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Worried about my left knee/ lower femur

Posted , 6 users are following.

paul69306
paul69306

Hi

New here. 48 male.

Ive been having pains in my left knee, especially at night for a fair fair few weeks now from what i remember as it came on very slowly. Its a dull ache rather than a sharp pain so its hard to pin point the exact place but i would say its on my upper front knee and radiates up my lower left femur.

I can walk fine, no extra pain moving just this dull ache all the time. If i straighten my leg in bed i can feel its slightly more painful behind my kneecap.

Im not sure if its getting worse or the fact im now aware of it at night but its definitely keeping me awake or if i awake in the night i have trouble getting back to sleep.

I cannot remember hurting my knee at all, certainly no trigger and i dont really do much excercise and im also not overweight.

Ive been taking ibrprofen but its not helped at all.

Im getting a little worried as i would think it should have got a little better by now and im a little young for arthritus and its just the left knee.

I do suffer from anxiety so think i need to make an appointment with my gp but im not sure what to say so he will send me for tests instead of fobbing me off due to my age.

Anyone had a similar problem or can anyone give me some pointers of the best way foreward to get answers.

Paul

0 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • kristenstewart
    kristenstewart paul69306

    Posted

    You can try knee pillows for elevating your legs. Maybe blood circulation is not working thoroughly and that's why you are facing pain if you don't get any types of injury in your knees. 

  • kathleen_65043
    kathleen_65043 paul69306

    Posted

    Morning Paul it does not matter what age you are if you are having pain that you can’t explain and it’s worrying you go and see your Dr it could be nothing he /she will be able to tell you you may need an x-ray or Enron some physio taking ibuprofen all the time is not good for your stomach go and see your Dr x
  • natalie04381
    natalie04381 paul69306

    Posted

    Hi I'm 48 and suffered for a while with my knees, I went for tests and turned out I had osteoarthritis and I had a total knee replacement in January this year. Go and have some tests might be nothing but best to check

  • paul69306
    paul69306

    Posted

    Thanks for the replies guys.

    Wow i thought i was too young to get arthritis. My pain is strange as i seem ok when im walking, dont get me wrong, there is still an ache but it doesnt hurt more when putting weight on it.

    I have noticed its a bit of a struggle getting up from the floor more than it ever has before. I just put it down to being unfit and over 40. Its not painful as such its just a struggle and i really have to put some effort it to push from my knees.

    Could i ask if you where having pains in both knees when you were diagnosed with osteoarthritis?. Also, were the pains directly behind the kneecap or above or below it?

    Mine is just one knee, the other feels ok, no ache in bed or anything. Strangely i do get aches in both hips on and off and in my lumber. Im just falling apart really.

    Paul

  • CHICO_MARX
    CHICO_MARX paul69306

    Posted

    If the anti-inflammatories didn't work in a week then you have to look for a real root cause.  It doesn't seem like this will resolve on its own.  Two thoughts...

    1. The problem could be caused by a misalignment of your hips, SI joints or lower back causing you to unconsciously shift your weight to one side or the other thereby causing the pain.  This would be manifested in a difference in leg length due to the weight shift.  This issue can be easily diagnosed and corrected by a chiropractor.  I've had this happen countless times over decades.  Always a good place to start...plus no drugs.

    2. There's something wrong in your knee or hip causing the referred pain. Personally, I had very similar pain in 2009 and it was all caused by a necrotic hip.  Got the hip replacement...all the pain went away.  I also had actual knee pain (which I knew was coming sooner or later after 45 years of playing hockey) in 2016 that was fixed by a TKR.  In your case, it may be something as simple as a torn meniscus or other cartilage/tendon issues.  For any of these, you need an orthopedic surgeon and start with imaging and then a diagnosis.

    I'd start with the ciro to see if there's a simple, inexpensive fix.  GP is of no use here...gotta see the orthopod!!!

     

  • paul69306
    paul69306

    Posted

    Hi guys

    Ive got an appointment with my gp tomorrow. Think i'll push for at least an xray to make sure its nothing bone related. Would something like arthritis show up on an xray? If its not then i will start looking at other reasons and possibly a trip to a ciro. I do have periods of hip pains so maybe it could be related to that.

    Thanks

    Paul

    • natalie04381
      natalie04381 paul69306

      Posted

      Hi Paul

      My arthritus was picked up on xray. Good luck hope all goes ok x

  • paul69306
    paul69306

    Posted

    Hi

    Went to docs regarding my knee. She gave it a once over and refered me for an xray. Funnily enough both knees have stated to hurt since i last wrote on here. Also, i failed to mention i get pains in my upper back on and off and that has come back again.

    Anyway i had an xray on thursday and the xray operator actually took 3 xrays of my knee and was typing quite alot. Now it has me spooked. Is there any reason to do a 3rd xray unless she spotted something?

    • climber
      climber paul69306

      Posted

      Paul,, Nothing wrong in taking 3 X-rays, this allows the orthopedic surgeon to have a 360 degree overall look at the condition of your knee. Based on your posts it looks like you are a very anxious type of person. Suggest you chill out and await in due course the results of the X-RAYS, by being over anxious you are probably creating phantom problems with your imagination / body, again i reiterate 'Suggest you chill out' !!!!!

    • kathleen_65043
      kathleen_65043 paul69306

      Posted

      Paul try and relax having the x-rays is a good thing the first x-ray I had was very  unsuccessful but as the pain became  unbearable I had a further x-ray three taken that time which showed exactly what was wrong with my knee resulting in a full knee replacement I was so pleased to get it done and be pain free but that is not the case knees is now 12wks still have pain swelling and stiffness but I have to work through it to make it better I’ve been told it could take up to 12 mth which I did not expect but I’m keeping positive then I might get the other one done but it’s a big might you will get lots of advice and knowledge off this sight that will help you good luck 
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