. If I step wrong, I get a stabbing, excruciating pain and my knee completely gives out. To the point where I have almost fallen from it.
That really started around April, and I haven't addressed it as of yet. I am 100% sure it needs surgery of some sort, but it does get better (and worse) at times. Right now it feels ok.
Its more of a problem when flexing my knee rather than extending it, which I find problematic.
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Jan 13, 2021 14:51:20 GMT -5
Yeah, mine sorta comes and goes as well, but with the swelling and more wide spread affliction is definitely kicking up a notch.
An old neighbor in Florida told me her knees became a problem with they got rid of carpeting and put in hardwood floors. I thought it was unlikely but all this does coincide with the installation of tile floors throughout our house. Hmmm..
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Post by jhawkr on Jan 13, 2021 15:42:53 GMT -5
Torn meniscus in my right knee. Had surgery to trim the meniscus about 20 years ago. About 5 years ago started having occasional sharp pains. My old doctor gave me shots in the knee that would fix things for awhile. I haven’t mentioned the issue to current doctor as I feel like I have bigger fish to fry. I would guess a new knee would be in order at this point.
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Post by walshb 🦒 on Jan 13, 2021 16:17:50 GMT -5
Ok, I told this story on the old FDP and I think one person may have tried it, but I don't recall if he ever reported back with results. My knees were feeling very weak, I noticed it when going up and down stairs. Not much pain, just old age, I figured. Long story short, I fell and broke two ribs and was researching what to do about it. I found an article about Cissus Quadrangularis, which is supposed to help bones heal more quickly. Meanwhile, I had also had my knees X-rayed and was diagnosed with pseudogout. My doc prescribed some pills that were going to cost me over $300 per month. That same day, the CQ I had ordered arrived, and I started taking it for my broken ribs. A few days later, maybe a week at the most, I realized that my knees weren't bothering me any more. I took 2 CQ pills per day (4 is recommended) for a couple of years. Then I tapered off to see if my knee problem returned. Eventually, it began to, so I started with the CQ again, but only a few pills per week. I'm still taking it, and no more knee problems. I have no idea if it would help you Auf Kiltre, it sounds like you have a different and possibly more serious problem, but the pills are cheap on Amazon and you can read the reviews and decide for yourself. It's a natural substance so probably little chance of interfering with other medicines, but then I'm no doctor. All I can do is pass along what I consider to be my extraordinary results from using it. |
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Post by Mfitz804 on Jan 13, 2021 16:56:40 GMT -5
Cissus Quadrangularis Sounds like a villain from Star Wars.
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Post by Ragtop on Jan 13, 2021 17:11:15 GMT -5
No issues with A1C/diabetes, but that sensation seemed to have started shortly after starting a new bp med (amlodipine). Hmmm. I take amlodipine as well. |
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Post by jhawkr on Jan 13, 2021 17:46:15 GMT -5
I have about 150 unused Amlodipine tablets in my medicine cabinet. Doc took me off them when it was causing BP to dip too low. It was the combinations of BP/heart meds that was my issue.
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Post by LTB on Jan 13, 2021 19:53:23 GMT -5
I was suffering from right knee hurting about 2 years ago and on one nice spring day decided to ride my bicycle for exercise instead of walking due to the pain. I ended up riding 7 or so miles and afterwards noticed my pain was gone. Hardly any pain since. I know Auf’s issue is probably much worse than mine so this may not be of any help
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Post by funkykikuchiyo on Jan 14, 2021 9:22:01 GMT -5
A coworker of mine who is an intense runner - marathon length runs for him are called "Saturday" - commented recently that knee problems rarely start in the knee, it is usually in the hips or somewhere else. I had knee issues in my 20s and tend to agree... when our gait or posture aren't good, the knees suffer. I didn't have swelling, but I had pain and frequent popping and cracking that was never a satisfying pop. Lack of internal rotation at the hip can cause duck feet which puts a strange sideways pressure on them, the habit of locking your knees can do problems, etc. It is the sort of thing a good physical therapist can spot very quickly.
