Cartilage sticking in knee

[cletracboy]

Have a bit of history with damaging my knee, been operated on and damaged again after op. It's left me with a knee which from time to time gives ways and the cartilage locks the joint. What I want to know is has anyone found a quick way of getting the cartilage to realign so you can straighten the joint. I've been stuck a couple of times in awkward places unable to move. I've tried holding the top of my leg and swinging the lower half in a circular motion, which has worked but can take 5 min to work, the longer it's out the more it swells up afterward so need a quicker way.

 

[Badshot]

You need an arthroscopy, they'll trim the cartilage so it stops doing it.
My knee goes out sometimes, it's damned painful but all I do to get it back is straighten it by hand. Can't do it with my leg muscles.
Have you tried a knee support, I know doing certain jobs is dodgy so wear one for those, saves a lot of pain.

 

[cletracboy]

Badshot

I've had the cartilage trimmed when they operated on my ligaments as the cartilage was torn badly. Not to say it doesn't need more trimming I suppose. it physically won't straighten till all the bits are back in the right place. ive got a very good knee support thing with metal hinges to help stop knee going sideways haven't used it for a while perhaps sheeting up silage it would have been wise!

 

[Alicecow]

Try using the support again for a while, see if the leg can strengthen with that. Be worth speakingto your GP too, see is there anything else they can do.

 

[Adam@Rumen]

How do you know the cartilage is the issue again? Have you been for another MRI?

 

[cletracboy]

I've had a second MRI to confirm I have broken the ligament again. I guess I don't know for sure it's cartilage but something goes out of line stopping the joint straightening, then pops back in with a noticeable clunk and quite a bit of discomfort.
I don't think there much doctors can do other than more surgery but next one would be big operation and require a long time off work, with a far from certain outcome.
What I was asking for was tips on getting it to get back in quicker and prefferably not too painfully!

 

[wasted years]

I only once locked mine and that was 30 years ago as a child and was operated on.
From time to time mine locks but goes back in just by straightening leg, can fairly tickle mind.
I've never had it looked at since the first op.

 

[cletracboy]

i think i've invoked sods law! knee went again when changing hydrostatic filters on sprayer, i was stuck up there as it wont click back in, had to be lifted down with the forklift, still wont go back in 5 1/2 hours later. can't put any weight on it.
looks like i'll have to do something about it now!

 

[Adam@Rumen]

I had the cartilage tidied up 6 weeks ago, 2 weeks ago it was better but still not right. Got on to my GP who, fair play to her, got me back into the hospital that afternoon. The ligament is slightly detached from the bone which needs sewing back on.

When it comes out now (happened twice) can't get it back in like I used to. Gets better after a little while though. Due for this new op very soon.

Yours sounds very much like mine

 

[cletracboy]

just back from the hospital. the torn edge of the cartilage has folded over and needs key hole surgery to put right.
on crutches now, suspect i won't be fit for tb test on tuesday!
TT i hope your opetration sorts it, makes you realise how reliant we are on knees working.

 

[Spartacus]

Mine is f**ked now, believed to be ligament damage yesterday but specialist says its cartilage, MRI scan in a few weeks, kept locking since April but yesterday I slipped walking across a stream and couldnt walk on it. Any tips other than just to walk on it like the docs said?

 

[dazza b]

Mine is fudgeed now, believed to be ligament damage yesterday but specialist says its cartilage, MRI scan in a few weeks, kept locking since April but yesterday I slipped walking across a stream and couldnt walk on it. Any tips other than just to walk on it like the docs said?

Get a support asap and not a tubigrip one either and don't just buy a cheapi

 

[Spartacus]

Get a support asap and not a tubigrip one either and don't just buy a cheapi

already have one, two large straps and two small ones with velcro and a whole for the knee cap, that kind you mean?

 

[cletracboy]

No advice really just have to give it time. Ibuprofen seems to help with acheing pain in the join but doesn't do much for sharp pain when you try to use it. Cushions under the knee to support it when lying down help. When you can't walk on it you you can't. I've tried and it just ain't happening.
When I did my original injury I was stalking in Scotland and some how ( not sure how really) I walked to the nearest road, I also managed with a lot of painkillers and whiskey to play snooker and the other thing mentioned post operative in another post! I still remember tying to get my boots off that night. Milked the following weekend too, haven't got that problem now!

 

[JoanneB]

I've had a second MRI to confirm I have broken the ligament again. I guess I don't know for sure it's cartilage but something goes out of line stopping the joint straightening, then pops back in with a noticeable clunk and quite a bit of discomfort.
I don't think there much doctors can do other than more surgery but next one would be big operation and require a long time off work, with a far from certain outcome.
What I was asking for was tips on getting it to get back in quicker and prefferably not too painfully!

 

[JoanneB]

Diclofebac sodiumtopical gel 1%. You have it or. Use it in the morning 3x daily. If you are having scar pain use 5% licocaine in a gel. You also have a anti spasn otc there which is great. I live in the US where everything requires a pharmacist.

 

[JoanneB]

Oh, I forgot. It's going to be a bad flu season. They normally have 2 virius in flu shot. Now it's 3 and 1is swine flu. Keep antinausea with you with s tin pot with garbage bags in it.

 

[Adam@Rumen]

How is your knee @cletracboy ?

 

[cletracboy]

Knee is OK ish. I had an operation last summer to unfold and trim the cartilage and I have had the ACL reconstructed from a piece of hamstring this Spring which will hopefully sort it long term, still a bit uncomfortable doing some jobs and stiff and sore at the end of the day sometimes. But hopefully that will improve given more time.
How is your knee TT.

 

[Adam@Rumen]

Hope it comes right for you.

Had a different surgeon for the 2nd op, he was very good. Tidied more of the cartilage and had to sew some of the MCL back on. No where near as bad as an ACL though.

Day to day it's fine and back playing rugby which has cheered me up although a bit sore the day after. One of the lads did his ACL last season, took a year but he says it's fine now. So hopefully it'll be OK for you next year.