Re: Lower back/ knee pain ~patellar syndrome

[Guest guest]

Hi,

My knees are so swollen all the time. The largest area of swelling is from the

outer top of my knee cap and up about 2-3 inches between my knee & thigh (sorry

I don't know the medial terms). Often times that area is so swollen it's as big

as my thigh! I ice it often when it's really painful, but the ice doesn't take

the swelling down. I can't take any NSAID's due to a stomach ulcer; is there

anything else I can do to help with the swelling?

Thanks & Take Care!

 

 

From: jjamwest <joyfulfeathers@...>

Subject: Re: Lower back/ knee pain ~patellar syndrome

neck pain

Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2009, 2:23 AM

I almost always have inflammation in my knees. Even in the summer now.

I didn't used to have swollen knees in the summer. Not just the

patellar tendona area but all the way around the patella and under as

well.

Joi

>

> Hi Joi,

>  

>      You probably have a lot of inflamation in your patellar tendons.

I was lucky because my knees weren't that bad yet.

>  

>                                                    Rochelle

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi,

My knees are so swollen all the time. The largest area of swelling is from the

outer top of my knee cap and up about 2-3 inches between my knee & thigh (sorry

I don't know the medial terms). Often times that area is so swollen it's as big

as my thigh! I ice it often when it's really painful, but the ice doesn't take

the swelling down. I can't take any NSAID's due to a stomach ulcer; is there

anything else I can do to help with the swelling?

Thanks & Take Care!

 

 

From: jjamwest <joyfulfeathers@...>

Subject: Re: Lower back/ knee pain ~patellar syndrome

neck pain

Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2009, 2:23 AM

I almost always have inflammation in my knees. Even in the summer now.

I didn't used to have swollen knees in the summer. Not just the

patellar tendona area but all the way around the patella and under as

well.

Joi

>

> Hi Joi,

>  

>      You probably have a lot of inflamation in your patellar tendons.

I was lucky because my knees weren't that bad yet.

>  

>                                                    Rochelle

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

 

   Do you know the reason for the swelling?  Is it more than patellar syndrome?

Perhaps arthritis?   I'm assuming it's not rheumatoid or gouty arthritis, but

have those things been ruled out by a rheumatologist?  If it's osteoarthritis,

the most common variety, then for the knee there's an injection called synvisc

or something like that, which is a viscous liquid they inject in to cushion the

damaged cartilage. This can put off knee replacement surgery a while, I've been

told.  If you don't have arthritis, then what is causing the swelling and pain?

If it's some other inflamation, which from your description, is certainly not

minor,  maybe you have an infection. Is the joint hot with it? Do you have a

fever too.  If it's a painless enlargement then maybe it's the so called " water

on the knee " which is increased joint fluid or bursitis where the sac that makes

the fluid is inflammed and that swells up. But I think what you need to have

done, if

it hasn't already been done, is have an x-ray or mri and also have the ortho

withdraw some of the joint fluid and get it checked out in the lab for bacteria

and whatever else they check for like crystals and inflammatory cells.

 

                                             Rochelle

[Guest guest]

You need to go to an ortho doc that specializes in knees. Its worth it to waitr

for the best guy in your area...and ask LOTS of people who they think is good.

The area where you are swollen could be chondromalacia patella, mal-alignment,

or some other things or a combination of more than one (like the chondromalacia

and mal-alignment). You will have to have x-rays for sure. If you are very

swollen, the doc may want to remove/reduce the amount of fluid in your knee. Be

sure you have them tell you the positive and negatives about doing that

procedure. Where are you located?

Joi

> >

> > Hi Joi,

> >  

> >      You probably have a lot of inflamation in your patellar tendons.

> I was lucky because my knees weren't that bad yet.

> >  

> >                                                    Rochelle

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

You need to go to an ortho doc that specializes in knees. Its worth it to waitr

for the best guy in your area...and ask LOTS of people who they think is good.

The area where you are swollen could be chondromalacia patella, mal-alignment,

or some other things or a combination of more than one (like the chondromalacia

and mal-alignment). You will have to have x-rays for sure. If you are very

swollen, the doc may want to remove/reduce the amount of fluid in your knee. Be

sure you have them tell you the positive and negatives about doing that

procedure. Where are you located?

