knee pain

[lynnieloulou]

I have had a really painful right knee under the knee cap,its gradually becoming worse when I kneel down or go up and downstairs(particular going upstairs) I have to hold the rail going up as the pain is really bad.my knee does give way at times and if I turn awkwardly I get a severe shooting pain in my knee.I have seen my doc who is sending me to a specialist and arranged physio.what is a knee wash and what does it entail ,she also thinks my menisca is damaged.what treatment can I expect?

[Michael L Gross, MD]

What you are describing, may not be a meniscus tear at all.  It may simply be patella femoral type pain. The diagnosis of meniscus tear is made definitively by MRI and, is indeed treated best with arthroscopic surgery. Arthroscopic menisectomy is a surgical procedure that can take as little as twenty minutes. I usually do them with general anesthesia. It is an out patient procedure, and return to work is usually rapid. For the most part, return to full activity is within four to six weeks.
Patella femoral pain is usually treated non-surgically with physical therapy and bracing. 90% of patients recover with conservative management.
The first step in your treatment should be to see an orthopedist, and to receive an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan.

[Michael L Gross, MD]

If it hurts, let them know. I think the PT will be helpful.

[lynnieloulou]

thankyou for your most helpful comments, i didnt know what a mensicus tear was until my doctor suggested it might be the problem.although she has arranged for me to see a specialist she has also arranged for me to have physio while i wait for the specialist appointment,woul physio be detrimental if it is mensicus tear? thanks again for your quick response

[lynnieloulou]

Thankyou for your comments it helps knowing someone who's had this type  of experience how do they do a knee wash and is it a local or general anaethesia?

[bama88]

Ask me any questions and ill share my experience or knowledge. I have had five washes before knee replacement. I'm not a doctor but I had that procedure before. I'm praying for ya now.

[bama88]

I fell off.a.ladder and messed up.my knees. I have had my knee washed before. It's a realitivly easy procedures. It's an outpatient procedure known also as a scope. It will hurt. Plan on six weeks to get back to normal. However if you did indeed tear your menisus it may never feel like before injury. I just had a total knee replacement and wow does it still hurt five months later. But a s scope. Three days to two weeks of bad surg pain. I walked same day without my crutches. It's not that bad. More scary than hurt. Wish you the very best. Oh and physical therapy will be so beneficial.