not my knee
I have seen a doctor. I was x-rayed. I was informed that I have lovely knees, with no signs of arthritic degeneration. I got a blood test for my uric acid levels — they’re normal. I got a pressure bandage. I have an appointment for the orthopedic doctor for next week or the week after. But there are no quick fixes.
I hobbled out in just as much pain as when I went in.
I guess I’m just supposed to cross my fingers and hope it gets better, and if it gets worse, see an orthopedist for more tests.
Right now that means I just sit and wait for a week or more, and walk as little as possible. I’m dreading having to get up to walk 10 meters to use the bathroom.
I had a similar problem. Really painful, and the knee felt like it might collapse. The doctor gave me some physical therapy exercises and it cleared up pretty quickly.
The speed of your diagnosis and follow up is such that the NHS UK could only dream of.
Get well soon, Professor Myers!!!!
Sorry there is no quick answer. And that it messes with spider trips of course.
“Conservative Management” it’s called. Which means “boredom” for you, you’re right. I’m sorry PZ, that the news isn’t better. I know how frustrating it can be to not have a definitive diagnosis, but those are hard to come by, with knees.
Rolling stools like the doctors use are available from Amazon. A rolling stool like a dental hygienist uses is WAY better. It has a real saddle, not just a flat circle, so you’re more secure from falling off. And the range of travel of the hydraulic post is higher, which makes it easier to do things on a countertop. I’ve cooked dinner in one more than I care to admit, when my back is acting up. See if one fits your budget. It will be just the thing for moving around your house. If you have lab space still on campus, maybe the department will spring for one for you to use, there. They’re still excellent rolling stools even when your knee isn’t in a state of active mutiny.
Following what christoph @ #1 says, and as I said yesterday, my wife managed to get some pre-op PT for her knee problem. It helped. She was able to walk close to normal very quickly. In fact, she improved so much that she toyed with the idea of postponing surgery. But, she was still having pain and was concerned that she might never walk extensively in London again.
Try a heavy duty knee brace. It helped with my knee injuries. You can order one online. It’s no cure, but at least you could limp around without too much pain. You’ll be Professor Gimpy for a while.
In the meantime opioids might help a whole lot. With my chronic back pain I couldn’t live without them.
Way back when I tore the meniscus in my knee, it wasn’t properly diagnosed until I had an MRI done. It felt like I had a small stone in the joint. Weight bearing was intolerable until after surgery.
Good luck
“I’m dreading having to get up to walk 10 meters to use the bathroom.”
Chamber pot to the rescue!
A personalized exosuit for real-world walking
OK, I feel your pain. Blew my right knee out in 68 right before heading to basic training (still had to go, just got delayed by 3 months). Had the medial meniscus removed in 71 and the lateral in 75. The doc that removed the lateral (who was the orthopedic doc for the U Texas football team) said to keep walking/running forever to minimize the damage from arthritis. So, was running 3.5 miles 4 or 5 times a week till a couple years ago when a weird foot issue (not caused by running) that nobody could fix stopped me. Have been on an elliptical trainer since then. Have had periods of soreness and knee “pops” that hurt and made running/walking difficult. Finally figured out that knee braces could do a lot to get things back to normal. Different braces for different issues, even had one that let me play soccer in my 40’s. So, it may help to go to a sporting goods store, try on some braces, and see if anything helps/works.
Get a bloody walker, FFS. Useful for the future as well.
Rather than a clunky walker, get a rollator. Easier to maneuver and it has a seat, which can double as a handy tray to carry food and drink from place to place. I’m still using the one we bought in 2008 for $100.
…or a crutch. If 10 metres is a problem, you don’t need much more.
I had a similar experience with knee pain a few months ago. They took x-rays and it was not arthritis. It took a while to get a clear diagnosis, but it turned out to be Runners’ knee which is also Hikers’ knee. I had intermittent stabbing pain which is unusual for it. It was quite disconcerting when I was just sitting around, hours after gentle exercise, and got that pain. Online information actually helped me, particularly duckduckgo.com AI assistant, which anonymizes for us and shows which sites they are summarizing, like Harvard Health and Wikipedia.
What vinnievidivici said. Get a rolling stool. I was barely able to manage to stand for the severe pain, and it was getting worse. Got a rolling stool; within a few weeks I was out hiking again.
Consider the plight of the NATO chairman in the Hague recently.
You do not need to suck up to Trump and flatter him whenever you want to get important stuff done without getting blocked by a Trumpean rage attack. Leg pain? I bet that dude would love some mere leg pain.
I was going to suggest a mobility scooter if PZ could swing it somehow, but others have suggested other solutions and I hesitated because I don’t know how useful scooters are in the confines of a house. People with relevant experiences suggested better ideas.
I did think of my mom’s issues and we had an occupational therapist visit for a while before the insurance ran out. I can’t recall if it was him or someone contracted to put all kinds of assistive stuff in like hand rails in the restroom. Might be overkill now but getting such helpful disability things installed might get a headstart in on what the future could bring to PZ and/or his wife. Small things could make huge differences down the road.
