Knee Swelling... some questions

[huskybear]

Hello all...

It seems that I have severe swelling in my left knee that has been there for a while but over the past couple of weeks has progressed to being problematic.

A quick history... back about 15 years ago I developed water on my knee from playing football... basically you could see the ripples of the fluid when I moved and when I bent my knee, I could stick my index finger in to my second joint before touching my knee cap, but it wasn't painful at all, just odd... it simply went away after about 6 months and was never really an issue again

This swelling seems to be inside the joint. It is most visible on the outside of my knee, and has been visible all this time, but has gotten more pronounced the past couple of weeks, to the point that when I bend my knee, the fluid is pushing out of the inside of my knee, and I can't kneel down on it or bend it without feeling like the knee will burst.

I've tried icing it, but while it felt okay after a few minutes, once I stopped the swelling came back worse.

Now I plan on seeing my doctor this week and showing her, but she's a general practicioner and I need to push her for a referal.

So...

1) anybody have a similar experience that could yield some treatment advice

2) any suggestions for what kind of referel to push for? i.e. just a PT thing, or a knee specialist?

Thanks for reading all this and advice welcome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[natediesel]

I tore my meniscus in two places and lived with it for 2 years before getting surgery. The swelling would come and go depending on how much I used it (or rested it...).

Treatment is boring rest, RICE... icing helps me alot even now. Elevating it. And you can do tons of crap with bands to strengthen your ankle and hips... the stronger everything around the knee, the better.

You need to know what's wrong inside right? So imho a knee guy / orthopedic surgeon is best, an MRI if you can afford it... I think you know this stuff but are just dreading it a bit maybe like I was.

I could walk on my knee so I did for 2 years, sometimes it felt unstable but I just made do until finally I squatted down too much and after that it progressively continued to get worse and I had to get surgery. Before I didn't have insurance / consistent income so I had kept putting it off.

Best of luck. Knee issues are a bitch.

[Beverly McD.]

The doctor can numb it a little, then stick a needle in and pull out the fluid you are seeing. That will give you some immediate relief, and it's a very simple procedure. Then probably an x-ray or MRI will determine the next step.
If you have had long -term problems with it you may have some arthritis in it by now.

[huskybear]

Thanks for the replies Nate and Bev... sounds much like your experiences Nate, so knee guy it is and MRI request to follow... treat it and deal with it so I can move on is probably exactly what I should do and stop avoiding.

Much appreciated... will update with whatever happens next!

[natediesel]

once the swelling goes down... regardless of how you treat it make sure you do all the rehab like it's your job! and like bev was talking about if you wait too long you could get arthritis which sucks. thats a problem i have since i gimped around on it for years... hope it goes ok.

[huskybear]

Just a quick update... had the ultrasound last week on my knees and and the results today - lots of swelling but no ligament tears...

Now I was under the impression that ultrasounds wouldn't show the ligaments?

I'm told the doc that I'm still having issues and think an MRI and specialist are still in order but haven't had a call back yet, so we'll see.

The knees better some days worse others.... I'm consistent with my prehab and foam roller stuff so that's good, but icing really seems to aggravate it... seems elevation and a hot shower with some Tylenol works well...

At any rate we'll see where things go... good times!