Joi

> >

> > Hi Joi,

> >  

> >      You probably have a lot of inflamation in your patellar tendons.

> I was lucky because my knees weren't that bad yet.

> >  

> >                                                    Rochelle

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Chodromalacia Patella usually goes hand in hand with osteoarthritis, if not when

discovered it will end up there. There are several injections for the knees:

synvisc, supartz, and another one that I can't remember the name (it was a weird

name). I've had the supartz injections and, for me, they did not work at

all...actually made my knees hurt MUCH more than without. I'm also on the

chondormalacia list and as far as I know there is only one, maybe two, people

that synvisc and supartz worked for and they usually only work for a max of 6-12

months. The only way to know if they will work is to have the set of three

injections into the knees. For me it was not fun. Initially when my knees began

to swell up (the right one got to the size of a basketball once!), they did want

to remove the fluid but I decided not to have that done (this was about 30 years

ago) becasue I was only 16 and didn't want to risk infection. Its not as bad

today, but still an increased risk.

Joi

>

>

> Hi ,

>  

>    Do you know the reason for the swelling?  Is it more than patellar

syndrome? Perhaps arthritis?   I'm assuming it's not rheumatoid or gouty

arthritis, but have those things been ruled out by a rheumatologist?  If it's

osteoarthritis, the most common variety, then for the knee there's an injection

called synvisc or something like that, which is a viscous liquid they inject in

to cushion the damaged cartilage. This can put off knee replacement surgery a

while, I've been told.  If you don't have arthritis, then what is causing the

swelling and pain? If it's some other inflamation, which from your description,

is certainly not minor,  maybe you have an infection. Is the joint hot with it?

Do you have a fever too.  If it's a painless enlargement then maybe it's the so

called " water on the knee " which is increased joint fluid or bursitis where the

sac that makes the fluid is inflammed and that swells up. But I think what you

need to have done, if

> it hasn't already been done, is have an x-ray or mri and also have the ortho

withdraw some of the joint fluid and get it checked out in the lab for bacteria

and whatever else they check for like crystals and inflammatory cells.

>  

>                                              Rochelle

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Chodromalacia Patella usually goes hand in hand with osteoarthritis, if not when

discovered it will end up there. There are several injections for the knees:

synvisc, supartz, and another one that I can't remember the name (it was a weird

name). I've had the supartz injections and, for me, they did not work at

all...actually made my knees hurt MUCH more than without. I'm also on the

chondormalacia list and as far as I know there is only one, maybe two, people

that synvisc and supartz worked for and they usually only work for a max of 6-12

months. The only way to know if they will work is to have the set of three

injections into the knees. For me it was not fun. Initially when my knees began

to swell up (the right one got to the size of a basketball once!), they did want

to remove the fluid but I decided not to have that done (this was about 30 years

ago) becasue I was only 16 and didn't want to risk infection. Its not as bad

today, but still an increased risk.

Joi

>

>

> Hi ,

>  

>    Do you know the reason for the swelling?  Is it more than patellar

syndrome? Perhaps arthritis?   I'm assuming it's not rheumatoid or gouty

arthritis, but have those things been ruled out by a rheumatologist?  If it's

osteoarthritis, the most common variety, then for the knee there's an injection

called synvisc or something like that, which is a viscous liquid they inject in

to cushion the damaged cartilage. This can put off knee replacement surgery a

while, I've been told.  If you don't have arthritis, then what is causing the

swelling and pain? If it's some other inflamation, which from your description,

is certainly not minor,  maybe you have an infection. Is the joint hot with it?

Do you have a fever too.  If it's a painless enlargement then maybe it's the so

called " water on the knee " which is increased joint fluid or bursitis where the

sac that makes the fluid is inflammed and that swells up. But I think what you

need to have done, if

> it hasn't already been done, is have an x-ray or mri and also have the ortho

withdraw some of the joint fluid and get it checked out in the lab for bacteria

and whatever else they check for like crystals and inflammatory cells.

