Now in a panic!!!!

Posted , 8 users are following.

Everything has been going so wonderfully until today, and when I got the bend to what must have been somewhere between 115 and 120 there was suddenly excrutiating pain at the back of the knee as though something was trapped there.  Of course, I looked online and have come up with impingement.  The description of impingement sounds just like my experience!  BUT could this be caused by swelling and might it go away without needing further surgery?  I'm icing the back of the knee still, as I have done, but really worried about extending it to that point now!  Any ideas?  Or, someone, please tell me this is normal!

0 likes, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • Posted

    I didn't experience that. . couldn't be a Baker's Cyst could it?  If it persists, I should go back to the specialist. . hope it clears up quickly!  everything is so scary when you don't know what is happening!

     

    • Posted

      Thanks Martinarvelo, but I don't think it is.  There's no particular swelling there other than the general swelling around the knee and it only hurts at all when I get to that angle of 115 to 120 ish and then it's a sudden pinching feeling, almost like a cramp but the moment I stretch the leg out slightly, the pain goes.  I think I might try and phone the physio at the hospital tomorrow to hopefully get a bit of reassurance.  If this is just par for the course, then fine, I can tolerate it in the hopes of it improving or not getting worse, but it's the thought of needing more surgery on it that's worrying me.  You are SO right though - it's just not knowing!

    • Posted

      Yes, glad you have the back up of the physio to ask!  I had nobody to refer to, which is what brought me to the forum!  Fingers crossed it's just one of the many annoying agonising things which happen with this surgery!

  • Posted

    Hi Chris, ooh err, that doesn't sound good. You should speak to your physiotherapist get some advice. You need to know if it is going to be a visit to the surgeon ASAP.

    I hope it's nothing serious, as you said it is the just NOT knowing.

    All the best

    Marilyn

    XX

    • Posted

      Thanks Marylin and Ellen.  I am going to phone the hospital and ask to speak to the physio today just to check it out.   I'm only two and a half weeks (will be three weeks this Wednesday) post op so it might well be me panicking over something that isn't awfully relevant but I've had SO little pain that this came as a huge shock and was so bad that it actually brought me out in a hot sweat LOL!  I'm just frightened to push the leg to the most flexed because of it now.  If they reassure me that it's part and parcel of it all, then fine, I will plough through it, even with trepidation LOL!   I'll let you know what they say when I get through:-)  It was helpful that the physio and the nursing staff said if there were any worries I could phone and ask anything.  I'm sorry you didn't have that option Martinavelo! 

  • Posted

    Chris, you don't say how long ago you had your surgery. I am 12 weeks post op and get a horrid pain behind my knee and down my leg. My PT said it was the Achilles' tendon and I needed to do more stretching exercises. I find it hurts more if I am on my feet for long periods of time. Riding my stationary bike helps to loosen up. Definitely call your doctor and get it checked out.

    • Posted

      Just got straight through to physio at the hospital - REASSURED LOL!  It's NORMAL to get that pain at the back of the knee if you're pushing the bend just a bit too much!  It's my enthusiasm that is at fault LOL!  I think because my muscles and ligaments tend to have a bit more laxity in them because of hypermobility, I'm able to push it more than I would be otherwise and that's why there is the pain!  PHEW!  They were SO sweet at the hospital.  I'm so grateful to them - I could cry!

    • Posted

      Yes I was going to say are you pushing the bend a bit too far.

      No idea when you had TKR but it took me about 6 weeks to get to 90.

      Take care

      Sarah

    • Posted

      Well at least that's one question answered. So glad for you.

      Perhaps a little less zeal???

      Marilyn

      XX

    • Posted

      Sorry - only just got these replies through!!!!!  Yes, I was three weeks at that point.  I dropped back a little when I couldn't push it so much but am at a steady 112 at four weeks now, and pretty happy with that really.  I'm sitting on the recliner with the knee bend to that degree for quite a while during the day, and it's comfortable.  I am being careful not to go over that 'catching' point:-)

    • Posted

      People are so different.

      There is no way I would have been at 112 after 4 weeks.

      As long as you are comfortable with that I think that is OK.

      Keep it up

      Sarah

    • Posted

      That's exactly it Sarah!  It is different for everyone, and that journey goes up and down too.  I'm now 118 at 5 weeks but taking it as it comes really and going gently, gently, never pushing to pain!  I did that once and my physio told me NOT to push to that point for a couple of weeks, but a week was enough for it to settle again.  But I'm careful not to push too much now and just do a slight stretch.

  • Posted

    I just had surgery on the 21st of March. Reason being -bone on bone with a developed leaking baker's cyst. Seems that arthritis generally causes it -like arthritis isn't bad enough. I don't know how severe your ailment is rather surgery is being considered- however once it was determined I had the cyst my Dr said ,surgery,- by correcting the bone on bone would help the discomfort . I am working with physical therapy which started on the 23rd lol. I believe my knee has improved but I am also suffering from bursitis in the right hip which is causing majority of my pain now- any suggestions should I get a shot in my hip while still regrouping from my surgery.. if in your case not ready for surgery , an Ace bandage my relieve the pressure on your knee much like treating water on the knee

    • Posted

      Hi Melinda.  Would it be a steroid injection in your hip?  If so, wouldn't that lower your resistance to healing for your knee?  (That's a question, not a statement).   I've had VERY minor hip issues since my op only a couple of times though and they've gone again.  I think just walking differently can cause some of these problems.  Would a course of anti inflammatories help?

      The back of my knee is improving thanks.  It's not a Baker's cyst - at least I don't think it was.  It's a post op thing.   I didn't push the bend for a week and that made a difference, but started again on the recumbent bike and noticed it's flared up a bit again, but not as bad as it was, so just going gently gently with everything.  I won't stop the recumbent again this time but only increasing half a circuit a day.  I think I might start the treadmil VERY slowly this week, holding on the arms as I always have done, because the right knee is a bit unstable - waiting fo the TKR on that one.

      I hope you can get your hip sorted.  It is frustrating to have to deal with something like that whle going through the knee healing!

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