Knee locking
Posted , 84 users are following.
Hi,
During my late teens through to my early thirties my left knee would lock. This was always when moving my leg from left to right when the leg was bent. The pain was excrutiating - if I were to describe it it felt like bone against bone if I tried to extend the leg (I know it's not possible but that's how it felt). The pain would be at the outer edge of the knee. A lot of hot towels and courage was required to keep moving my leg millimetres at a time until eventually I would feel something at the back of my knee 'come apart', then it was immediate relief. Apart from feeling a little stiff, I experienced no swelling or bruising afterwards. I never went down to the doctors as I thought it was part and parcel of a problem that I had had with my knee since my teens (Chrondomylacia Patella).
I am now in my early forties and my knee hasn't locked for approximately 8 years until several weeks ago when it happenend in the early hours of the morning when I turned over in bed. Unfortunately I had to call the Paramedics and after plenty of Gas & Air and 3 hours later it unlocked but this time the back of my knee was about 6 inches off the bed before it popped - normally it unlocks whilst still relatively bent. The thought of going through that again terrified me so I went to the Doctors.
I have had an MRI scan and was advised that the scan hadn't shown anything. I have to admit to feeling upset that nothing has shown that can be rectified to stop it happening again. I've now been 'dimissed' by the Doctor with no advice other than if it happens again they'll refer me and a full stop.
Has anyone else had/got a similar problem?
Any help/suggestions would be really appreciated.
Many thanks.
5 likes, 136 replies
eddie_85897 Hartley
Posted
Hello. I also am having the same issue as you . This happened at work . So I go for the hole X-ray and MRI and it shows nothing, i was out of work for 3 months 4-17- 17 to 7-10-17 . The orthopedic does a scope and say he sees nothing wrong. So I do therapy 3 days a week and everything is ok . Now today while at work on 7-12 17 it does this again. I was given the knee cap brace to where and had it on at this time .. now I'm stuck between a rock and hard place , don't know to tell my employer it lockout again because now I'm a risk , or go through a new doctor to get a 2nd apinon and if I do that and they don't find anything.. my question is did you ever find out what it was wrong Because I'm having the exact same issue
tpapasid eddie_85897
Posted
Hi Eddie!I've had this happening to my left knee for years and I managed to find a specific way to unlock my knee that ALWAYS works !!!
I sit (on bed, chair, bench) with both feet on the floor.I then place the ankle of my left leg on my right knee so that my lower left leg (shin) is parallel to the floor. I then use both hands to push HARD on the inner side of my left knee. I sometimes hear a slight "squish" sound (with no pain!) and then the knee has unlocked.It also helps (in the same position) if you push on the inside of the left knee with your left hand while with the right hand you pull your left ankle towards your abdomen.One of my mates had the same problem when we were together on a sailboat during a race, he tried what I describe above and he was immediately okLet me know how you get on when you try it!
eddie_85897 tpapasid
Posted
When this happens I can not walk regularly, I have to walk on the balls of my toes , I'm finding that it happens when I get up off the floor a certain way , so far it has happened when I was asleep, and one time as I was sitting in a chair at the vets office with my dog , I had the MRI done and the X-ray and it showed nothing I have the knee cap brace also , and it still does it if I get up a certain way , very scary
Jcriz tpapasid
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Jcriz
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eddie_85897 tpapasid
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Hi .. so far I have not had any issue with the knee , I'm very careful on how I move , and since I have been doing that I have had no problem. I went for my 2nd app with a new doctor and again he does not know why this is happening, he did say something about a lateral release may have to be done but he wants to watch it for the next five weeks . I hope someone can get this figured out , and if any one does pleas share, so many people are having these issues and no one can figure out why
Jcriz Hartley
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eddie_85897 Jcriz
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Yes it is very scary for sure , and what makes it worse is the doctor has not a clue as to what is going on , I'm very careful as to how I move now I pretty much pull myself off the floor, like I don use my knees to get up , and I have not had any problems as of yet , I'm on my 2nd doctor and he does not know what is going on . Have to go back and see him in 5 weeks
tongey57 Hartley
Posted
Wow, well I have just joined up purely because all of you are having the same issues I have. I'm 38 now and I have been having knee locks episodes for the past 20 years. I initially thought mine was due to a car accident in the late 90's but I vaguely remember a locking incident prior to that and thought the accident just aggravated it.
I have probably on average 2-3 locks per year and all have been caused by being crossed legged or getting up from the floor at an awkward angle. I have had 3 doctors look at my knee, and MRi and physio and all are inconclusive as to what is actually happening. my MRI came back clear and that was in january this year. My worst lock to date happened yesterday. I had to wear a lot of protective equipment at work and I got down onto the floor quickly and I felt it go. A lot of you describe excruciating pain whilst mine is quite painful it's not as bad as some describe, I suppose I'm lucky there.
I have a method that normally works to pop it back in and that to start on my right side (i only get in in my right knee) and roll up to all fours whilst slowly straightening out my leg, sometimes it take 2 or 3 goes and thuds back into place, yesterday though was different, because of the padding my movement was restricted so couldn't pop it back in, I had to remove all the pads but it still wouldn't work, I hobbled about for a bit wondering what to do, obviously I was sweating quite a bit now thinking I had a trip to hospital to contend with, but fortunately after resting a few minutes and stripping down my clothing I managed to roll onto all fours and with no noise at all managed to straighten my leg. The relief is amazing but not a feeling I want to get used to.
I have had after effect before like slightly numb feet for a bit and tight sensation around the knee but nothing that lasts any particular length of time. My knee is tight today and I heard doing Popliteus muscle stretches helps.
Anyway it's good to see I'm not the only one in no mans land about this issue, I avoid being crossed legged and going down tot he floor on my right side now especially after yesterday!!
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irene18051 Hartley
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sue77827 irene18051
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Did you see the tip I mentioned above, where instead of trying to straighten it, you hug your knee to your chest? I couldn't believe it when it worked! Wish I'd known about that years ago!
irene18051 sue77827
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sue77827 irene18051
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Pleasure. It's so awful looking round this message thread and seeing all of us in so much excruciating pain at different points - thank goodness people have been able to suggest things that work! x
peter27660 Hartley
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melanie65572 Hartley
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