2 weeks ago i had started feeling a dull pain in medial side of my right knee. The next day I was walking and the knee suddenly felt really weak and gave away. It was just momentarily.
I had an Mri done. The impression was : Grade 2 signal changes in posterior horn of medial meniscus.
I consulted with 4 doctors. Only one suggested Arthroscopy.
The knee locks infrequently.Doctors have said Quad excercises for 6 weeks and Ill be normal.
The problem is a week after the initial pain in right knee now my other knee has been showing the Same dull pain. But it comes rarely and hasnt locked or given away.
My info : I am 17 year old Male. Im a passionate basketball player. Like really intense.I had stopped basketball for a week due to ankle sprain on right leg when the knee pain began.
What im really worried about is that I hope i dont have some degenerative issue. As my standing x ray of both knees suggest joint space narrowing in medial part.But im just 17.But then again i didnt have any Trauma of knees. Can it happen aimply due to basketball ? Will i return to pre injury level ?
P.s i have flat feet
Having had a few arthroscopies over the years , I recognise these symptoms- they should sort it out with an arthroscopy now so you can get on with your life. Once locking and giving way enters the picture it needs fixing. You need to safely play your sport not be worrying about aggravating your injury all the time.
I know yo are into adulthood now, but 17 is still young to argue with professionals- can an adult attend appointments with you ?
In order to set yourself up to be pain-free and minimize degeneration, you need to go deeper into the diagnosis.
First, the feeling of "really weak and giving way" is "protective tension" by the nervous system. Your brain does this when you have severe damage and this needs to be respected. What does this mean? Take your knee seriously.
Second, quad exercises won't help. This assumes your quad is weak. However, your meniscus is damaged. You don't strengthen already-healthy tissue to cover up meniscus damage. Don't bother here.
Third, have you had your functional ranges of motion checked? Getting your ankle, knee, hip, and other joints checked for ranges is like taking your blood pressure. If your range is limited, it's like your blood pressure is high. What happens when your blood pressure if high? You're at risk of a heart attack. If your ankle dorsiflexion is limited, you're at risk of your knee blowing out.
Google "know your numbers ankle dorsiflexion" and the proper range of motion measurements will come up for you. Then, find the right person to measure you AND figure out WHY you are limited. It could be the joint is damaged, OR, it's way more likely that adhesion is causing the problem.
IS that helpful?
Hey ! Thank you for responding
Im going to the doctors in 3 weeks.
The locking is not there now.
But the dull pain is still there when i walk or even sit. It is hindering my trust to walk.
The only thing im concerned about is that if arthroscopy is done ans they remove it partially ( by chance there is no scope for repair) wouldnt it be bad for my already narrowed medial joint space ?
Please read my update on this discussion only.
Thank you so much
Hello sir !
This is way helpful !
Im gonna go checked it out as soon as i can.
As i must have had muscle imbalance after i fractured my medial malleolus ( distal tibia). The calf atrophy became normal but i always felt the other leg is taking more weight and that other legs knee ( the one Not fractured) has ttorn its meniscus. But after a week of it the same medial pain in the other knee.
But what im worried about is what Exactly should i do about the Meniscus ? Meniscetomy?
Its in the posterior horn.
Will i be able to play at high level still ?
thank u so much
Go to the "Integrative DIagnosis" website and "Find a Provider" near you. These types of doctors can treat the mensicus conservatively with a metal instrument when it's stuck to the knee capsule.
If there isn't a provider near you, let me know.
After that, I'd still get the calf, quad, foot, and hamstring tissue cleaned out before getting surgery on the meniscus. Getting the adhesion out of this tissue can actually help the meniscus enormously, especially if you've been compensating a long time (more than 1 month).
As far as playing at a high level, I'd say it completely depends on your ability to restore range and funciton in the appropriate joints. if you're really restricted, you can keep playing in the short-term. But your body won't be able to handle the "high" volume. It's kind of common sense, isn't it?
I was only 22 when I had to have mine scoped first time. Age makes no difference. Lol. I am no doc but dont let it go. If there is damage ,it will get worse. When mine started to lock it was due to pieces of the meniscus getting stuck and chewed up in the joint. Not all damage is shown in imaging. Tell doc if therapy isn't working and what you feel.
Hi Yashmoon
If you are truly passionate about playing baskeyball, say for college, then see an orthopedic doc specializing in sports injuries.
kind regards
,judith
Hi Judith
Thank you for responding.
The thing is went to 6 ortho docs. 3 of them are Sports Medicine Specialists.
All suggested no surgery. But I'll tell them whatevet happens.
And yes what im most worried about is the game. It seriously is All I Got.
Thank You
Hey !!
The thing is now both of my knees are showing the same exact pain. I just dont get how can both knees get a medial meniscus tear ( im assuming the other one to have this ) without any acute injury ?
My Xrays reveal narrow joint space in medial compartment..but no doctor said anything about osteoarthritis. i asked one and he said No you are just 17.
Did you return to being active ?
Thanks
UPDATE 1 Guys i just want to add that my xrays reveal narrow joint space in Medial compartment of knee. but the Mri said no significant thinning of cartilage. This Means i dont have osteoarthritis right ? The Mri said there is no damage leading to articular cartilage.
please respond im scared.
Even teens can get arthritis. I recovered from the original operation pretty well. After they do any kind of surgery to a joint you will have issues . Then 15 years later I had to have surgery done 2 more times. Lack of cartilage lead to friction and now cracks in bone. Used to hike miles a day . Can't now. Why I said get it fixed before you tear it up bad. But your symptoms seem to be different . Both knees being effected at same time.
Hi Yashmoon,
Take your femur, the end of it is covered with cartilage. Now take your tibia which is also has an end covered in cartilage and lay the two bone ends near one another. The empty spot is the joint space which can be divided into compartments. All medial tells us is that wr are referring to the compartment towards the center of our body. If you hce a medial compartment, you must also have a lateral compartment on the opposite side of your knee
To avoid osteoarthritis, you need to speak with a physio and ask to be taught graduated and targeted kner strengthening and stretching exercises.
Strong muscles allow bone to properly articulate and move.
I will be watching to see if you can beat any Michael Jordan records...
kind regards
judith
"Narrow joint space" is a mild form of osteoarthritis. But your MRI did say "Grade 2 signal in the posterior horn of medial meniscus", right?
Don't be scared. You still have an incomplete diagnosis. Have you tested your functional ranges of motion?
In regards to the orthos, I suggest not seeing another one until you have a more complete story of your knee. Right now, you're telling us that you want to know what a puzzle looks like put together, when you only have 50% of the puzzle pieces. That's not possible. Check your ranges of motion. If your ankle dorsiflexion isn't full, we're going to have to figure out if it's adhesion or your previous medial malleolus fracture that is stopping that range. Something is causing the "protective weakness" and we don't know yet.