Can't straighten knee?
Just based on your description, it's suspicious for a meniscal tear, which is a tear of a cushion of knee cartilage which cushions the joint between the tibia (shin bone) and femur (thigh bone). If it is torn, depending on the extent of the tear, it can be a serious injury. It is possible that something else is wrong--there are many causes of knee pain, but the combination of how this happened with the inability to straighten and pain when trying suggests possible meniscus tear. Go see an orthopedist specializing in lower extremities for this. An MRI or arthroscopic surgery is needed to see meniscal tear generally, but the doctor's exam of the knee can make it seem more or less likely to the doctor. Surgical repair is needed for a complete tear and is sometimes recommended for partial tears or for athletes very dependent on knee function. Otherwise physical therapy can help. That fact that you don't seem to be in constant strong pain suggests you probably do not have a complete meniscal tear and may even have something else not as serious going on altogether. You can read more about meniscal tear by clicking these links: http://www.knee-pain-explained.com/menis... and http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topi...
Knee feels weird when i straighten it?
May call for a Drs exam, because there are several things that could cause this, but if I were to guess, I might say MCL, or it might be the meniscus. You do not have to bump the knee to injure it, athletes, cheerleaders, and dancers especially stress the tendons, ligaments and cartridge in their knees. RICE is always indicated as the first line of self treatment. Rest the joint, Ice it for the first three days, off and on, Compress the joint with a compression bandage, and Elevate the knee above the heart, preferably by resting on your back with the joint(both knees usually). Additionally NSAIDs such as ibuprofen or aleve, may help reduce inflammation. If you take NSAIDs with a little food and a lot of water, it may help to reduce stomach distress. Never exceed the label dosage for advil, motrin, aleve or any of the other NSAIDs. Limit or avoid caffeine, alcohol and smoking, as they interfere with the blood. You could take a little tylenol to help relieve pain. Dancers hurt themselves often. Do not stress this injury until it is healed. After it heals, and you return to dancing, make sure to tape your ankles and knees properly while practising. If you damage this knee often enough, badly enough, or try to use it too much before it is healed, you might need knee surgery, which would seriously limit your activity, maybe for months, or possibly years. If this injury persists, recurs or worsens, see a Dr, preferably one familiar with sports medicine. Good Luck Edit: with regards to Dr J, it could be the patellar, but that should be obvious by self exam.
Knee pain, can't straighten leg, help??
About a week and a half ago, for whatever reason, my leg started to bother me. It feels as though something in the back of my knee is sore, and whenever I try to straighten my leg, a semi-painful tight feeling prevents me from straightening it 100%. This is the only thing that bothers me - I can walk and even run okay, and I can bend it any other way I want. Has anyone else had this??? I'm just trying to calm my fears of it being something major because I have a friend right now who is out of school for knee surgery and therapy. Please don't just tell me to go to the doctor, I have a bit of a phobia and I'm trying to avoid it as much as possible. Any personal experiences would help. thank you.
Pain in my knee when I straighten it after sitting with it bent?
I have seen the type of pain you are explaining except more for bending the knee rather than straightening it, but from the rest of what you wrote pain going straight may make sense after all, especially when you are talking about tendons. They like to tighten up when pain is involved so why they do with medication I don't know. But when a tendon for your kneecap tightens up it pulls the kneecap up on and into the knee making it hard and painful to bend your knee. If you had something that tightens the tendon up it may be that when you are sitting like that for a period of time the kneecap is still trying to shorten up, pulling itself into your knee and kind of freezing there making it hard to bend you knee. You can release that tendon by doing this: Kneecaps: Do while sitting on a chair with no front cross braces between the legs. While sitting have your leg resting in a stretched position. Place both your thumbs, side by side, about 2 inches behind the kneecap and press down into your leg hard and then redirect the pressure a little towards the kneecap. After 30 seconds, slowly slide your foot back and under your chair as far as it will go, release the pressure but hold your foot there for another 30 seconds. The important part of this is the pressure on the leg, if there isn't enough this isn't going to take. If you do have that problem repeat the process once more right away.
Everytime I move my knee something pops?
Last night I had an intense cheer practice and feel quite a few times. Whenever I move my knee it hurts but it only happens whenever I bend or straighten it and if you touch it you can feel something popping in it and there's nothing like that in the other knee. You can't hear it though and there's no swelling but it hurts sooo badly. What should I do? I compete this weekend.
Knee pain, can't straighten my leg without help.?
