Left knee pain

So over the past few months ive had a pain in my left knee whenever I go mostly down stairs....sometimes up stairs....and especially after I run. I take fish oil. Glucosomine/chondroitin to help with the pain. But it's still there. Every other regular activity is fine. My right knee never hurts though. I can do pistol squats with my right leg easy but not my left. My right quads are bigger than my left because I favor it more. I've read up on it slightly and the only thing I can come up with is runners knee. But I feel like if it was runners knee I'd have it in both legs. I got soles from fleet feet and I think they help slightly. Kinda unsure what to do at this point. Any help on this?

 

I don't really understand what you mean about the "U" shape with my hand. My leg doesn't lock up or anything.

 

This ^

The sooner the better. I put off seeing the doctor because of some hip pain...Well now I am drugged up basically bed ridden waiting for a second mri and multiple doctor appointments.

If they figure out what it is early then they hopefully can nip it in the butt and that will be that. But definitely get it checked out on the sooner side.

And write down all your symptoms, what you can and can not do and any injuries that could of caused it. That will save time in the appointment and give you a better outcome hopefully from the visit.

 

Im in the same boat, but no insurance yet and its my right knee..ill be fine for a few weeks or so, then ill kneel down at work
And stand up, itll pop and will damn near put me on the floor. Sucks dont it

 

Flaring it up before the appointment is a good one. One of my doctors kept on insisting that my hip pains were from my working out to hard.

Well I decided to come in REALLY flared up to the point at which they wheel chaired my back to my car when it was over. That got his attention

 

This is what I had:

Patellofemoral pain syndrome: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patellofemoral_pain_syndrome

I had x-rays done and the structure was just fine. I had recently relocated and moved from a temporary apartment to a house, lots of stairs involved. My body wasn't used to it -- and it took about 8 weeks for it to go away. I was glad it was not structural, but it was painful.

 

I had an ACL repair on my right knee. It failed/ruptured after 9 months. For the next month or two until my 2nd ACL operation, I would sometimes be walking and it would crack and then I couldn't walk another step for about 15-20 minutes. I'd be laid out in the hallway at the office holding the wall.

It's not related to you, but I'm just saying I feel for you - knee pain is not a laughing matter. I have no advice cause I don't know shit about knees but I hope it gets better for you soon OP.

 

I had your pain and it got so I couldn't straighten my leg. Got imaging-have torn inner and outer meniscusses. Trying to avoid surgery, just wearing a custom brace and riding bike for excercise.

a-do you have pressure/pain behind knee (in the bend
b-do you find that you cannot lock out knee
c-swelling/fluid
d-pain at right or left of knee just below cap

these are all signs of torn meniscus

 

OP, read the description of that Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome -- and see a doctor to confirm. Symptoms are pretty similar to mine -- I could barely go down stairs, but up was fine. That is a common symptom. It felt solid, just had the pain. But see a doctor, like others have said.

 

Hey,

As someone who has had to have a knee rebuilt ( not fake yet!) go to an orthopedic Dr and get an evaluation there are many things that can cause knee problems some benign IE will go away with rest and ice others not so much. Bear in mind X-rays and Mri's at times are not going to tell the story such was the case for mine. Did a arthroscopic after an inconclusive MRI found ACL was torn from original place and reattached itself somewhere else according to the DR it would take years for it to do this. Want to guess for how long that knee had been bugging me but I didn't go have it looked at? Right a few years.. Because of that the toll was taken on several other parts meniscus tears, abnormal bone wear and a whole bunch of other fun stuff. I will need a total replacement in approx the next 10 years depending on use and such. Even with the rebuild it is not exactly right and gives me problems. Soo like all the others have said take your behind to the DR and get it looked at. Or do what I did like an idiot and power through it and pay for it later.

Cypher

 

What he said.

Seriously though go see Ortho.

As a Trauma Nurse and as a guy thats had his Right knee worked on and currently finishing up a minor Left LCL tear, a good Ortho doc will get you fixed up. Pin point pain or pain when i extend, flex, or twist is extremely useful when diagnosing any injury.
Do not know if insuance is a big deal in your case, but if so state hospitals/clinics are really good with payment plans, appointments, etc... so you get what you need in a timely fashion.

Good luck with everything.

 

Tenbeers, so all your pain has gone away completely? Ive been dealing with it for a few months now. And I do have a feeling it is what you described. The patellofermoral syndrome. It hurts behind the kneecap. And about the pistol squat, if I do one assisted by my hands it hurts about midstroke only. I'm going to the doc soon.

 

Sounds familiar to my story. Listen to him and go see a doctor.

 

My pain has gone and never come back, but it took a good 8 to 10 weeks of resting it. I was lucky and mine started right before xmas, so I just played video games while it snowed. The doc said it would feel better by Valentine's Day, but it took a little longer (I am not good at sitting around all the time -- which was REALLY bad after a vasectomy).

If you haven't stopped running or being active and rested it, the pain is probably not going to go away. It's summer, and if you are like me, it's hard to just sit around. I have a mountain bike race on Saturday, and it's my back that is bugging me now. Sucks getting older in body with the mind of a 12 year old.

There are lots of other possibilities, though, so do see a doctor.

 

Listen if you keep looking up your symptoms on the internet, you can basically self-diagnose yourself with just about anything and everything. Trust me I have done that many times before.

Take it easy for a bit, rest your joint, and see the doc.

Let us know how it goes.

 

Te beers, just like you said its hard for me to quit being active. On top of that, I probably cover a mile a day walking across the shop I work in, going up stairs, standing on cement floors and working on scaffolds. I'd have to somehow take time off from work to rest.

And Hank444, I've been reading a lot and I'm pretty convinced what I have is patellofermoral syndrome. I will still be going to the doc though to get a better opinion. I'll keep you guys updated.... Thanks for the replies!!

 

Just do what everyone else does, call 911.

 

Never a truer statement

 

Well I went to the doc today and she said it's patellofermoral syndrome. She gave me a prescription for NSAIDs and I will be going to physical therapy. Hopefully I can get this fixed up!!

 

Right on! just stick with the pt and ACTUALLY do the home exercises they give you.

I'm a pt major and I can't tell you how many times people say the routine given to them ddoesn't work, then we ask if they are doing the home exercises and they say no