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20yo, chronic knee pain keeping me up at night.

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naomi05886
naomi05886

I'm 20 years old and female. Around 9 I got Osgood schlaughter disease and since then I've been in and out of physical therapy with constant knee pain. At 15 (2010) I had a lateral release performed on both knees due to a dislocating Patella. Since then, I have also had a shoulder surgery for a constantly dislocating shoulder (plus 4 tears). I have dislocated or subluxed hips, toes,elbows, knees, shoulders, patellas, ribs...

Basically, my whole body is loose and has many problems. One of my knees though is really bad at this point with pain down to medial mid shin and up the IT band. My knees hyperextend around 30 degrees and bend 4 directions in general.

Anytime I go to a doctor they just send me to pt without doing new tests. How can I convey to a doctor that my knee pain is significant, keeping me up at night and leading me to tears during an easy 5 minute bike ride?

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • sueisobel
    sueisobel naomi05886

    Posted

    Ouch, you are really suffering. I found the following  written with children/young adults in mind ""Osgood Schlatters is a very common cause of knee pain in young athletes, it is a condition where the bony lump below your knee cap becomes painful and swollen during and after exercise.

    The reason for this is the main thigh muscle (the quadriceps) attaches to this bony

    lump. When our bones grow our muscles have to stretch so during a growth spurt

    the thigh muscle becomes tight.

    When you play sports the muscle then pulls on the bone causing pain and swelling.

    The more this happens the larger the lump becomes.

    It usually affects those:

    • Between ten and 15 years old

    • Who are having a ‘growth spurt’

    • Involved in sports, usually sports that involve running and jumping.

    There is nothing you can do to stop Osgood Schlatters. It will stop when you stop growing. However the following will help to relieve the symptoms.

    Rest

    • Cut down on the time you spend playing sport till the pain has gone

    • Avoid sports that involve a lot of running or jumping. Swimming can be a useful substitute.

    Ice

    • Ice the affected area for ten to 15 minutes especially after activity

    • Make sure you protect the skin by wrapping the ice in a towel.

    Elevation

    • Elevate the leg when painful and swollen especially after sports.

    Pain relief

    • Pain relieving medication may reduce pain and swelling but you need to discuss options with a pharmacist or your GP

    Gentle muscle stretches

    Hold stretches for 30 seconds three times a day.

    It may take several weeks or months for the pain to completely stop. In most people, Osgood Schlatters goes away on its own with a little rest and time.

    However if you ignore the pain and play through it, the condition may get worse and be more difficult to treat.

    When the pain is completely gone, you can slowly return to your previous level of activity.

    With future growth spurts the pain may return therefore keep doing the stretches and follow the advice given"""

    I have copied the above and hi-lighted the must do's.  I hope it is of use to you.

    Once the pain has subsided, do quads and hamstring exercises. Do absolutely nothing that involves twisting. If you have to wear braces, do so, especially when you exercise (get the ones with metal down the sides to give you more stability).

    I cannot answer the rest of your query, but would suggest you NOT show other people what you can do, unless it is to a medical professional, as each time you do so the joints will become weaker.  Researsh what muscular strength building exercises you can do.  You are still young and hopefully as your skeleton matures it becomes more stable.  If you can find a good sports doctor (as opposed to your doctor) do so.  Are you in the US or UK (UK I might be able to help, but not US).

    If the need to exercise is overwhelming, try swimming, that way you can exercise (even resistance training) without stressing your body too much.

    I hope you find help soon (have you had the "You'll grow out of it" sermon yet??)  There is an element of truth in it, but you have to work at it.

    Good luck

    • naomi05886
      naomi05886 sueisobel

      Posted

      I haven't had osgood schlaughter since I stopped growing a few years ago...that's just how my pain started. I know I'm not supposed to do any general quad exercises or use a brace with metal on it. I've been in PT for 7 different joints over the past 7 years and done 4 years worth just for my knees. As I get older though, my body is just breaking more. I have an orthopedic surgeon who is a specialist in shoulders and knees (completed my shoulder surgery last summer). Swimming still dislocates my other shoulder though and I work in a gym coaching gymnastics.

      I highly doubt I'll grow out of any pain since arthritis and joints are only supposed to get worse over the years

  • david55379
    david55379 naomi05886

    Posted

    Naomi i feel for you!

    If you ever want a referral to a YOUNG Doctor taught by his father, Educated on the latest and Greatest, the newest and Latest techniques in ALL OF ORTHOPEDICS call Dr JEFF GOLDSTEIN in CHICAGO 847-375-3000 and I promise you the BEST in 21st century medicine!

    David

  • Oldfatguy1
    Oldfatguy1 naomi05886

    Posted

    Terrible position to be going through. Have the done investigative tests such bone scans, mri, x rays etc. or are they just feeling and asking question. Are you going to an orthopedic specialist or just a primary care physican. If it's the latter I would insist on getting to an ortho as soon as possible. If p t isn't getting results there has to be some form of structural damage and it needs diagnosis so the correct repair can be implemented. Let us know how you are doing.
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