[PunchSideiron]

I recently got back into biking after a somewhat long hiatus. I was riding a lot last week - whenever I could get the chance basically. On my first real ride, last week, I realized that I had the seat post adjusted a little high - I could feel it while pedaling - so I lowered it and adjusted it until it felt just about right.

After a few days riding, I noticed I was waking up with some slight pain in my knee. Nothing bad at all, after I'd get out of bed and move around for a few minutes and it would feel fine. Until Sunday morning.

I woke up and my knee was in severe pain - some of the worst I've ever felt. I hadn't taken any falls or anything, so I figured I'd do the regular stuff - ice, anti-inflammatory, rest - for a day and if it was still bad I'd go to the doctor the next day.

It was still bad the next day so I went and saw a general practitioner who couldn't do much, so the next day I saw a specialist. Now, I'm on prescription anti-inflammatory and painkiller medications, and I've got a knee brace locking my knee at 30 degrees and an appointment for next week, but no idea what is causing the pain.

Has this happened to anybody else, and if so, what was the cause?

 

[Bob_Element50]

Could be a lot of things.

The list of things that can go wrong and cause knee pain is very long. You didn't really give much info aside from the fact that your knee hurts. When you see the doctor next, try to be specific with the symptoms. Is there swelling? What part (medial, lateral, anterior, posterior) hurts? How's the range of motion? Is it "catching" or locking at any point when moving it through the motion? Does the knee feel unstable?

Since it just showed up after riding a lot after a long layoff, it could just be something simple like tendonitis or some other over-use injury. You made a good decision seeing the doctor. Make sure he's aware that the flare up came after getting back to riding and he has experience with sports.

I hope you're feeling better and back on the bike soon. :thumbsup:

 

[PunchSideiron]

Sorry, I should have been more specific. Yeah, there is swelling - quite a bit - and there is barely any range of motion at all, the knee's basically stuck at about a 30 degree angle. The pain seems to be coming from the outer side (right side) of my right knee, at least that's what the tests indicated. Unstable, yeah - until I got the brace I couldn't put any weight on it at all.

And yeah, I mentioned to the doctors that it came from getting back to riding, they mentioned a few things (seat post height, etc...), so they seemed to be at least somewhat familiar with it, and that's why they haven't taken any of the joint fluid for sample yet. I'm sort of limited by where my health insurance will let me go, so I can't really shop around for doctors much.

Thanks.

 

[Gevorg]

This could be multiple things. Make sure to see an orthopedic surgeon, get an MRI and x-ray. when knee locks up and is unsatble it could very serious injury like ACL/MCL tear and meniscus tear

 

[Blister Butt]

Tear to lateral meniscus

I'm not a doctor so don't take this as medical advice or a diagnosis. Sounds like a tear to the lateral meniscus, particluarly with the knee "locking" up like it did. See a specialist right away and get an MRI. Have the specialist read the MRI. If he/she recommends surgery, get a second opinion. If the second opinion recommends surgery, get the best doctor you can find to do the surgery.

Ask LOTS of questions. If you don't understand the answers, keep asking. There is tremendous pressure after a knee injury for the medical profession to just sweep a patient away into Surgery Land as quickly as possible. Realize that once your knee is cut, it will never, never be the same as it was, no matter how good the care is.

I have had several knee surgeries so far. During my last injury, the Medical Machine was poised to sweep me up into the surgery tract once again, but my new primary care physician said her opinion was that my injury might not need surgery and that a few weeks of TLC might be the best course of action. (Of course this flew in the face of the orthopedic surgeons, who are programmed to cut first and ask questions later.) Because my avid cycling had strengthened my knee, it turned out that the injury was a torn muscle and not a shredded meniscus or ligament, even though my symptoms were similar. I was back riding again about four weeks later and the knee has been great ever since.

So ask questions. Lots of questions. Get second opinions. Ask more questions. If you (not your doctor) come to the conclusion that surgery is what you need, then choose a surgeon wisely. I have learned the HARD way that there are plenty of bad docs out there, many so-so docs who think they're the best and one or two outstanding docs out there. If a bad doc messes with you, odds are better than good you'll be under the knife more than once.

If your insurance allows it or you have the resources to pay beyond what your insurance will cover, get the best doc you can to fix your knee, otherwise you'll be in for a long stint of recovery, potential re-injury, loss of use, pain and endless frustration.

Get recommendations from 10 or more people in your area who have actually had their knees done about who the best docs are. Certain names on both ends of the spectrum will keep popping up. Do NOT go to one of the butchers even if that's the only one your insurance will cover. It's worth the out of pocket expense not to have to go through several "do-overs" ...

