Problem with my knee

[vixxcampbell]

I am in my mid 30s and for the last 14 months I have had an issue with my left knee. Its hard to describe the problem but will do the best I can. When walking down stairs I almost feel like my left knee is bending differently and bending higher almost involuntarily and there is pain behind the knee cap as well and maybe just above it. I always have to hold onto the right hand side railing in order to walk down stairs more comfortably. I absolutely cannot sprint since this issue began and cant jog for that long without the pain starting to come into the knee. Even after 30 seconds of jogging the pain starts to come. Changing directions is very difficult too - like sudden change of direction like in a sport like tennis. I only tried to play tennis once since this issue began and realized that changing direction was painful. Also hear some snapping or popping noise in the left knee sometimes when stretching the left leg after sitting for a while. Also, there is pain in the knee when I try to jump and when I land. At the moment I cant even jump very high because of this problem.

The first MRI I did last summer showed no problems which was really troubling because I was hoping the MRI would reveal the issue.

The second MRI I had last month did show mild popliteal bursitis and a small ganglion cyst as well.

The frustrating thing is I have gone to my family doctor so many times and to a couple orthopaedic specialists referred to by my family doc and have gotten little to no help with this issue.

My family doc made me jump through a bunch of hoops like doing 6 weeks of exercises, taking calcium magnesium, vitamin B, coenzymeQ10, going to an orthotics place (complete waste of time and money b/c they only recommended some custom shoes which is more for preventative measures not to fix the actual problem with the knee), going to the hospital for a nerve test, seeing an endocrinologist, etc. The two orthopedic specialists have not been much help either - in fact both have contradicted each other .

Any advice on what course of action I should pursue to help get this knee problem resolved would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance to anyone that responds to this thread.

 

[scott]

Go see an orthopaedic surgeon, not ortho "specialist". One who operates on knees especially. My GP, a sports med doctor etc etc had no fucking idea - these surgeon guys actually go in there in their everyday surgery, and can tell right away. I blew out my ACL in a squash game, and no one knew, till i finally started interviewing surgeons. Now i have a new ACL (since 1999) and it's just fine, what a relief!

 

[vixxcampbell]

Go see an orthopaedic surgeon, not ortho "specialist". One who operates on knees especially. My GP, a sports med doctor etc etc had no fucking idea - these surgeon guys actually go in there in their everyday surgery, and can tell right away. I blew out my ACL in a squash game, and no one knew, till i finally started interviewing surgeons. Now i have a new ACL (since 1999) and it's just fine, what a relief!

First off thank you for the reply.

Sorry - I didn't use accurate terminology in my post. Actually the two people my family doc sent me to see were indeed orthopedic surgeons - I typed specialist above mistakenly. But it was incredibly frustrating because those guys basically contradicted each other. And the MRI report done by the radiologist even contradicts one of the orthopedic surgeon's too who happens to work at the same hospital as the radiologist.

 

[Butler1000]

I have no doubt the ladies will have lots of advice to pass on about "knee" problems.....

Lord knows they spent enough time on em......

 

[scott]

First off thank you for the reply.

Sorry - I didn't use accurate terminology in my post. Actually the two people my family doc sent me to see were indeed orthopedic surgeons - I typed specialist above mistakenly. But it was incredibly frustrating because those guys basically contradicted each other. And the MRI report done by the radiologist even contradicts one of the orthopedic surgeon's too who happens to work at the same hospital as the radiologist.

ok, well YOU know there's a problem (like I did) so pick the ortho who agrees with you, and have him scope it.

 

[vixxcampbell]

ok, well YOU know there's a problem (like I did) so pick the ortho who agrees with you, and have him scope it.

That's the thing - I am not sure I agree with either of them. And they both disagree with each other. One says he thinks there is an issue with the cartilidge which contradicts both MRI reports and the other orthopedic surgeon. And he recommended some injections into the knee or something which is very expensive and I am not prepared to do that especially because I am skeptical as to whether it is actually a cartilidge issue because both MRI reports says cartilidge is normal.

The other orthopedic surgeon says there is a cyst and mild popliteal bursitis but he says there is nothing he can do surgically. Which I am not sure I buy. Either there is something more wrong with the knee or he is for some reason unwilling to go into the knee to resolve the aforementioned issues.

I have even gone to physiotherapy but it has not helped one iota.

 

[scott]

That's the thing - I am not sure I agree with either of them. And they both disagree with each other. One says he thinks there is an issue with the cartilidge which contradicts both MRI reports and the other orthopedic surgeon. And he recommended some injections into the knee or something which is very expensive and I am not prepared to do that especially because I am skeptical as to whether it is actually a cartilidge issue because both MRI reports says cartilidge is normal.

The other orthopedic surgeon says there is a cyst and mild popliteal bursitis but he says there is nothing he can do surgically. Which I am not sure I buy. Either there is something more wrong with the knee or he is for some reason unwilling to go into the knee to resolve the aforementioned issues.

