I started to notice it yesterday afternoon, but it wasn't too bad. Today, around noon, it really hit hard. After graduating from walker to cane a couple years ago, I had to regress to walker today.

This is a symptom that I have not had before. I'm relatively pain-free if I keep my right leg fully extended with my knee sort of locked straight, but if I put the slightest weight on that leg with my knee bent even a little, there is fairly intense pain in the back side of my leg, behind the knee.

I have no idea what's going on. Somehow, stuff like this always happens on a weekend, when doctors' offices are not open. If it doesn't improve by Monday I'll get my narrow ass to a local orthopedic clinic, or a physiatrist. If it gets much worse over the weekend, I'll go to the ER.

Sorry to read this...said a little prayer of comfort and healing for you.

Sounds like it could be a bakers cyst. It hits behind the knee and in my case I was playing tennis and the pain came suddenly, buckled my knee and put me on the ground. Cortisone helped but in most cases these cysts tend to drain on their own.

Poking and prodding around back there, I don't feel anything like a cyst, nor anything that doesn't seem to belong there (I don't think there are any missing parts, either).

Nor do I play tennis, so that's probably not the answer.

Same side as the hip fracture? They will manipulate the knee some, and do an MRI and then have some idea. In the meantime stay off of it, elevate and perhaps ice it.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:

Same side as the hip fracture?

Same side, the fracture was four years ago, have not had any problems since the supporting rods were installed.

Ugh...sorry to hear this. I already set an appointment next week with my orthopedic...and of course I have no idea what I did to cause the pain this time. That’s why I came over with “the boy” today and used the winch. :-)

Hi L.R. I couldn't even begin to guess whats going on especially when you described it to be on the back side of your leg, behind the knee. If they do need to do some repair work or otherwise, what I've used for sometime now for the knee whenever I have some real discomfort. I purchased this velcro band with a gel pack that you can toss into the microwave for a short time or put it in the freezer for either hot/cold treatment, which ever you prefer for a bit of pain relief. Soon or a later I need to have the back side of the right knee cap scraped the Dr said. I've just put it off for now. But if I do have the annoying pain I put the gel pack in the freezer for a bit and strap it on for relief. The cold treatment seems to alleviate the pain. So if you do have some future repairs or to help some with a little pain management you might give this velcro strap/band, hot/cold a go.

In any event I wish you well and I'll offer a prayer your way


I partially pulled the gel pack out of it's pouch for the photo but it slides into it's pouch for use.

Hey Will -- my wife has something like that. I might give it a try.

---

ps: Chuck "cwr67" had a few nice holsters for that pistol, that he karma'd to me today when he came over with his son to pick up the BMW motorcycle. He used to use the same model for backup when he was working (cop), sold the pistols but had holsters left over.

Also, a local store has ordered some ammunition for me, so I should be set to have a bit of fun next week if my knee is good enough to go to the range by the time the ammunition order arrives.

L.R. If you do get that knee better, keep me posted and let me know how that little bugger shoots...always wondered about it. Feel better my friend

Hope ya feel better quick V-Tail!

quote:

Originally posted by coloradohunter44:

Hope ya feel better quick V-Tail!

Thanks. There’s no way I could apply right rudder now.

Orthopedic clinic in the area has walk-in hours today, I’m getting ready to go there.

Good thing my wife is home today, I might need help putting shoes on.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
<snip>
There’s no way I could apply right rudder now.
<snip>

You might have to trade your Bonanza in on an Ercoupe:

“Lacking rudder pedals, the Ercoupe was flown using only the control wheel. A two-control system linked the rudder and aileron systems, which controlled yaw and roll, with the steerable nosewheel.”

Seriously, I’m sorry to hear of your problem – hope it improves soon.

How did it go? Walk in orthopedic clinics do not exist here, and there is a wait to see an orthopedist after an injury unless you are unfortunate enough to be hospitalized.

Going through the same thing. Only way to determine problem is to get x-rays and mri. Mine determined I have some arthritis under the right knee cap and severe degenerative medial and lateral meniscus. Cortisone shot cured the hurt and allowed me to walk semi-normal. If later on the cortisone proves ineffective, then my Dr recommended a “lube” shot for the knee. Surgery was the last thing he recommended. I guess 20 years running in the Corps and 18 as a LEO has taken its toll. Best of luck to you.

Try using a brace. Even a simple brace might help.

Welp (see what I did there?), I got myself to the orthopedic clinic yesterday (Saturday). Very efficient people.

Eyeball exam, poking and prodding, and X-rays did not reveal anything. They were concerned about the possibility of a blood clot and they are not equipped to diagnose vascular problems, so they sent me to a local Emergency Treatment center for Doppler ultrasound.

No blood clot, but the ultrasound did confirm SIGforum member RogB's diagnosis of Baker's cyst. They gave me a brace that immobilizes my leg from just above the ankle to pretty high on my thigh. Keeps the leg straight, so it has to be removed to drive, and makes sitting a clumsy proposition. Also gave me a prescription for Meloxicam, expensive stuff, $1.04 total for ten tablets!

The Emergency place (kind of a fancy doc-in-a-box) gave me a diagnosis report and a CD of the ultrasound, to take back to the orthopedic clinic when they re-open Monday. They confirmed RogB's statement that these cysts sometimes drain themselves, harmlessly (same fluid that naturally lubricates the knee joint), or sometimes the ortho doc will have to use a needle to extract the fluid. Or third possibility, the sac (cyst) might decide to spontaneously burst.

We'll find out more at the ortho clinic tomorrow. Meantime, either the pain med is extremely effective, or the cyst has started to drain, because while I'm nowhere near pain-free today, it is nowhere as intense as it was yesterday, and I'm able to support some of my weight on that leg.

Things are looking just a little brighter today.

Thank you for the good wishes, thoughts, and prayers that you have sent my way.

quote:

Originally posted by Leatherneck:

Going through the same thing. Only way to determine problem is to get x-rays and mri. Mine determined I have some arthritis under the right knee cap and severe degenerative med

x-rays did not show anything, and I believe that MRI is out of the question due to the support hardware installed in my femur / hip. They did a Doppler ultrasound to rule out a blood clot, and that confirmed Baker's cyst, so we now know what we're dealing with.

Good to hear. You are fortunate to have those services available in your community. Do you have Emergency Dentistry as well?

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:

Do you have Emergency Dentistry as well?

Not that I know of, but I have never checked.

Are you a health care provider? (I did not see "occupation," nor email address, in your profile).