So iv done some searches on multiple occasions, but have had trouble finding a answer. The main issue is the use of the term "locking up". I know what it means, its pretty obvious, but im not sure if what I am experiencing one would consider locking up. I know most of you will tell me just to see a doctor, and that is the plan eventually. Problem is iv had a few medical issues in the past 2 years, nothing serious but doctor bills add up. d rather not see a doctor IF its not serious. So here's what im feeling. My knees always crack when I bend them, been like that for years but was never an issue. The cracking would stop after a few times ussully but sometimes id sit there bending my knee over and over for a minute with my knee cracking every time. Never any pain though. Heres the locking up part. Recently iv noticed when im sitting/laying down and my knee is bent ill get the need to stretch my leg out. I sit like a 4 a lot of my couch. One leg straight and the other bent with my foot around the knee of the straight leg. So when I straighten my leg out my knee feels like it doesn't want to go straight. I straighten it slowly and I get a sort of an ache right on knee cap. Its as close to pain as you can get without really being painful. Hard to explain, it does makes me cringe though. As soon as I ease my leg straight the pain goes away after a few seconds. I ONLY experience this when im sitting/laying with a bent leg then straighten it out. I did however feel a little pain on a little foam tap the other day. This is why im posting this. Is what I explained considered a knee locking up or am I jut stiff or something like that? Any light shed on what it really means for a knee to lock up is appreciated greatly.
It could be a few small tears in the meniscus. Only an MRI will tell. In the meantime, avoid the figure 4.
Try keeping your calves, hamstrings, and quads stretched. I find that especially keeping the calves stretched (i.e., stand on the edge of a step with toes on/ heals off, lower heals to stretch) alleviates the "catching clicking feeling", which can be prevalent when I first wake up and head down the steps. If I keep my legs limber, and thus the muscles are loose, the knee caps move more freely. You may have some inflammation, so the Aleve, as pumpmaster suggests may help. BTW, 10 years ago I had a "popping/clicking" which was a slight meniscus tear that was catching (both knees). This would happen when I would squat all the way down. It was a different sensation then when the cap catching. I ended up having both knees scoped to clean up the meniscus. This wasn't too bad (walk in/limp out out patient facility surgery, 4 weeks PT, ~3-6 months until I felt completely good as new), but hopefully this is not the case for you because unless you have coverage, there is a bit of coin involved. I hope this helps.
I have the exact same problem and never figured it out.i don't have dr money so im only going if my knee breaks.when im driving for long periods,or anything involved with sitting,i have to stretch my leg out to get rid of the pain.and sometimes I cant put any weight on my knees(cant squat down) without my leg feeling like its gonna snap in half.i tore some ligaments above my knee years ago,thats the only logical thing I can think of. if u do find out whats wrong please share so us with similar problems can get fixed if its necessary
Could be ya got some chunks of cartilage free floating around in there or none left in there. Could be a torn patella tendon as well. Either way ya may have to go get it worked on. I'm no doc. Good luck yo.
Thanks guys. Ill probably try the Aleve and keeping my legs limber, see how things go. Like I said iv had a few medical issues in the past 2 years, none serious. All cost a lot though. You guys remember the testes thread? I was basically told it will fix itself and it has. But I also paid for a hospital visit, a doctors visit, a sonogram of my sack, kidneys, and bladder. All just to be told to do nothing. And that's been the story for all the other issues. So im going to try and avoid the doctor unless things get worse or I get a few of these other bills paid first, since like some one said ill probably be sent for an MRI. zaGaffer, it was actually one of your posts about that injury, im assuming, that got me looking up knee injury threads. This was before I had this issue when all I had was the cracking. When I started having the issue I am having I immediately thought of the post of yours I read. Thanks for the input its appreciated very much
I'm no doctor, either, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. My 2 centavos is that it's your meniscus, like Gaffer & sisurfdogg said. Would be better, though, and less money out of pocket for you if it was what pumpmaster said. Get two opinions in any event & have the best sports-affiliated orthopods & PTs you can possibly locate.
Can you braddahs please list the early signs and symptoms of meniscal damage? What was the order of incidents throughout the progression of the injury and over what time period? Have had MCL issues previous but fortunate to have none other known knee ailments.