I really hate how bathroom doors often open inward as a fallen person in the bathroom then blocks the door. Emergency services have to do stuff to get into the bathroom. A traumatic situation for all involved (believe me!). Not sure if there is a better way. Outward opening bathroom doors without locks? Semi private. Put an occupied sign up on the door knob.
I had the same symptoms in my knee about 5 years ago. It turned out it was actually my sciatic nerve because my back went out awhile after. It might be worth it to have your back checked. It happened to me again just a little while ago except opposite knee. This time I did my back exercises from my previous physio and my knee is clearing up.
[Not sure if there is a better way.]
Sliding doors.
Sliding doors are an interesting solution though what do they slide into? Would it work for all wall configurations?
Maybe a glorified shower curtain that provides some privacy but is easily swept aside?
I’m not devaluing the sliding door idea, but my vision of sliding doors butts up against obstructions depending on surrounding wall configurations. It could work though.
“Sliding doors are an interesting solution though what do they slide into?” is not the complete question.
Into or alongside of. Rollers to one side or the other. Or both.
(Japanese elegance, (fusuma and shōji))
I stand corrected. Sliding doors to me seem uncommon. I think I’ve encountered them in mobile homes. They should be encouraged or dare I say mandatory.
I feel your pain. I had all the cartilage removed 51 years ago. Until the knee replacement last year I was progressively becoming more and more immobile, due to the damage to everything else.
I can see arthritis in the knee but being an old bugger like me it would be a surprise if there wasn’t.
I agree on the brace. It helped me a lot. Remedial massage with a good therapist/physiotherapist also got me from able to walk 50 metres, pre surgery, on a good day to being able to do 200 metres on a good day.
Using a medical term there’s probably junk floating round in the joint which lodges somewhere and causes a flare up until it’s dislodged. We all have it. Had an arthroscopy 25 years ago with a flush out and was able to walk and work until 8 yrs ago.
I’ll take the NHS slowness over the US cost for quick treatment/diagnosis
Chamber pots need to be emptied.
Usually by another human.
Yeah. But, you know, wifey is there.
(I know, I know. But I also know that were wifey in that situation, hubby would be there)
—
Anyway. It’s a thing. Was a thing for many a century, basically a needs-must thingy, especially for the bed-bound.
(A hospital thing to this day, but they call them bedpans)
Good news to ponder while you are immobilised:
“White” hydrogen in the crust can be located by helium leakage, potentially very large amounts.
Nature has an article about a breakthrough in understanding of the chrystals that will the next big thing in cheap photovoltaic panels.
Hyundai has developed a solid-state EV battery that may compete the hell out of Tesla.
Walking backwards in a swimming pool.
Brilliant rehab and restoring mobility then building strength.
Build up to to about 10 to 15 minute sessions,
My knees are fine, but I’m rocking two ruptured lumbar disks. I haven’t been able to walk unsupported since January. I’ve been trying to get medical care for it, but the public health system in Oregon is painfully slow. My fingers are crossed that I get treatment while some vestige of public health care still remains. Either something shifted or my pain threshold is much higher now, but for months, just making breakfast every morning involved more pain than I normally accumulated over an entire year. It’s not that bad now, but I still can’t walk.
PY, ask for a Physical Therapy referral, this has the markings of referred pain to the knee from muscular trigger points (TrPs). I had an episode once on a hike where I could hardly walk up or down the trail due to buckling knee pain and with a few minutes of therapy it disappeared forever. Good luck!
https://www.triggerpointtherapist.com/blog/knee-pain-trigger-points/vastus-medialis-trigger-points-quadriceps/
(…PZ…)
@23: “Sliding” as in barn door — you just need a few feet of free space on the wall outside of the bathroom. We did this when we reno’ed a few years back. Haven’t thought of a good way to latch it shut that’s accessible from both sides, but it’s an ensuite so we’re not too worried about accidental intrusions.
I did something, probably tore a meniscus. Put a strong elastic brace on the knee for week, was able to walk with the brace on. After a week, took it off, still hurt, put it on for another week. Was better, wore it for another three days, was all ok. Since you have walking issues, definitely wear a brace.
Let me add another vote for physical therapy. When I had rotator cuff problem after 2 sessions I was good as new.. Recently I thought it was rotator cuff again, instead it was a pinched nerve in my neck making my shoulder and whole arm hurt. PT helped there too.
Exercise in water makes good sense to support your weight and keep things moving. Keep moving but don’t over do it or other parts will start ganging upon you.
I had similar issue and when I saw the orthopedic surgeon he gave me a steroid injection on both sides of my knee and a prescription for pain meds. The next morning I was able to get out of bed and put weight on that leg with only minor pain. 6 sessions with a physical therapist spread over 4 weeks and I was able to walk again with no pain and balance on that leg. You have to do the work every day and don’t hesitate to take the pain medication before doing the exercises so you can do them with less pain.