>  

>                                              Rochelle

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the info Joi; I really appreciate it! I have been to an ortho twice

for my knees and he told me it was the patellar syndrome and something wrong

with my actual kneecaps (sorry, can't remember the term) He said my kneecaps

have 0 mobility and the combo of that and the patellar syndrome is what's

casuing the swelling. He did see the swelling and ran a RA FActor Panel, which

came out fine. I was given a brace that pulls the kneecap over to where it is

supposed to be and holds it there. I also saw a PT to learn stretches. If you

have any more ideas about this please let me know. Oh, I almost forgot, does the

pain you have go into your calves & ankles? That'as been happening to me lately.

 

Take care,

 

 

From: jjamwest <joyfulfeathers@...>

Subject: Re: Lower back/ knee pain ~patellar syndrome

neck pain

Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2009, 10:31 PM

You need to go to an ortho doc that specializes in knees. Its worth it to waitr

for the best guy in your area...and ask LOTS of people who they think is good.

The area where you are swollen could be chondromalacia patella, mal-alignment,

or some other things or a combination of more than one (like the chondromalacia

and mal-alignment) . You will have to have x-rays for sure. If you are very

swollen, the doc may want to remove/reduce the amount of fluid in your knee. Be

sure you have them tell you the positive and negatives about doing that

procedure. Where are you located?

Joi

> >

> > Hi Joi,

> >  

> >      You probably have a lot of inflamation in your patellar tendons.

> I was lucky because my knees weren't that bad yet.

> >  

> >                                                    Rochelle

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the info Joi; I really appreciate it! I have been to an ortho twice

for my knees and he told me it was the patellar syndrome and something wrong

with my actual kneecaps (sorry, can't remember the term) He said my kneecaps

have 0 mobility and the combo of that and the patellar syndrome is what's

casuing the swelling. He did see the swelling and ran a RA FActor Panel, which

came out fine. I was given a brace that pulls the kneecap over to where it is

supposed to be and holds it there. I also saw a PT to learn stretches. If you

have any more ideas about this please let me know. Oh, I almost forgot, does the

pain you have go into your calves & ankles? That'as been happening to me lately.

 

Take care,

 

 

From: jjamwest <joyfulfeathers@...>

Subject: Re: Lower back/ knee pain ~patellar syndrome

neck pain

Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2009, 10:31 PM

You need to go to an ortho doc that specializes in knees. Its worth it to waitr

for the best guy in your area...and ask LOTS of people who they think is good.

The area where you are swollen could be chondromalacia patella, mal-alignment,

or some other things or a combination of more than one (like the chondromalacia

and mal-alignment) . You will have to have x-rays for sure. If you are very

swollen, the doc may want to remove/reduce the amount of fluid in your knee. Be

sure you have them tell you the positive and negatives about doing that

procedure. Where are you located?

Joi

> >

> > Hi Joi,

> >  

> >      You probably have a lot of inflamation in your patellar tendons.

> I was lucky because my knees weren't that bad yet.

> >  

> >                                                    Rochelle

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I'm happy to be able to help. I guess having knee problems since I was 16 (I'll

be 47 this Dec, 2009) is good for one thing...helping someone else!

OK...am I understnading what the doc says when he says you have zero mobility in

your patella (kneecap) in that its not tracking in the trochlear groove? Tell me

as much as you can remember. If you want to take it off list since its

technically OT let me know...no problem!

I've been " interviewed " (by an ancient doc) to see if he though I hjad RA and

then recently blood tested (becasue my hand swelled up so much) and the blood

test came back normal...no RA, which is VERY GOOD.

I've also been given those braces and they ALWAYS make my knees hurt MUCH more

thanwithout. I've also been fitted for orthotics, which ended up making my

knees, hips, and back hurt more, so I tossed them too. Stretches are good, but

you will also need to build up some muscles as well. I could never build up

" enough " muscles (hey...I'm not a guy and they wanted me to have muscles in my

thighs like a guy). The " trick " is to build up the muscles in your thighs but

also build up strength in your hamstrings. My last PT guy, who is the VERY BEST

I've EVER been to for my knees, went to a recent convention that had some of the

world's best knee guys and what he learned was they have found that very strong

hamstrings help even more than musculature in the thighs. So, while building the

muscles, your hamstrings must be even stronger than the thigh muscles especially

if you can't build the thigh muscles like guys can. My problem is my neck and

back became a problem then we got rear ended and my legs are all crappy again.

