Knee Pain help

[crazycanuck]

Hello..HELP!

My time with the knee brace ended over the weekend and am regaining movement. I still walk like i'm 85yrs old but hey i'm walking!

BTW-I've done a few physio sessions and do the regimen of exercises provided-pool & on land. I don't have my knee taped(physio removed it today) atm and am just taking the walking very very very slowly and carefully. I have another appt on thurs.

My main questions are:
1-Why is it that i have to constantly keep moving whilst at work in order not to become stiff? I didn't get much done today as staying still made the stiffness worse.

2-I often can't "walk" at all as the pain in the side of my knee is so great that moving is worse than standing still. The pain subsided today when i stood on my tippie toes but i walked even slower after.. The best description of the pain is someone poking the area where the MCL is with thier finger.

3-HOw do i know if the pain is a good thing or a bad thing? I know my knee region is going to be painful BUT i'm not at the stage to know all of the actions that cause excruciating pain.

Are all these pains because of weak glutes n hammies in my right leg??

If you can suggest anything, i'd appreciate it.


C

[KnottedYet]

I can answer everything in 3 little words: I don't know.

Really, I'd have to see your knee and know how you move on it, etc, before I could make any intelligent comments.

But, with that caveat I *can* make a few semi-intelligent generalities.
1. That joint is a very busy neighborhood. Lots of construction and remodelling going on, lots of juicy stuff circulating. It probably likes to swell inside and outside the joint space during this time, lots going on. So, every time you sit or rest it, you feel the juiciness building up. Plus probably some muscle guarding.

2. I dunno. Horrible nasty take-your-breath-away pain is worth chatting with the doc about. (since it got better when you stood on tippie-toes, it might just be an alignment thing that eases up when you contract the gastroc/ham. They interlace sort of at the back of the knee and have a LOT to do with supporting and stablilizing the knee joint. Remember, busy neighborhood so things are all a bit free-form.)

3. Busy neighborhoods are very sensitive. Small irritations and motions can feel like HUGE events. However: fall-to-the-ground pain or someone-shoot-me-now pain or this-feels-very-wrong pain should ABSOLUTELY be discussed with the doc. General guideline is if it goes away in a minute or two and if you can do the same motion a bit later and it hurts a bit less, then it's something that's resolving as you move it.

These pains are probably NOT just from weak glutes and hammies. They are likely from the remodelling that's going on and from muscle guarding and from the knee having to "fend for itself" without tape or brace. Weightbearing is a big deal for joints, it kicks the healing process into overdrive in a big hurry.

Your doc and your physio are your best resources. I don't mind at all when patients call me for reassurance when we push them to a new level, I'm sure your physio wouldn't mind, either. Give 'em a call!

[crazycanuck]

Knot-Thanks so much for your help Muchly appreciated.

I'll keep an eye on the range of motion & feelings in my knee over the next few days. I'm doing pilates & swimming today & tomorrow so we'll see if these things help in addition to the exercises provided by my physio.

I don't want to bother my physio as the clinic is super super busy.

C