Knee issues

backinit

My left knee has been weird. Last Monday early everything was fine. I went through morning stretches with no issues. A short time later my left knee felt a tad weak. I go to bend it elevated my leg up on a bench top to stretch it out and it felt like there was some resistance like it wanted to snap, but wouldn't. Worked through it ok. The next morning it felt the same and then walking around a work bench it snapped loudly and then felt normal. Now my knee is snapping 5 - 10 times a day when working. Nothing really painful, but a change nonetheless. Any one experiencing something like this?

professor

backinit

Hah-hah, not laughing at you... but yes. Sometimes when I'm walking my right hip, without pain sounds like it's a metronome, click, click, click. Hell, sometimes I somehow seem to lightly sprain an ankle while sleeping. Oh, knees? LMAO My mother was right about 'don't complain to me when you get older'. She was always right.

Nat

Sounds like a meniscus tear. A small piece is getting stuck, then unstuck. I had that as a kid until it fully tore when in college and needed surgery.
I’d suggest a visit to an orthopedist. Get imagining to document the issue. If I’m correct it’s a very easy fix now. The worse it gets the bigger the surgery and longer the recovery

sdandrea1

These are the symptoms I had at the beginning of my meniscus wear. Rough spot or a small tear/injury makes noise. I eventually wore out the medial (inside) meniscus pad on both knees and they have since been replaced. An MRI will tell.

mulegolf

I think that all of us who have had meniscus tear have probably experienced something similar.
Again, see an orthopedist. He/She will likely order a MRI which will show how much of a tear
there is. I'd guess that you maybe will need to have the knee scoped if it follows what mine did.
Get on it now before it becomes worse.

backinit

Of course now this is the 3rd thing I need to do now that I'm getting ready to change health insurance. This might have to wait a week or 2 before reaching out but this is the most important thing I'm my near future.

garyt1957

I've had a torn meniscus for almost a year now. Ortho said if it's not bad don't mess with it. I was wearing a brace for basketball but have been able to ditch it. I tweaked my knee recently playing around on my swing speed radar trying to get faster but not sure if it's the meniscus although it's in that area.

rsvman2

garyt1957 I think I tore mine in the right knee back in 2017. It got mostly all the way better, but then about a week ago I pulled my knee and it killed me for a day or two. Now it seems a little sensitive, and there is very mild pain every once in a while, but it's mostly better.

Now I don't know whether to ignore and hope it gets back to where it was, or call the Ortho guy and get it evaluated.

garyt1957

rsvman2 Sounds like me. Mine has gotten better (again) so going to wait it out.

bogeypro

I'm early 70's and I hurt my knee earlier this spring. An MRI revealed I tore my meniscus in my right knee (I'm RH) in 2 places and additionally showed I have extensive arthritis at the top of my tibia. Dr said I'm not a good candidate for an arthroscopic procedure because of my age, he could suture the two tears but it would just tear again somewhere else.
He suggested full knee replacement & I'm not amenable to that yet so I settled on an injection of Hyaluronic acid gel every 6 months. So far I'm pain free but I haven't played golf since the injury, I suspect the golf swing will just torque my knee too much and injure me further so I'm putting it off trying to play until spring.

Hyaluronic acid is a natural component of synovial fluid and it's supposed to help the meniscus stay as soft & pliable as possible and lubricate the joint so I can delay knee replacement, not eliminate it.

Nat

bogeypro

Don’t be scared of a knee replacement. Yes, it is painful and a solid 3 mo recovery before playing golf. But it is life changing. I had mine at 50, 10 yrs ago this thanksgiving. It Literally saved my life. I was near cripple, now able to walk 18 and do an hour on peloton

garyt1957

Nat Don’t be scared of a knee replacement. Yes, it is painful and a solid 3 mo recovery before playing golf. But it is life changing. I had mine at 50, 10 yrs ago this thanksgiving. It Literally saved my life. I was near cripple, now able to walk 18 and do an hour on peloton

And the rehab will only get tougher as you age. My wife is thrilled she had hers done.

bogeypro

Not really scared, just hesitant. I had my hip done 4 yrs ago and I was in significant pain so the decision to get it done was easy. Prior to tweaking my knee I had no chronic pain and I still have no chronic pain, just the occasional zinger when I move laterally too quickly so my motivation to replace my knee is minimal.

Also contributing to my hesitance is my sister had her knee done 20+ yrs ago. It wore-out and another prosthetic was put in place but it was defective (came out of joint easily) so it was replaced with another prosthetic. Somewhere along the way recently she contracted a fungal infection and nothing worked to beat it down and she had to have her leg amputated mid-thigh.

it's just a bad time for me to even consider knee replacement.

Nat

bogeypro

So sorry to hear that. Joint replacement should only be done when it HAS to be done, and it is still has risks. Hip replacement is the #1, knee #3, for highest patient satisfaction (#2 is breast reduction), but you must wait until you need it, and it should be done by a doc who does a lot. My oldest is an orthopedic surgery resident and is going to specialize in joint replacement. His place sees the complications, which while rare are miserable.

gllama

bogeypro
I had my hip replacement about three years ago and my knee replacement about two years ago. The hip was fairly easy recovery. No PT needed, just stretching at home. Back to playing golf in 2+ months.
Now, the knee was a different story. Very painful. Rehab was a bitch. I told my wife I probably wouldn’t do it again if the other knee gives out. My knee is about 85-90%. It still hurts at night if I sleep on my repaired knee side and my leg is bent. I still have flexibility issues but I can play golf and walk 2-3 miles every day so I have that going for me.

But, compared to the alternative of constant pain, I most likely would do it again. I would dread it, however…

Walterjn

gllama my last girlfriend had both hips and a knee done in 9 months about 12-13 years ago. She said the hips were easy to recover from, and the knee was something she hopes to never need to go through again. She has moved to the Cumberland Gap area and hikes in the hills every day. The knee has more to it than the hip, especially the way they're doing hip replacements now.
Do your research and find the best surgeon and pt. They will make life easier.

bogeypro

Dr who did my hip has 1000+ joint (knee & hip) replacements and the 2nd opinion Dr (also 1000+) moved here from the Boston area and he was on the NE Patriot's and Bruins medical staff so I trust his opinion. Good enough for millionaires is good enough for me. He does joint replacement and arthroscopic procedures & he concurred with the 1st DR that I was not a good candidate for a scope. When we reviewed the MRI he was surprised I didn't have chronic pain because of the tears and significant arthritis & he asked if I thought I could walk a mile. Told him my wife & I walk 2+ miles after dinner most nights & have topped out at around 4 miles ..... no pain. He said I should consider myself lucky because the torn meniscus is still providing cushioning. He suggested trying Hyaluronic acid as a temporary solution

Par4QC

bogeypro Hyaluronic acid as a temporary solution

My wife had that done 3 times, iirc. So, about 1.5-2 years before replacement(s). She had both done.

Supp

I've got some knee issues as well. The doc says there is almost no cartilage in my knees and that knee replacement will be needed at some point. Generally speaking, I don't have any pain, but if I start moving around a little more vigorously my knees start to ache. I can mow my lawns, but I can't walk when I golf.

DonM

My wife had both knees done in the past two years. The second one was robotically assisted surgery and the recovery went quite well.

LBlack14

Had my 1st knee surgery (right) at the age of 33, in 1998, softball injury. Then, my Dr. said, "you have the knees of a 70 year old man", cartilage worn out, amongst other thangs. Now.....knee replacement scares the hell outta me.

DonM

LBlack14 Since I live in a 55 plus community, I know tons of people with knee replacements. Everyone seems to be very satisfied with the results.