Knee Unstable until it pops

Posted , 4 users are following.

Backstory: I was mowing the yard and for no reason that I could tell, I felt my knee crunch, There was no pain or swelling, so I finished mowing the yard, then the next day I felt unstability and some pain on the outside of my knee.

Now the problem is, for the most part I don't experience much pain, except for some nagging slight pain in the joint just outside of the knee cap. But, whats worse, is everytime I sit for any period of time, as soon as I get up to walk, my knee feels unstable almost like the lower leg is loose at the joint. After a short amount of walking my knee will finally pop then my knee and leg feel stable and I feel safer to walk a longer distance. I have full range of motion and no clicking in the knee under normal walking. What I have noticed though is if I duck walk my knee clicks with every step, which is followed by pain on the outside of the knee. 

I am going to the dr this week, but for now I am just curious if anyone has experienced anything like this and what was the problem. I have scoured the internet but have been unsuccessful in finding out any information. 

1 like, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • Posted

    Don't know whether its the same thing but my knee crunches and clicks on a regular basis. Just an occasional bit of pain. Nothing too much. My right knee TKR was around 2 and a half years ago and I still get it. Somebody said it will go but that was a long time ago and Im just resigned to it now. I have questioned the surgeon who did it and got a 2nd opinion from one with a better reputation and both said it was quite normal and nothing to worry about. 

  • Posted

    manigma77 Do you exercise regularly? Maybe consider a knee that supports stability while walking, but don’t use it for too long as this may cause dependence. I’ve suffered with knee instability for almost 8 years and muscle strengthen exercises have helped me the most after two surgeries on my knee.  Try sitting down on the floor with your legs straight and then tighten your quadriceps on each leg until your knee is pulled into your leg.  Hold for 5-10 seconds and do about 10-20(If 10 to reps is too much, start at 5 and gradually increase the repetitions until you can do 10 or 15 each day) reps per day for each knee. This exercise helps your quad muscles to keep your knee in place so that it doesn’t pop out and cause pain. Sitting on a table with a leg weight on your ankle. Lift the weighted leg up and hold for 10 seconds. This is an advanced version of the previous exercise. It's important to do both legs even if only one patella is partially-dislocating. Hopefully you can get a clear answer from your doctor!

    • Posted

      Sorry, I meant knee *brace* that supports stability. 

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