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Post by walshb 🦒 on Jan 14, 2021 10:25:40 GMT -5
I was suffering from right knee hurting about 2 years ago and on one nice spring day decided to ride my bicycle for exercise instead of walking due to the pain. I ended up riding 7 or so miles and afterwards noticed my pain was gone. Hardly any pain since. I know Auf’s issue is probably much worse than mine so this may not be of any help Simple fixes are the best!!!  |
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Jan 14, 2021 11:29:13 GMT -5
I've had for much of my life the sensation of joints needing to be popped. Elbows, fingers, knees. When I'd feel a "hitch" I'd straighten the leg and "bend" the knee sideways toward the other knee. Whatever joint provided this "pop" is the one giving me grief. Its weird, one day it'll fire off with every step, other days nothing. But the whole leg is being affected now.
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Post by pamster on Jan 14, 2021 11:58:26 GMT -5
seemed to have started shortly after starting a new bp med (amlodipine). My mother was on amlodipine and her knee swelled every time the dosage was not just right. The things you describe are exactly the same as she described. |
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Jan 14, 2021 13:18:07 GMT -5
Xray of the knee, RX for Meloxicam and recommendation to discuss the amlodipine issue with my cardio as the PA feels there's a likely correlation. As long as I can still stand, walk, poop on my own and have a good appetite my wife ain't ready to put me down just yet.  |
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Post by oldfartbassplayrwalt on Jan 14, 2021 18:02:49 GMT -5
One quick piece of advice. Do not consider stem cell therapy for knee problems.
I'm missing 2 ACLs, pretty much bone on bone on one knee, the other not far behind.
I took a leap of faith, spent my own bucks (insurance doesn't cover), and it DID NOTHING.
Maybe it helps some other physical problems, but not my knees. CAVEAT EMPTOR. Don't buy
their promising hype.
If there is a problem with the meniscus, you can have a gel shot in between the joints
(monovisc), and it can help for maybe 5 months, (but only effective maybe three times).
But it can buy some time to schedule surgery, if that's what you end up needing (like me).
Good luck.
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Post by langford on Jan 14, 2021 18:21:05 GMT -5
@auf: I get a wet foot feeling from amlodipine... but I think that's because mine is mixed with a diuretic.  |
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Post by mountie on Jan 15, 2021 17:23:14 GMT -5
I had my left knee scoped in 2014; right in 2020. Arthur Itis is telling me I'll see the surgeons again. I'll take discomfort (daily) versus pain I used to have.
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Post by jazzguy on Jan 15, 2021 17:30:33 GMT -5
after falling down the steps carrying a clothes basket 5 yrs ago I did something to my left knee, maybe a partial tear because I'm still able to walk.
the pain would flare up every now and then but manageable. when the pandemic started I began walking so I wouldn't turn into a blimp as it was the only physical activity I was getting. I got up to about 3 miles a day after 3 months but it started to get really sore so I quit. now 7 months later I'm still not walking and my waistline is the worse for it. I may try again soon.
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Jan 15, 2021 17:46:14 GMT -5
So the radiology essentially says nothing significant:
"No acute fracture or malalignment is identified. Knee joint spaces are overall preserved bilaterally. Superior patellar enthesophyte seen on the left. There is no knee joint effusion on either side. No soft tissue abnormality is identified. Scattered atherosclerotic calcifications."
They've referred me to an osteo doc, but it sounds like runner's knee, or bone spurs, whatever.
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Post by modbus on Jan 15, 2021 17:53:39 GMT -5
A coworker of mine who is an intense runner - marathon length runs for him are called "Saturday" - commented recently that knee problems rarely start in the knee, it is usually in the hips or somewhere else. I had knee issues in my 20s and tend to agree... when our gait or posture aren't good, the knees suffer. I didn't have swelling, but I had pain and frequent popping and cracking that was never a satisfying pop. Lack of internal rotation at the hip can cause duck feet which puts a strange sideways pressure on them, the habit of locking your knees can do problems, etc. It is the sort of thing a good physical therapist can spot very quickly.
There's definitely a school of thought that weak gluts are a major source of pain from lower back down to the ankles.
I am a wannabe powerlifter who does a lot of deadlifts and squats, and I really don't have a knee pain, and very little lower back pain unless I sit for too long, so there may be some truth to it.