I have even gone to physiotherapy but it has not helped one iota.

Where are these doctors; where do you live? If they aren't dt TO, they're amateurs. You gotta go see the guys who operate on the most knees for fuck's sakes.

 

[fuji]

2 minutes of googling your diagnosis indicates the reason they won't operate. It is a symptom of some other condition that they have not yet identified, so if they remove the cyst it might just come right back.

So you need to get them to keep digging until they find the actual cause.

The steroid injection will probably help, a key question would be whether you would risk becoming dependent on the steroids, I don't know about in this case, but it is s common risk with steroids in other cases.

 

[vixxcampbell]

Where are these doctors; where do you live? If they aren't dt TO, they're amateurs. You gotta go see the guys who operate on the most knees for fuck's sakes.

One was at Markham Stoufville Hospital. The other one works at Scarborough General Hospital. I'll look into finding an orthopedic surgeon downtown.

 

[Gibby]

It could be a "Bakers Cyst". It fills up and then breaks inside you. When it breaks all the pressure is gone and you will feel ok. When it fills again. then you will be in pain.

They won't do anything to you for this. Life time problem. Unfortunately you will have to get used to this.

 

[fuji]

One was at Markham Stoufville Hospital. The other one works at Scarborough General Hospital. I'll look into finding an orthopedic surgeon downtown.

Try walking into emergency in one of the downtown hospitals. Tell them it is too painful to walk. They will probably refer you to a clinic in the same hospital. Say it has suddenly gotten worse (lie).

Maybe Google and see which hospital has the most specialists in that condition, and walk in to that one.

Bring a book, knee problem will be the LAST patient called in, you will be there hours but hopefully get the referral.

 

[vixxcampbell]

Try walking into emergency in one of the downtown hospitals. Tell them it is too painful to walk. They will probably refer you to a clinic in the same hospital.

Maybe Google and see which hospital has the most specialists in that condition, and walk in to that one.

I was actually contemplating doing something like that. I generally have a high pain tolerance so the fact that I am not rolling around on the floor in agony I think makes the doctors and specialists take my case less seriously. I was thinking that I probably have to go in somewhere and fake like I am in severe pain to actually get some serious help for the knee.

Been a while since I have checked into any of the downtown hospitals. Any particular one you can recommend?

 

[vixxcampbell]

It could be a "Bakers Cyst". It fills up and then breaks inside you. When it breaks all the pressure is gone and you will feel ok. When it fills again. then you will be in pain.

They won't do anything to you for this. Life time problem. Unfortunately you will have to get used to this.

I think both MRI reports stated no indication of a Bakers Cyst but I'll certainly ask the next person I see about this to investigate that possibility again just in case.

 

[fuji]

On the emergency route: I went to my GP for a condition at one point, he had his staff "working on a referral", they would " call " with an appointment when ready.

I went into emerg the next day. That afternoon saw a resident who said my condition was urgent and bumped me to the supervising doctor, basically the top expert in Canada is now checking me out. Found my condition was treatable but told good I came in when I did.

Roll forwards two months I am on the mend coming off medications getting back to normal and I get a letter from my GP with their referral and an appointment booked for yet another three months later.

Fuck that. Pick the hospital with the clinic you need and walk into emergency.

 

[fuji]

I was actually contemplating doing something like that. I generally have a high pain tolerance so the fact that I am not rolling around on the floor in agony I think makes the doctors and specialists take my case less seriously. I was thinking that I probably have to go in somewhere and fake like I am in severe pain to actually get some serious help for the knee.

Been a while since I have checked into any of the downtown hospitals. Any particular one you can recommend?

It really depends on your condition. Find which one is the teaching hospital for medical students studying in that area. Look up the relevant medical society and see where the leading doctors are. It will take you an evening of googling but you should be able to find out. Each hospital has something they are better then others at.

 

[peter4025]

Did you try to see a sports specialist. There is a good doctor in etobicoke. Close by there is an amazing physiotherapist. I've seen her helping people where doctors could not do anything. If you want I can pm you their names and phone numbers.

 

[bugsbunny]

I had similar issues many years ago.

Have the GP check your uric acid levels. The crystals can build up in the knee, ankle, virtually any joint. If the levels are high, it may be the starting symptoms of gout (and no, you don't need to be overweight etc.)

 

[dirkd101]

Without aid of examination, it sounds much like Patellofemoral pain syndrome. Most GPs are not educated in diagnosing these types of problems, but the specialists should have been able to come to a conclusion as to what your problem is.

This usually responds well with rehab. Specific stretches/exercises, ice and application of the likes of Voltaren emulgel or Ibuprofen (oral).
More extreme cases require a more aggressive physio approach.

 

[MPAsquared]

I have bursitis & my knee caps move more than they should because of it. When I workout I have to wear a patella strap on each. Makes the world of difference!!!!! Try it!

 

[dirkd101]

The patella knee brace or straps do relieve some discomfort, but they do not take care of the problem.