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Sharp knee pain below patella, any advice?

Posted , 3 users are following.

caseybrunet
caseybrunet

About 4 years ago, in an effort to wake up a little and get some blood flow during a coffee break from a particularly sleep inducing work meeting, I walked into the hallway and starting doing a few basic squats. I have always been a moderately athletic person, and no stranger to squats so I thought nothing of it. During these basic squats I felt a very sharp pain below my patella. This pain has never completely gone away so 4 years later I am still struggling with the same issues.

The pain is not constant, it doesn't hurt while sitting nor kneeling. It only hurts in my right knee at a very specific angle while transitioning from a squated or seated position to a standing position (or vise versa). I can do weighted squats if I lean back and put all of the weight on my heels. For some reason that does not hurt, but the second I do a squat or anything similar with weight on the front of my feet, about half way through the transition I experience that very sharp and very sudden pain.

I practice tae Kwon doe (a martial art composed of 80% kicks) with little to no pain and I can go many weeks or months without much pain, but recently while playing tennis the pain returned quickly, suddenly, and sharply as I tried to backpeddle for the ball.

I truly apologize for the very long post but I have been battling this pain for years and Everytime it returns it takes weeks of light use and Ibuprofen to suppress it again. Does anyone have any idea what my injury may be or steps I can take to repair or just suppress the pain?

I have seen a medical doctor (no help really) but not a specialist.

Thank you!

0 likes, 2 replies

2 Replies

  • tricia1954
    tricia1954 caseybrunet

    Posted

    You may need to see a specialist and get a X-ray or MRI. It sounds very similar to a piece of torn meniscus which is getting trapped in certain positions. It may need trimming off and then will stop catching. Hope this makes sense. Good luck.
  • CHICO_MARX
    CHICO_MARX caseybrunet

    Posted

    Uh...STOP the kicking...like immediately plus see an orthopedic surgeon for an x-ray and maybe an MRI.  

    First thing is that if something is going on structurally, you don't want to do any more damage so stop the activity.  I'd see a SPORTS orthopedic surgeon, a group that works for your local college and/or professional sports teams.

    If it's not structural, it may be ligament, cartilage or other soft tissue issues. Doc can rule out a lot by just an examination.  Twisting, bending and turning the knee tells him immediately, by your reaction, what issues are possible or not possible.  One twist checks the ACL...another, the meniscus.  Gotta see a real good knee guy.

    Case in point...  Took my wife to our knee guy two days ago.  She's had a lot of trouble falling for over 7 years since her brain surgery.  Convinced that she needed the knee scoped because she was certain there was something wrong inside...and she was a nurse for 30 years.  Turned out she was completely wrong.  The exam revealed inflammation of the lower quadricep tendon and NOTHING to do with her knee itself.  Anti-inflammatories plus rebuilding the quad strength is her treatment regimen.  You never know...see a knee guy.

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