Unexplained Knee Pain - Please help

teresabell · 10-11-2009, 10:20 PM

I came across this questionnaire and decided to use it for my question...maybe it will make it easier to find an answer.

1. When did the pain begin? since approx 1994
2. What were you doing at the time? Or did the pain come on gradually over time? Sitting on an airplane
3. Where, anatomically, is the pain? above knee cap and outer sides
4. What does the pain feel like? Sharp? Dull? Aching? Stabbing? Shooting? aching!!!
5. Is the pain constant, or intermittent, or only on certain motions? Basically while sitting I get severe aching, not all the time, no sequence...comes and goes, doesn't make sense.
6. What motions make your pain worse? staying still
7. What, if anything, makes your pain better? walking
8. Does your pain radiate to any other part of your body? no
9. What things could you do before, that you cannot do now because of your injury? sit for long periods of time, the simple act going into the sitting position is difficult. Standing up from a squat or the floor is impossible!
10. What is your main concern regarding the pain and its consequences? I am only 34 years old and have 3 small children, i feel like I can't be who I want to be
11. Have you ever injured that part of your body before? If so, how? no
12. Is your pain getting worse over time? And if so, how much worse over what time period? No, it just comes and goes and has for years. Basically, unexplainable.

I am only 34 and have seen MANY doctors. I was given a diagnosis of Hashimotos Thyroiditis, Fibromyalgia and Eppstein-Barr. All of the doctors that I have asked help for on my knees can't answer my question. None of them seem to think my knee pain is any way related at all with my diagnosed diseases. Any help would be much appreciated as I don't know what else to do.

Thanks for your help!

LisaS · 10-12-2009, 12:34 PM

you should PM a moderator and ask to have this moved to Injury sub-forum and the duplicate removed.

Sounds like you have the "theater sign" or "movie-goers knee" - which just refers to the pain after sitting for a long period. I'm not a therapist nor an MD but do a search on those terms and see if it fits. You might find suggestions for stretch or strengthening or soft-tissue manipulation that might be helpful. Seems odd that a normal orthodpedist wouldn't pick this up though.

Just curious - you've had this for 15 years - what, if anything, have you tried in that time to resolve your knee pain?

teresabell · 10-13-2009, 06:58 AM

Thank you for posting your reply! I looked the info up and seems as if you were right!!! I will continue to do more research and change doctors!!!

I have basically been told that there is nothing wrong with my knees and it is all in my head!! Yes..."all in my head!" The last doc I visited told me that my knees hurt b/c I am on the floor playing with my kids all the time! When actually, I am NOT on the floor playing with them b/c I would never be able to get up again!!!

Thank you so very much and I will check into another doc today!!!

UConnJulie · 10-15-2009, 04:40 PM

I'd guess that your knee pain is more a result of hip dysfunction.
Some general recommendations ...
1. Foam roll any/all trigger points in your quads and glutes.
2. Make sure your glutes are firing properly.
3. Stretch your TFL, hip flexors, glutes, and piriformis.
4. Strengthen your core.

Moondust · 10-20-2009, 06:47 PM

Many women have patellas that do not track correctly and this can cause pain. It can also cause wear & tear on the patella. Have any of your doctors referred you to an orthopedist? Have you had xrays or an MRI? Sometimes physical therapy can help this pain, by strengthening the muscles which will pull the patella back into alignment.