Back to square one.

The pain I experience is mostly all in my knees all the time, every step, and

every bend. When I was going to the water therapy, even when I was doing well,

my knees would get very hot from the cartalidge rubbing itself to pieces. This

was even after the arthroscopy to clean and smooth everything out. I tore up one

of my ankles a number of years ago and when its cold it does cause me some pain,

but I can't say its from my knees as its just the one ankle. I'm having problems

with my hips as well and one ortho doc said there is some early stage joint

narrowing but its very painful and pops terribly...so badly that sometimes I

cannot straighten up! I think the hip issues could be from the many years of

knee problems becasue it began with the right hip and just recently the left.

The knee problems began with the right knee and went to the left but as I get

older, these processes seem to move along so much faster than they used to. My

other problem is the docs here are SO " backwoods " as far as desiring to learn

new treatments and the insurance company is fine with that as it does save them

money. I may have found a guy that I went to for a second opinion who said if my

quality of life sucks then something must be done about it to improve it. That

speaks volumes to me. He's not quick to do surgery, but he also understands that

my quality of life is more important than my age or weight. So many docs say I

need to lose wieght...well DUH! But they don't understand that the weight came

on becaus the knees were hurting so much that if I did any extra (which became

stuff as easy as gardening or painting the walls, etc) I'd end up paying for it

and under ice for two to three weeks following! With kids still at home, I'm not

setting a good example of staying healthy but what can I do when just simple

walking makes me hurt so badly I can't stand it? Now, my neck and back are

involved, so I'm pretty much getting so darn frustrated with my body I want to

give up, but I can't. I can't give up because of my kids and hubby. I want my

life back and I won't stop until I find a doc that can help me move toward that

goal.

Sorry for making this one so long, guys. I guess this is something I've been

battling with for the last 6 years and I had to get it out.

Joi

>

> Thanks for the info Joi; I really appreciate it! I have been to an ortho twice

for my knees and he told me it was the patellar syndrome and something wrong

with my actual kneecaps (sorry, can't remember the term) He said my kneecaps

have 0 mobility and the combo of that and the patellar syndrome is what's

casuing the swelling. He did see the swelling and ran a RA FActor Panel, which

came out fine. I was given a brace that pulls the kneecap over to where it is

supposed to be and holds it there. I also saw a PT to learn stretches. If you

have any more ideas about this please let me know. Oh, I almost forgot, does the

pain you have go into your calves & ankles? That'as been happening to me lately.

>  

> Take care,

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I'm happy to be able to help. I guess having knee problems since I was 16 (I'll

be 47 this Dec, 2009) is good for one thing...helping someone else!

OK...am I understnading what the doc says when he says you have zero mobility in

your patella (kneecap) in that its not tracking in the trochlear groove? Tell me

as much as you can remember. If you want to take it off list since its

technically OT let me know...no problem!

I've been " interviewed " (by an ancient doc) to see if he though I hjad RA and

then recently blood tested (becasue my hand swelled up so much) and the blood

test came back normal...no RA, which is VERY GOOD.

I've also been given those braces and they ALWAYS make my knees hurt MUCH more

thanwithout. I've also been fitted for orthotics, which ended up making my

knees, hips, and back hurt more, so I tossed them too. Stretches are good, but

you will also need to build up some muscles as well. I could never build up

" enough " muscles (hey...I'm not a guy and they wanted me to have muscles in my

thighs like a guy). The " trick " is to build up the muscles in your thighs but

also build up strength in your hamstrings. My last PT guy, who is the VERY BEST

I've EVER been to for my knees, went to a recent convention that had some of the

world's best knee guys and what he learned was they have found that very strong

hamstrings help even more than musculature in the thighs. So, while building the

muscles, your hamstrings must be even stronger than the thigh muscles especially

if you can't build the thigh muscles like guys can. My problem is my neck and

back became a problem then we got rear ended and my legs are all crappy again.

Back to square one.

