topic Re: Knee Issue in Wellness

Knee Issue

makena — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 14:58:01 GMT

Not seeking medical advice, just an idea of what type of doctor I should see for a knee issue. I'll explain:

About a month ago I dropped something under my desk. I squatted down, but not on my knees, and leaned under to my right. When I did, I felt something in my left knee, a twinge so to speak. It's been hurting ever since, and the pain is increasing. At first I thought I might have just twisted it wrong. So I waited expecting it would resolve on it's own. Now I can't squat or bend my leg at the knee even in a laying down position because it hurts. So I've got to have it looked at. Is an ortho physician the best place to start?

Re: Knee Issue

Group 5 minus 1 — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 15:01:40 GMT

Yes an ortho is the best place to start or a primary care doc.

Re: Knee Issue

m0rgan — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 15:07:11 GMT

Sounds right to me. I did see an ortho doctor and he gave me a shot, MRI and Xray to look. I had a torn meniscus. He said we could do shots every 3 months or I could have it fixed permanently (surgery). I scheduled surgery and had second thoughts, so I postponed. I saw my family doctor and he sent me for physical therapy. That worked well for me. They give you exercises to build up muscles to help the knee. I finished that and then got a personl trainer to continue building up the muscles that surround the knee. It is slow but I have very little pain. They showed me how to go up and down steps, etc. I am happy with where I am

The bottom line is you have to go through the xrays, MRI's to know what is wrong then possibly you will find your answer. I would be careful not to rush into surgery. Hope this helps.

Re: Knee Issue

2blonde — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 15:28:27 GMT

@makena I'm sorry you are having this problem. I've had my share of knee, shoulder, ankle, you-name-it injuries, and this is how I gauge it. After a month the injury should at least be gradually improving. If it's been getting worse as you say, then it's time to have a professional intervention. Yes, an ortho is the right type of physician to see......they've seen their share of knee problems. If you haven't been weight training, it may just be that your quadracep muscles are too week to support your knee. I hope you get some help and don't need surgery. I've had some pretty bad knee injuries in the past, but after a month they were much improved.

Re: Knee Issue

makena — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 15:50:37 GMT

@2blonde and @m0rgan thank you both. Good advice from both of you. I will make the call today. I am in my early 60s and never had any issues with my knees in the past. I appreciate your comments.

Re: Knee Issue

chrystaltree — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 16:47:51 GMT

You need to see an orthopedic specialist because whatever is going on began with an inury. Don't wast your time on your pcp. But if you need your pcp's referral to the orthopod, be assertive and make it clear that you only want/need the referral.

Re: Knee Issue

hayseed00 — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 17:57:57 GMT

Othopedic MD, but depending on the type of health insurance, you might need a referral from your primary MD

Re: Knee Issue

Kachina624 — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 21:39:06 GMT

You need an orthopedist who specializes in knees. These guys are very specialized so a hand or hip guy is not going to want to see your knee. Some large practises have one specialist (or more) of every type so the receptionist can direct you to one that does knees.

Re: Knee Issue

drizzellla — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 22:49:34 GMT

@makena wrote:
Not seeking medical advice, just an idea of what type of doctor I should see for a knee issue. I'll explain:

About a month ago I dropped something under my desk. I squatted down, but not on my knees, and leaned under to my right. When I did, I felt something in my left knee, a twinge so to speak. It's been hurting ever since, and the pain is increasing. At first I thought I might have just twisted it wrong. So I waited expecting it would resolve on it's own. Now I can't squat or bend my leg at the knee even in a laying down position because it hurts. So I've got to have it looked at. Is an ortho physician the best place to start?

You sound like me. Expecting your knee pain to resolve on it own. The only time I am not in pain is lying in bed with my right leg completely straight. My knee has been hurting since July. I suspect my pain is because of a drug I am taking. It is a common side effect. I called the Doctor and had him change my prescription. But it is a bit better not much. I am taking the drug because of cancer so no matter what drug I take, I will probably be in pain. Since all the drugs on the market are trying to do the same thing. I have to take it for at least 5 years.

Please keep me posted how things go for you. I am going to talk to the cancer Doctor. I am not sure I want to continue to hobble around for the next 5 years. Thank goodness I live in a rancher house. The few steps I do encounter are killers.

Re: Knee Issue

Catty2 — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 23:05:31 GMT

An orthopedic doctor. There are medications, physical therapy, etc. they can prescribe that may help with your problem. Good Luck!

Re: Knee Issue

GCR18 — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 23:46:35 GMT

I would go to my primary Dr.