It sounds like an issue with the cartilage in your knee... this is not something that heals on its own and, if stretched or torn, must be fixed via arthroscopic surgery (not a big deal, simple out-patient procedure leaving you with 3 tiny tic-tac sized incisions and on crutches for 3 days). You really should be checked out by a doctor, you'll need an x-ray to check for damage. Since your range of motion is limited to assisted movements, it's time to be checked out professionally. :0) Don't let it go too long, you don't want to make matters worse. Best wishes.
Knee pain when extending knee?
Hi, Sorry to hear about your knee. Knee injuries can be serious and there are many things that can be injured in the knee. You may have pulled a ligament or maybe even have a meniscus tear. I say a meniscus tear is a possibility because you state there seems to be something blocking you from extending your knee. I'm not sure what other symptoms you have but here are the symptoms of a torn meniscus: pain located on either the outer or inner side of the knee, swelling that usually occurs 2-3 after the injruy, a buckling of giving out sensation, the inability to fully straighten the knee/leg, popping or clicking in the knee that is either felt or heard, and knee locking. Do you remember hurting your knee? Like twisting it? Do you have increased pain when squatting? Meniscus tears usually occur from a twisting motion in the knee and cause more pain when squatting. Now don't automatically assume this is what you have and freak out. I'm not a doctor it's just a possibility. I would give your knee no more than a week and if your knee still hurts or the symptoms get worse, go see an orthopedist. Not the family doc; they won't do much. See an orthopedist (bone and joint doctor). They specialize in this area and will provide the most help. Good luck with your knee and I hope it's not too serious!
I can't straighten my leg all the way after a knee sprain?
Finally, someone who provides adequate information. Thank you for being an apt questioner. If you already saw a doctor and he said it was a "knee sprain", then lets work forward from that diagnosis. A sprain can be a number of damaging things to your tendons/ligaments. You can twist them, over-extend them, partially tear them and fray them. If you completely tore any tendon/ligament in the knee, you would know. The pain would be worse, the swelling would be intense and you would feel "funny" walking on it. Since you probably sprained it, it is going to take time to heal. Tendons and ligaments are primarily avascular, meaning they have a limited blood supply. Because of this, they take more time than other injuries to return to normal. You need a good, steady blood supply to supply adequate "nutrients" and remove waste products. The sensation your feeling (the bubble) is probably internal swelling. When you injure the tendon or ligament, your body induces or causes swelling for numerous reasons like protection, decreased range of motion, and allowing things to begin healing. This is why you can't straighten or bend your leg all the way. Your body is literally saying, do not do this because this tendon is injured. Basically, this sensation is normal and nothing to worry about. You can expect this sensation to be around for several more days up to and including a week. It's going to feel sore and you shouldn't over use the leg. Again, this takes time to heal, so go easy on it. Wear your brace as you feel necessary but continue to walk on it. Rest and wearing the brace helps, but over using either one will prolong your recovery. In other words, exercise but take it slow. Your knee will inform you if you are over doing it. You can take NSAIDs to alleviate the swelling and any pain. Most commonly I recommend Ibuprofen. If the swelling gets worse, apply alternating heat and cold, elevate and rest. You're going to be fine. Best of luck. Any other questions just ask me.
Why does one of my knees sound like popping corn when I bend or straighten it?
There are many reasons why the knee can click and pop. Sometimes the answer to this question can be totally benign or times more serious. A meniscal tear will click - pop but most likely also catch / lock at a specific point when you are bending and straightening your knee. Also there is a condition in which a meniscus may be abnormally shaped known as discoid meniscus that causes audible popping. Arthritic issues can cause your body to lay down excess bone within or near joint surfaces that can cause excess friction.There are a number of more benign causes such as muscle groups around the knee that can become aggravated by inflammation and partial tears along insertion sites. Common examples are iliotibial band friction syndrome, snapping biceps femoris (ham string) over its insertion site of the fibula.
Bone pops out of place in my knee sometimes..?
Its hardly likely to be a bone, its probably displaced cartilage, which feels hard and can be quite painful. A good physiotherapist may be able to manipulate it back into place. Initially you should get your General Practitioner to take a look at it, or go to an outpatients surgery at your local hospital or clinic, these things have a habit of getting worse if neglected and the pain can be excruciating. Its probably the result of a twist or knock at some earlier stage. I had it after being struck on the knee by a cricket ball.After some weeks of treatment it got completely better. As you say, it is most annoying/distressing as it can painfully pop out when you least expect it... and it prevents you from relaxing and enjoying normal exercise. Whatever happens get it quickly attended to before it gets so bad you need an operation to remove the offending cartilage.If this happens you are likely to suffer some discomfort for the rest of your life, and in old age, Wow!