After surgery, agressively follow your physical therapy. But don't over do it. Be smart about getting back to normal activities. Don't over do it, but don't wimp out, either. Wrap your mind around the fact that it will take quite a bit of time before your knee actually feels "normal" again. It will become functional very quickly, but it's a long road back to normal. Overdoing it or wimping out extends that road. In my case, it literally took four years before my knee was "normal" again. That being said, I could do all kinds of things just weeks after surgery.

Enjoy the pain killers while you're on them and then cut them off as soon as possible (you'll be more in touch with your body that way), keep a positive attitude and have some laughs as you convelesce. It's amazing the difference laughter makes in getting well.

Best of luck to you and keep us posted on your progress.

--Rev. B. Butt

 

[PunchSideiron]

Thanks for the replies. I've got a follow up appointment tomorrow morning, so then I'll see about MRI, etc... I've had so many X-Rays by now that I can't imagine I'll need any more, but you never know.

Since I last posted, the knee has started to feel an whole lot better. The swelling is going down, I can bear weight on it just fine, and while it's not back to normal, the range of motion is greatly improved. I'm seeing the specialist tomorrow either way, but I'm curious - is it possible to feel this much better while having one of the more serious injuries mentioned above?

 

[205man]

dont mess about with knees, i had a fall 3 years ago and was off work for about a month but it seemed to get better, but then slowly declined.

until i could no llonger kneel down without being helped up, it would give way for no reason and when i tried to stand up after sttiing down it would just lock up and have to be forced open.


ive now had to have an operation on it which i had in march, i had damaged the end of my femur which when it tried to heal had a rough scar which was cutting through my cartalidge, and grinding into back of knee cap.

ive had the femur ground and re-shaped and they had to dislocate it to do it and cartalidge replaced and knee car also ground and re-shaped. and because ive been limping for so long i had damage to my muscle so ive had a lateral release to my inside muscle

i wont be able to ride for another 6months

so moral of it is dont ignore it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

alan

 

[PunchSideiron]

Well, I just got back from the hospital. I can't remember the name for it, but apparently I've got a small tear in the lining of the joint, and it should get better on its own in a week or two. I've got physical therapy scheduled to make sure I'll get back the full range of motion and to strengthen it up a bit. The doctor also gave me a few exercises to do at home to help out motion. I'm still wearing the knee brace, but it's no longer locked at 30 degrees, so I can walk without feeling like one leg is a few inches shorter than the other.

 

[Smashley49]

Sorry, I should have been more specific. Yeah, there is swelling - quite a bit - and there is barely any range of motion at all, the knee's basically stuck at about a 30 degree angle. The pain seems to be coming from the outer side (right side) of my right knee, at least that's what the tests indicated. Unstable, yeah - until I got the brace I couldn't put any weight on it at all.

And yeah, I mentioned to the doctors that it came from getting back to riding, they mentioned a few things (seat post height, etc...), so they seemed to be at least somewhat familiar with it, and that's why they haven't taken any of the joint fluid for sample yet. I'm sort of limited by where my health insurance will let me go, so I can't really shop around for doctors much.

Thanks.

Hmm, I've had knee troubles for a long time, and what's happening to you sounds exactly what happened to my left knee(although I know the definite cause of it was from a sledding mishap). When I went in, the doc said that I had pulled a tendon or something in my leg, causing the inside and the outside of the knee to be very swollen. Couldn't bend it or straighten it without some serious pain.

Sometimes if I put too much strain on my knee it'll pop out and swell up again, but I can usually use it within the week. Been weak ever since, though, so now when I go biking I like to wear a brace or knee guards to keep it in place, works well.

Painkillers. Take em. Love em.

And questions, as others have said before. They're replies are really good.

 

[PunchSideiron]

Yeah, when I'm able to get out and ride again (hopefully not too far away) I'm definitely going to be wearing a brace on my bad knee. I'm also not going to be stupid (again) and keep riding when the pain is getting worse.

 

[BMUS]

Just saw this thread. Started looking at the injuries and guess what I did the exact same thing. the day after a long ride my knee swelled up and severe pain at the bottom of the knee(where the muscles connect). Never herd of this but after a check from the doc and x-rays my miniscus was pinched in the joint. His suggestion is my seat height. Better get it checked for yourself but thats my story. Ice, Elevation and Advil! and a recheck when the swelling goes down. Good luck bro.

 

[YoungGun91]

Sounds like it could be you're medial meniscus (a piece of cartilage behind you're patella)

But I'm actually just saying that to look smart, it happened to me.

You should talk to a doctor before you make it worse.