Medical question time! For the record, I am seeing a doctor, my follow-up is actually this afternoon, but I would like some additional data.
Around August, I did something to my knee - I was trying to see if I could climb vertically using lateral pressure against two vertical supports (yes, I know. I shouldn’t be doing that. I’m an oddball) - basically, pressing my back and my foot into opposite sides of a door frame.
The door frame not being particularly wide, I couldn’t really muster enough leverage to stay off the ground, but I tried pretty hard - putting a lot of weight/force onto my right leg, and consequently my right knee, as it was in a very nearly totally compressed position.
And yeah, it was a bit sore for a day or two, but I thought nothing of it. Muscle strain, I’d guessed. And sure enough, it went back to normal… mostly. I’d get twinges of pain when walking on stairs. I couldn’t bend the knee under my full weight without pain. It was ‘popping’ into place when I’d sit down.
I figured it’d work itself out, and went on with my usual exercise routine. It didn’t really get better or worse, and I began to get concerned, because I’m old enough that this could become a serious hindrance once normal joint wear and tear starts adding on top of it. Plus, I even noticed some crackling when moving the kneecap around.
Two week ago, I went to the doctor, and he told me to avoid stairs for a while if possible and to stop exercising, let it heal. I’ve done that. The crackling stopped within a day or two. And the pain - though it was already pretty minor - does seem less now. Buuuuuut… I want to resume my exercise routine. I don’t want to start gaining weight. And my doctor … I have issues with him. He doesn’t communicate very well, and tends to be pretty dismissive. If I get some additional thoughts from you folks, maybe I can ask him better questions this afternoon.
What I am hoping for : I want my knee back at 100%. Without surgery. It seems like it might get there, but I have no idea how long it will take. I don’t even have a diagnosis from the doctor. I assume it was a tendon strain two weeks ago, but it sounds more like PFPSto me now. It feels like the cartilage / synovial fluid / whatever that cushions the back of the knee from bumping into the bottom of the femur is damaged/thinned. Does that heal on its own usually? I’ve got no weakness in the joint, no pain while standing or sitting, just slight pain if the limb is under weight and transitioning from the one position to the other. (Like, if we picture standing as a 180 degree angle, and sitting as a 90 degree angle, 135 degrees and a few degrees to either side is the pain point.) Pain’s hard to localize, but I think it’s behind the kneecap.
Looking for thoughts, advice, hope-inspiring anecdotes, whatever you’ve got.