Somehow I injured my knee
 

I guess at 63 I should just see it as a sign of aging but I managed to injure my right knee, I somehow over stressed the big hamstring tendons behind the knee joint.

I had arthroscopic surgery last October on my left knee for a torn meniscus that I got while attempting to tag my granddaughter out at an imaginary 3rd base as we played some softball in our back yard. I think that I probably favor the left knee now, still have a bit of pain and discomfort from the surgery and some arthritis there.

So last week on Tuesday I walked for an hour at the mall which I do a few times a week. It's open early for walkers and is quiet and air conditioned. The walk was not out of my ordinary routine but I did notice the upper thigh felt stiff later on if I crossed my right over my left at my desk. Then on Wednesday I mowed my lawn like I do every week, self propelled mower so I just walk behind it.

Leg got worse so on Thursday I called my orthopedic Dr. He couldn't fit me in for 10 days so I found another nearby who could see me this past Tuesday. I was on crutches most of the weekend. Can't put any tension on the tendons or it really hurts, standing straight or walking with a straight leg is ok. He saw me and said nothing was broken which I knew and gave me orders for an MRI.

MRI's are popular but I was able to get one the next morning, Wednesday and I see the Dr. today at 4 pm. He wanted to see the MRI before proceeding and maybe doing a cortisone shot to relieve the inflammation. Hope we can get this leg fixed, my wife and I leave for Singapore in 2 1/2 weeks and I know we will need to do some walking there for sight seeing.

MRI is the gold standard for soft-tissue damage, radiologist/ortho ought to be able to determine exactly what's going on. Knees are looked at so much there's no mystery left.

If it's not ripped to shreds, a steroid shot ought to get you pain-free long enough to do some light walking, but please take it easy and give it plenty of rest, even if it "feels" okay.

Hope you get good news on it.

the first Steroid shot lasted me about 5 weeks, the second less than 4. That's all they would do.

I've been expecting either, or both, of my knees to explode for the last ten years.

I am not heartened by this thread...

Well I saw the Dr whom I really like and gets very good marks form some of my neighbors who have seen him.

The MRI showed I have "severe degeneration and small free edge tear of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus". Most likely the meniscus has just worn out and torn in a thin spot. The medial meniscus take about 70% of the shock and motion when you walk or run. The Dr compared it to a car that is running fine and then one day won't start or has a flat.

He have me a cortisone shot just under the edge of the knee cap and warned me it may swell a bit and to use ice to reduce swelling and pain. Holy crap, I woke up at 2 am and it really hurt and it was hard to get back to sleep. I took some Tylenol 3 and it feels a bit better now but all I did was get dressed and go sit at my computer. I've had the shots in my left knee and they never hurt like that but I think this was a bigger injection.

The good thing is the back of the knee that did hurt doesn't seem to as much so hopefully it will improve over the next few days. He wants me to do PT and come see him after 4 weeks of that. I go to Singapore in 18 days so will take a break from the PT but hopefully the PT will help strengthen muscles and teach me what to do to not cause further damage but I will probably need repair surgery as this is degenerative.

My joints have always been for shit, but especially my knees, and I've been assuming for a long time that they'll be the first to go.

Instead, it's looking like it will be some combination of my fingers amd wrists. I haven't been able to put any significant weight on my left wrist in at least a year, and recently my right index finger has been in excruciating pain with even the tiniest lateral movement. It's fine unless I try to pick up a grocery bag, or pull open a drawer knob, or twist open a water bottle... Did you know they make little wrappable finger braces that will secure a finger to the one beside it at any knuckle? Anyway, now my second finger hurts.

Do the Vulcan salutation in lieu of the Peace sign.

I hope this helps. :angel:

Fortunately, I can still flip the bird at folks just fine.

Glad you still get some pleasure out of that finger.

Im so sorry buddy...... I hope it feels better soon :)

grim

my fucken knee hurts too.

mine three

Mine still

I got one of those night leg cramps the other night, where your calf muscle locks up. My leg is still sore a few days later

Oh, I hate those things.

Haven't had them in a long time.:fingerx:

You know you just have to jump out of bed and stand on it right? If you lay there writhing, it gets worse and can stretch shit which you'll feel for days.

I've gotten them on the muscle inside my thigh a couple times. I can't figure out the fix for that. Standing up doesn't help, relaxing it is worse. They last a good 10 minutes....

Eat more bananas

I just lie there, crying in pain, trying desperately to remember if I'm supposed to point my toes down or up to make it better, while the muscle is rock hard. Next time I'll get up fersure. Thanks!

My potassium level is measured every few months, and it's always very normal.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN … THE NATIONAL ANTHEM …

Those engaged in the protest du jour may at this time take a knee.

Take mine first

I used to be an adventurer like you, but then I took an arrow in the knee.

Today was great. I saw the PT guy and really like him. I feel better each day. Things like bounding up and down the staircase are still not happening yet but general walking is getting much better. The PT guy said to ditch the cane although I still might use it at night when I get up to pee, at least just from the bed to the bathroom. This is an area where many older people (and I guess I am part of that group) slip or fall and break bones and joints.

But I feel like I did well. My lower calf on the effected leg is sore but from work, not overwork.

See what tomorrow brings but I am feeling a whole lot better about our trip to Singapore in 2 weeks.

I kneed you to learn to spell my-knees-cuss properly.....

:p:

Pa-tell him

Wonder if the OP is still around and how the knee is doing. My right knee began to make a lot of noise when I was 57 and now at 82 it's been thru a lot in 25 yrs. All worse since hip replacement in 2010, and ended up with staph infection in right knee from doc's needle of Prolo injection. I was doing good and the 5th series did me in, talk about regrets....

The staph infection docs at hospital did a knee clean out and I believe it made it all worse....

Anyway, I will NOT do another surgery of any kind that is Elective, and manage with my walker. And I avoid steroid injections, it's known that the steroids do more damage to any tissue left in the joint.

And there are good outcomes from knee replacements and NOT good ones, I know of people with both stories.

I had a lifetime of activity and believe too consumed too much sugar and carbs which also brings on OA in the joints, and a lot of genetic, and of course years of wear and tear.

Wondering is the OP person still here and status? j

Chris is still around, kinda. He posts sporadically, at best. And usually only after some milestone or other.

Knees are weak and deserve to be punished.



paraphrasing my friend's quote about his liver

Deserve to be punished???? They carry a lot of weight and are put thru the wringers and are for many the FIRST joints to go.

Considering it all, I didn't have creeking until I was 57, left knee is still doing good at 82.