Re: Knee Issue

SXMGirl — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 23:54:30 GMT

@makena, I am sorry that you are having knee problems, and I am glad that you will be seeking medical advice. You need to see an ortho asap. It sounds like you might have torn your meniscus. I just had meniscus surgery. I tore mine working on the trx, which is really a piece of cake machine. You don't need to do much for that to tear. You might also have some bone fragments floating around your knee. No matter, knee problems need to be taken care of asap.

Re: Knee Issue

Mmsfoxxie — Sat, 13 Jan 2018 15:37:52 GMT

Yes @makena, what you do first depends on the type insurance that you have. When my issues first started, I had to see my primary care doctor first for anything. (Don't have to do that now). Well first he prescribed meds. Didn't work. Then physical therapy. Didn't work. Finally, I got to the orthopedist and got injections. Bingo, it worked. Several months wasted, though. If you can, go directly to the specialist.

Re: Knee Issue

qualitygal — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 12:18:28 GMT

@m0rgan, thanks for your reply on this. I may yet have to see a doctor. It's somewhat better, but I would like to know if it's arthritis or a tear of some kind.

Came in to say I saw my doctor on my knee issue yesterday. It's arthritis. Then he told me if it progresses what we can do for it. So that is a big weight off my mind.

Re: Knee Issue

RedTop — Sat, 13 Jan 2018 21:49:42 GMT

@makena,

In July 2016 while cleaning my shower, I over extended my reach and felt a painful pull in my right knee. 4 weeks later the knee was still painful and stiff, and I was back to limping like I did before my left knee replacement. In the back of my mind, I knew where the situation was headed.

My ortho surgeon confirmed my suspicions; the pain was coming from heavy arthritis in the knee joint. A steroid injection brought short term relief, but having limped that long road to joint replacement before, I made the decision to go for surgery much sooner. I am nearly 3 months post op and very thankful to have another new knee and no pain and stiffness.

Best wishes to you!

Re: Knee Issue

makena — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 03:56:34 GMT

@SXMGirl exactly what it is. Meniscal tear. Went to the ortho Thursday.. They took an x-ray and that's what he determined it was. He gave me a shot of cortisone in my knee and said it could take a couple weeks or more before I notice it getting better. IF it does not improve or gets worse, then the next step would be surgery.

Re: Knee Issue

SXMGirl — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 14:12:47 GMT

@makena, a meniscus tear is probably the most common knee ailment, especially for those who work out. It can be just twisting or rotating your knee the wrong way with too much force, even though you might not think that you have over-exerted. Most orthos will tell you to rest and ice the knee. This really works if you don't have to get out of the chair.

My surgery was mid-December and I still am not fully recovered. I do see some significant changes, but this was not, at least for me, the easy surgery that everyone except my surgeon told me about. What they found with me, and it probably is not uncommon, is that I had bone chips that did not show on the MRI. That, then, is more than just repairing a tear.

Cortisone shots might work as well as physical therapy. I had the cortisone shot and it did not work for more than a month. If you have stairs in your home, that can impede. I do and it is a problem.

Listen to your ortho. You might also want to pick up a brace to wear on your knee. I did not and it helped a little. In fact, I think that I will go back to it.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Re: Knee Issue

Shaunac — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 15:19:04 GMT

My primary doctor referred me to physical therapy. I was injured and thought it best to not stress it and stay away from weights. I did this for months and the first thing the therapist did was to put me back on weights. I'm completely better. I had this injury for three years.

Re: Knee Issue

EatWell — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 05:02:53 GMT

Go with the surgery,

Re: Knee Issue

hckynut — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 08:41:49 GMT

@makena

Cortisone shots work for some with meniscus issues, but for the majority that are actually torn, it is only temporary. For some with a low level meniscus tear, cortisone may be the answer.

Whatever the cause, Physical Therapy Exercises, specific to strengthening the muscles supporting the knees, should be done. These exercises are not only done to help an injured or repaired knee joint, they should become a regular part of everyone's life, excluding those with some sort of disability.

Strong muscles that support and major body joints, take much of the stress off of these joints, as does carrying less body weight that is not primarily muscle tissue. Too many got the idea(where I have no idea), that Physical Therapy Exercises only need to be done for "X" amount of time for recovery only. WRONG! They should be done on a regular basis, be it every day/every other day, or 3 to 4 times a week.

Until more people realize, at a younger age, the importance of strong joint supporting muscles, can prolong having problematic body weight bearing joints, the knee joints will continue to be an issue. It is never too late for most to be able to strengthen all joint supporting muscles.

I have practiced what I "preach?" for over 50+ years and in spite of participating in 2 sports where knee injuries are common, I have never suffered from a knee joint injury. Just some food for thought for everyone concerned with issues of the knee or other weight bearing joints of the human anatomy.

hckynut(john)