Knee locking

Hi,

I know you posted this over a year ago but l just had to comment because you described this so well and it is exactly what I have been suffering with. I am in my mid 20's and my knee problems started when I was around 10. I remember waking up and reaching to the end of the bed (legs in awkward positions) and my knee popped for the first time. My mum took me to a & e and it was the most horrific drive ever. Every time I moved, just the tiniest bit, it was excruiacting pain. I'm posting because it happened today, first time in about 6 months I think. Sat on the floor with my leg crossed and I lent forwards and it went. I thought very quick and instead of sitting in pain I just quickly kicked my leg out and everyone in the room was so shocked at the noise it made. I went to the doctors a few years ago and had a scan but nothing. Never had any answers. My dad had key hole surgery on his knee to remove cartilage so may be linked to that. Sorry to hear you've had problems with yours but I'm happy I've finally found people who sound like they have the exact same issue.

I'm 43 yrs old. I remember my knee first locking for the first time ever when I was in the 4th grade (9 yrs ok??). I was sitting on the floor with my calves out to the side of my thighs ( you know, how EVERY 9 yr old sits on the floor). When I went to stand up, I couldn't. My knee was locked in place in THE WIRST position ever.I'm not sure how I got out of it, I probably just tried forcing it straight, which seemed impossible at the time. The pain was excruciating and it felt like it was bone on bone scraping.It's done it at least a few times a year since childhood. Scary when it happens in your sleep. Feels like you're sleeping on your side, kneecap relaxed and slides over. You're asleep, so you don't notice until you're straighting out your leg. In highschool I had an orthopedist look at it (no MRI), and tell me I had to strengthen the muscles around my knees by doing lunges. Well, it's several years later, the lunges did nothing.It's now doing it ( feeling like it's popping out), when I'm kneeling, squatting, sitting cross legged, or just move my leg quickly. It's the weirdest/WORST feeling I've ever experienced simply bc your reaction is PANIC, and " I NEED to straighten my leg!!!"After reading some of the entry's on this thread, it's actually reassuring to know this happens to other people and their leg doesn't just snap. Bc that's what feels like is happening.

OMG.... I thought I was the only one suffering from this excruciating knee pain while in bed especially!~

I had been diagnosed by my Orthopedic Dr. a few years back, after a little pain and an x-ray, with Osteoarthritis.  I had a series of injections,and I must say, it really helped for almost a year!

I was visiting my sister for a week out of town. While still in bed early one morning... I went to bend my leg that had been stretched out during the night.  As I proceeded to bend my leg..... I felt a pain I have NEVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE!!! 

I returned home and thought it was just a freak event until it started  happening again and again and again!! This is not just an achy knee that you associate with arthritis, this is like someone has hit your knee with a sledge hammer sort of pain that I put right up there with child birth!!

I have since had an MRI which found , not only am I bone on bone, but my Meniscus is all but gone. I will require a partial knee replacement. Something I was trying to avoid like the plague but there comes a time when you can not bear the the pain any longer and it's ruining your entire life!!!

I would have another MRI and insist that the pain you are experiencing is not normal. Go to a different facility if need be or seek help from another Orthopedic Dr. that takes you seriously!

I pray that you will get the help you need because believe me... I'm feeling your pain, waiting on my surgery!

hI I'm 21 years old and have been having this issue in both knees multiple times, each time it has happened have been when I have turned over in bed and held my knee strange! I've had multiple MRI scans I've had crutches even leg braces sometimes! Sometimes it's so painful the gas and air won't work so I'm on morphine before they can even move me from bed! The hospital have never been able to straighten my leg into place so I'm usually unable to move my bent knee for up to at least two weeks, when it finally does go it makes An awful pop and the relief is crazy! The last time it happened I was just too scared to move so massaged the muscle around my leg for a good hour or two just stopping the cramps as much as I could, I then had a friend massage under my leg while slowly moving my lower leg side to side! After a couple of minuites my leg seemed to slide into place! Making a pop that usually takes weeks when trying the straightening method!

It might not work for everyone but up to now I have had no issue and I was able to walk about half an hour after it popped back!

I'm so glad that I found this post! I'm currently experiencing an episode with my knee and haven't been able to get it to "pop" back into place. It's been like this since yesterday afternoon. I initially went to urgent care where the Dr. couldn't get it to reset and referred me to Ortho. Went to my appt. this afternoon and was made to feel like I was faking or being over dramatic. He said he couldn't perform a good exam because I was too defensive with my leg. X-rays showed no issues, which didn't surprise me but I'm hoping an MRI tomorrow will since it's still not back to normal. I had ACL reconstruction at 16 and am currently 36. I've experienced these episodes over the last 20 years but have always been able to get it back into place by straightening my leg. It would always return to normal with a loud thud that could be heard by others. Hope I get some answers in the next few days.