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Post by funkykikuchiyo on Jan 15, 2021 18:29:58 GMT -5
I am a wannabe powerlifter who does a lot of deadlifts and squats At the risk of hijacking the thread, how do you feel it impacts fine motor skills and guitar playing? I'm in the process of trying to exercise more and I'm finding all of these strange little weaknesses and compensations in myself. It is an eye opener. I knew how off modern diets were for our health, but now I'm seeing first hand what lack of exercise, and specifically conscientious exercise, does to a body. The latest thing I've noticed is that if you watch old movies/TV/videos from a few decades ago or before, everyone's posture looks absolutely amazing. If you can sift out the pseudo-science, the lifters have a lot of wisdom. |
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Post by HenryJ on Jan 15, 2021 19:08:22 GMT -5
About 16 years ago, we had an aging dog. He got to where he could barely walk, so we gave him glucosamine chondroitin pills to restore his mobility. He died. I finished off his bottle of glucosamine chondroitin, one pill a day.
My knees got better. And they have been better ever since.
True story.
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Post by modbus on Jan 15, 2021 20:16:03 GMT -5
I am a wannabe powerlifter who does a lot of deadlifts and squats At the risk of hijacking the thread, how do you feel it impacts fine motor skills and guitar playing? I'm in the process of trying to exercise more and I'm finding all of these strange little weaknesses and compensations in myself. It is an eye opener. I knew how off modern diets were for our health, but now I'm seeing first hand what lack of exercise, and specifically conscientious exercise, does to a body. The latest thing I've noticed is that if you watch old movies/TV/videos from a few decades ago or before, everyone's posture looks absolutely amazing. If you can sift out the pseudo-science, the lifters have a lot of wisdom.
In the long term, I personally haven't really seen any effects to fine motor skills like guitar playing. If I've seen anything, I really don't like light gauge strings anymore. It's nothing too extreme, I just can't use 9 gauge without pulling strings sharp or off the fretboard entirely. 10s seem to eliminate that problem, so it's not really a big deal.
In the short term, I suppose post-workout soreness could affect your playing, but soreness tends to diminish the longer you've been lifting. If you deadlift heavy, it does tear your hands up a bit for a while, but it doesn't last much longer than a day (and again the newer you are, the longer any adverse effects last).
One thing I have noticed, though, is if I really hit it hard, like at a meet, or a big workout, sometimes my CNS gets overloaded and movement in general is a bit wonky for a few hours or so. The worst was when some guys who did Strongman competitions brought in a bunch of stuff to the gym and had a "Strongman Saturday", to let people try it out. I participated. I wasn't lifting crazy weights by any means, but the loads were just weird and awkward and I didn't really know how to do them the best way. The next day I kinda wobbled around like I was drunk, and I was pretty spent for the better part of a week. That was unusual.
So I would say starting a weightlifting regimen wouldn't affect your playing much at all.
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Post by Mfitz804 on Jan 15, 2021 20:27:11 GMT -5
So the radiology essentially says nothing significant: "No acute fracture or malalignment is identified. Knee joint spaces are overall preserved bilaterally. Superior patellar enthesophyte seen on the left. There is no knee joint effusion on either side. No soft tissue abnormality is identified. Scattered atherosclerotic calcifications." They've referred me to an osteo doc, but it sounds like runner's knee, or bone spurs, whatever. I have a little experience reading radiology reports in the context of trying to figure out what is related to a client’s accident and what isn’t. I have had several orthopedists and radiologists help me learn this stuff along the way and I have taken a couple courses on reading this stuff. Obviously, I’m still not a doctor, but I pretend to be one for work. Essentially, it says you have somewhat minor osteoarthritis changes in your knee, and your comparison to bone spurs is a good one. This is an age related change seen in a lot of people and it’s not at all unusual. The enesthophyte is essentially a bone spur where a tendon connects, if you are having instability problems, it’s probably that impacting the tendon that is causing it. If you were a client coming to me claiming you hurt your knee in an accident, these findings would result in me saying I cannot help you and sending you on your way. As they say, coulda been a lot worse!! Hopefully the anti-inflammatory meds keep the pain in check. |
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Jan 16, 2021 8:37:27 GMT -5
Hey well, you are a JD right? That D does stand for doctor, doesn't it? 😄
Thanks for the perspective Mike, it offers more insight than a notification through my doctors office portal that the xray is essentially "normal" but I should see an Ortho.
More and more I'm learning the lesson that growing old ain't for sissies. The "this can't be right" issues generally get a clinical response of "you're how old? Yeah, this is right".
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