For me, having had x2 surgeries to 'repair' both meniscus: 1. keeps you awake at night, general feeling of discomfort, can't get comfortable 2. you feel like you want to straighten your leg out but it feels like you can't straighten your leg out all the way 3. eventually, you can't straighten your leg out (lock it) 4. it wakes you up at night, feeling like you need to lock your leg out but you can't quite get it to do that 5. twinges of pain 6. start popping Advil or your liquid depressant of choice just to dull the 'wrong' sensation in your knee 7. can't run as fast as normal, cause can't fully extend leg (this is advanced, like right before surgery) 8. knee hurts the day after you run, even if you just went a short distance The orthopedic guy will shave the meniscus down, get it all back into the knee, internally stitch it up. Pretty much an outpatient gig, maybe one night in the hospital. Recommend DP surgery cause: *doc likelier to be on time than in afternoon surgery *you can't eat or drink after midnight the night before (in an afternoon surgery you'll be dehydrated as hell) *you stand a better chance of going home instead of spending the night in MRSA HQ aka hospital *nurses & staff likelier to be more alert than in afternoon And, always Sharpie something like 'NO!' on your good knee pre-op. If I have to explain that one...
^+1. And I will add/strongly agree, if possible, find a good sports medicine ortho who uses outpatient facility. They are "streamlined" to perform such operations, avoiding typical bureaucracies of hospitals (as well as other issues, i.e., MRSA). It is, as I said previously, basically a "walk in/limp out" procedure (you'll need a ride home because they put you out and you wake up feeling better than you really are ), and the scope leaves two very small incisions (like mosquito bite sized), that over time are imperceptible. A few days rest and pain killers (Tylenol worked for me), and you'll be ready for PT. Scheduling early in the morning, as Yankee suggests, is a must.
If you are carrying extra weight, lose it. It won't fix the problem, but it can alleviate some of the discomfort. Speaking from my own experiences with my weight and leg injuries anyway.
Two more things, spicoli....don't wait. If you think it's meniscus, get the MRI, get two opinions & get it done. Reason you don't want to wait is cause your knee will wear on itself because of the meniscus being out of sorts. That wearing down is irreversible & will likely later turn to arthritis or just general soreness. You know the old saying: "Take great good care of your knees; you'll miss them when they're gone." #2: Rest up, as capecodcdog mentioned, & then the finest kind PT that you can avail yourself of. Most important of all is no hurry to 'come back to normal.' Every guy who has this surgery does this. no, no, no You're not getting paid 4 mln a year to play sports ergo you don't, and shouldn't, return to your normal sports for a few months, IMHO. Let it all heal up & get strong again. The pro athletes who come back quickly, that we all hear about...? They get paid a lot of money to perform, and their employers push hard for them to get back in the lineup. And they are all limping & creaking & their bodies are a mess when they're 42 y.o. Civilians have the good fortune of letting it all heal up. I made the mistake of coming back way too soon on one of my meniscus repairs.
Again, great advice WRT meniscus tears. It is a "tear", so the sooner they cut and smooth it, the less the tear will go further. As the doc explained it to me, it is like if you have a small tear in your finger or toe nail. If clip it of early, it won't tear further. They basically shave off the piece that is tearing and smooth it. If you get it done early enough, you will avoid the possibility of it "catching and locking" you knee (which I was fortunately able to avoid. The other thing is once you PT sessions are done (i.e., whatever your "plan" a lots -- mine was ~ 4 weeks of sessions), be sure to continue on your own, and gradually increase the work load until you resume full strength. Gradual resumption of gym work was very helpful. For me, it did not feel right, or IOW, I didn't feel fully confident, until somewhere in the 4 to 6 month range. Your mileage will vary, as I was ~43 at the time. I will say this, once you complete the process, you will feel so much better, less fatigue because you won't have that piece catching, etc., and whatever else was going on in the worn hinge. One last thing, to me (my experience), the knee cap catching is/feels like more of a "click" or "crack" (like when you crack your knuckles or other joints), but the meniscus tear was more of a "pop". Not a very scientific diagnostic, but for what it is worth.
Although you really should be ignored at this point in your fledgling life here on SI Forum, sparky, you strike me as not a terribly bad sort of gnome-grom; so I'll say this: next to this post is an ad for El Salvador surfing. Your assignment is as follows: break open your penny jar, buy a ticket to Centro & submit a full report to us upon your return. Now, get your warm milk & cookies because it's definitely past your bedtime.