The pain I experience is mostly all in my knees all the time, every step, and

every bend. When I was going to the water therapy, even when I was doing well,

my knees would get very hot from the cartalidge rubbing itself to pieces. This

was even after the arthroscopy to clean and smooth everything out. I tore up one

of my ankles a number of years ago and when its cold it does cause me some pain,

but I can't say its from my knees as its just the one ankle. I'm having problems

with my hips as well and one ortho doc said there is some early stage joint

narrowing but its very painful and pops terribly...so badly that sometimes I

cannot straighten up! I think the hip issues could be from the many years of

knee problems becasue it began with the right hip and just recently the left.

The knee problems began with the right knee and went to the left but as I get

older, these processes seem to move along so much faster than they used to. My

other problem is the docs here are SO " backwoods " as far as desiring to learn

new treatments and the insurance company is fine with that as it does save them

money. I may have found a guy that I went to for a second opinion who said if my

quality of life sucks then something must be done about it to improve it. That

speaks volumes to me. He's not quick to do surgery, but he also understands that

my quality of life is more important than my age or weight. So many docs say I

need to lose wieght...well DUH! But they don't understand that the weight came

on becaus the knees were hurting so much that if I did any extra (which became

stuff as easy as gardening or painting the walls, etc) I'd end up paying for it

and under ice for two to three weeks following! With kids still at home, I'm not

setting a good example of staying healthy but what can I do when just simple

walking makes me hurt so badly I can't stand it? Now, my neck and back are

involved, so I'm pretty much getting so darn frustrated with my body I want to

give up, but I can't. I can't give up because of my kids and hubby. I want my

life back and I won't stop until I find a doc that can help me move toward that

goal.

Sorry for making this one so long, guys. I guess this is something I've been

battling with for the last 6 years and I had to get it out.

Joi

>

> Thanks for the info Joi; I really appreciate it! I have been to an ortho twice

for my knees and he told me it was the patellar syndrome and something wrong

with my actual kneecaps (sorry, can't remember the term) He said my kneecaps

have 0 mobility and the combo of that and the patellar syndrome is what's

casuing the swelling. He did see the swelling and ran a RA FActor Panel, which

came out fine. I was given a brace that pulls the kneecap over to where it is

supposed to be and holds it there. I also saw a PT to learn stretches. If you

have any more ideas about this please let me know. Oh, I almost forgot, does the

pain you have go into your calves & ankles? That'as been happening to me lately.

>  

> Take care,

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Es, but it takes time to get swelling down. You need to ice it once every

hour for 20 minutes. Do this fro a couple to several days and every time you

exercise or walk a lot.

The next thing is to do VERY gentle stretching. Never bounce when

stretching, and don't stretch to the point of making it hurt. Just until you

feel a stretch.

Then you will want to do some gentle exercises, building up more as you feel

you can. Water walking is excellent. Don't start by walking against a

current though. Go straight across, walking forward, then backward. If one

direction hurts more than the other, just do the other. I had to start with

walking only backwards, progressing to forward and backward, then sideways

with one side leading, then both sides leading. Once I was comfortable doing

that, they had me in a current. It's harder, but it does work. Never start

in a current walking forward! ALWAYS start walking backward. If you can get

in to water therapy, do it. They usually will let you come in for a minimal

amount on your own time once you get some instruction. My " goal " eventually

is to buy a swim spa. Too bad they cost so much! (They run about 15K.)

Joi

Gizmo & Yoda, Papillons " The Girls "

Max, Blue Front Amazon

Jazzy, Crimson-bellied conure

Artemis, Painted conure

Shelby, Pineapple mutation Green-cheeked conure

Birdie, normal Green-cheeked conure

& Padme', rosirfons conure

" Helping Birds Find People "

Re: Lower back/ knee pain ~patellar syndrome

neck pain

Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2009, 2:23 AM

I almost always have inflammation in my knees. Even in the summer now.

I didn't used to have swollen knees in the summer. Not just the

patellar tendona area but all the way around the patella and under as

well.

Joi

>

> Hi Joi,

>  

>      You probably have a lot of inflamation in your patellar tendons.

I was lucky because my knees weren't that bad yet.

>  

>                                                    Rochelle

>

>

>

>

>