I am booked for an arthroscopy on my right knee in two days, for what the Orthopedic Surgeon feels is a lateral meniscus tear.

I have had two previous lateral meniscectomies of the right knee (1987, 1988) and in 1990 I had an open surgery of the right knee to fix a problem with the fat pad. The symptoms I have this time are completely unlike what happened the last time I had my lateral meniscus tears.   A month ago while doing some very light exercise, I felt some pain to the lateral aspect of my right knee and then when I squatted down to give my daughter a kiss I again felt the same pain in the same place.  That night while in bed, every movement of my leg caused me pain to the lateral aspect of my knee, to the point it was waking me up. When I finally got out of bed I realized I couldn't straighten my leg and the pain was horrible. I went in the ER and they took X-Rays, which were normal, gave me pain meds and anti inflammatories and put me on crutches and said I would have to follow up with an OS. The next day when I woke up I could straighten my leg and most of the pain had gone away.
I went to see the Orthopedic Surgeon two weeks later and he stated what I had was classic locking of the knee which is caused by a flap of the meniscus getting caught in the knee joint and that I would need surgery to repair it. He did offer to do an MRI, but he felt that my symptoms were typical enough to do the Arthroscopy without one. At the time I agreed, as I never wanted to feel that pain again. I continue to have good and bad days with my knee, it has never locked up again, but at time feels like something is catching inside. I will get a very sudden sharp pain that lasts for a minute or two, then it goes away. Another thing I have noticed is when I am walking for long periods my knee will start popping on the lateral side every ten steps or so, it really isn't painful, but feels uncomfortable. I have lateral knee aching at times and intermittent pain/aching behind my knee at the lateral side.
These symptoms are very different from the other lateral meniscus tears I have had - which mainly consisted of lateral knee aching.
I am curious if others have had a similar experience of knee locking  and pain? I guess I am second guessing myself and wondering if I should have had the MRI first...

Mwilson, sorry to hear about your knee.  I have had two separate issues with knee locking.  One due to a cartilage tear and the other a lateral meniscus tear.  The pain for both were different.  I think because the location and extent of damage to each area was different.

As for the MRI, I guess I would not worry about that decision.  MRI's can only tell you so much and typically not the whole story.  If your OS is okay proceeding without the MRI then I would go with that.  

Best of luck to you.  Let us know how it goes.

Mwilson, best of luck to you in your surgery.  I hope all goes well.

When my knee has locked, I could not move it at all.  The pain was too much.  If I tried, I was sure I was going to rip something inside.  Eventually, after 20 minutes to 2 hours it finally unlocked.

Good luck!

I am also wondering about crystals in the knee.  I had a "clean out" arthroscopy for arthritis and a torn meniscus, have never heard of these crystals before (and I have lots of knee experience, unfortunately). The on,y thing I could find was that it hey were formed from calcium as a result of arthritis.  Anyway, glad they are gone . My knee felt tons better the day after the scope - even with huge bone spurs removed.