Meniscus :
LockedAt45 - - Posted by LockedAt45 (LockedAt45), 13 January 2005
Ok, folks:
Here's my situation. I fell off a bike and noticed no noise or pain from my knee. I expected to walk away, HOWEVER, my left knee gave way an inch or two to the right when I stood up ! It was quiet and painless, but it really frightened me. I lied down, and when I got up again it happened again. I leaned on someone to get home, applied ice and kept off the left leg for approx. two weeks. Entire leg was swollen and sore, including knee, but I noticed no real knee pain or problems. Knee never again became unstable. Then I began to notice that my knee would not straighten out. I went to a knee specialist and told him I couldn't afford an MRI right away. He did a physical check and noticed no noise or pain, but said that the lock is at 45 degrees, which could be bad knews (a pseudo lock is usually less than 45 degrees, no ?) and he was unable to unlock it while I was on the bench. He finished up by saying that there is only a 40% chance I have a meniscus problem and 60% an inflammation/fluid problem (because my whole leg was swollen and discolored. He gave me a few Celebrex capsules that he had and suggested a Cortisone injection next (for treatment AND diagnosis) and a possible MRI/arthroscopy later down the road. To this day, two months after the accident, my knee functions smoothly, with no pain or noise, but does not straighten out (45 degree angle). I have a slight limp, but cannot ride a bike or run. What should be my next treatment ?
Posted by Nettan (Nettan), 14 January 2005
Hey !!
Sorry you still aren't well. Of course you should go back to the doc and tell him/her that you aren't ok and need help. You can't live like this can you ?!
If the doc not seems to be to your help then look for a second opinion.
Not easy to say what's wrong but if your knee still are locked and you don't have any swelling looks like a piece of something is interfering between the surfaces and needs to be taken out.
I hope you get help soon. Let me know how it goes.
Hugs Nettan 
Posted by LockedAt45 (LockedAt45), 14 January 2005
HI, I posted the orginal LockedAt45 message and I want to add a more pointed question: is it possible to have a knee locked at a 45 degree angle (my knee closes but will not straighten) and NOT have a meniscus piece or other knee piece blocking the movement of the knee ?
I realize that an MRI would be the best next step, but don't want to waste the money on one if a Cortisone injection of fluid drainage would cure the problem.
Posted by Nettan (Nettan), 19 January 2005
Hey again !!
Maybe you are thinking of scar tissue. I'm not good at these issues but I don't think it's impossiblel as you hear many who have problems with scar tissue and movement. But surely you need help from a doc whne you have a locked knee.
Hugs Nettan
Posted by LockedAt45 (LockedAt45), 19 January 2005
Here's an update:
My knee feels fine and seems to work properly: no pain, noise, or swelling. I can do almost everything except run, but i get tired if I walk far. However, the stubborn 45 degree lock (will not straighten) will not improve or change at all. The knee bends inward, but not all the way (so I can ride a bike a little). I still have to limp when I walk. At least the knee is stable and I can sleep at night, etc. I have read that MRIs are not always accurate, so my plan is to wait and investigate! to see if my injury is tissue swelling or damaged knee parts as well
Posted by andrewc (AndrewC), 19 January 2005
Quote:However, the stubborn 45 degree lock (will not straighten) will not improve or change at all.
hi there
It sounds to me like you definately have more than just tissue swelling I'm afraid!
If your knee has not budged in its ROM past the locked point over the course of a week or two then you almost definately have some more serious issue to deal with. The lack of pain clearly is a good thing but you may well have a bucket handle tear to your meniscus that has flipped over in the joint and is causing the locking....
The risk you take by leaving it is that you will worsen the tear (provided there is one...) or cause additional other damage to your knee.
My leg was locked in 30 degree bent position for four weeks before I could get "emergency" surgery on the NHS and although it was a serious injury as I had nearly torn my lateral meniscus clean off......I have had big problems since my meniscus repair surgery partly caused I think by my leg being bent for so long causing scarring, and the tightening and at the same time weakening of a lot of my knee structures. Also, muscle atrophy is common in this scenario as the leg is constantly being "mothered" due to the weakness of not straightening or being used properly.
If I were you I would definately go and get the opinoin of a knee surgeon if only to get peace of mind 
Good luck
Posted by LockedAt45 (LockedAt45), 19 January 2005
Hi Andrew:
I did go to a knee surgeon on December 27th ( leg swelling was down): a doctor who even performs knee replacements, etc. He measured the lock, performed bench tests (limited). No MRI at my request. I described the accident in detail. He said only a 40% chance of meniscus tear, but admitted he was uncertain without an MRI. He gave me Celebrex! He said to come back for a Cortisone injection for treatment AND diagnostic purposes. I haven't yet.
I was hoping to be able to wait, because I am suspicious of cortisone, of MRIs, of surgery, and of doctors in general ! I have been biking (limited), Razor scooting, etc for weeks now with no hint of pain or swelling and no changes in the knee at all. However, I realize that a meniscus could suddenly worsen and change at any time. I am afraid that if someone incompetent operates, the knee may be a lot worse after.
However, I must admit that a 45 degree lock that never improves is kind of discouraging, even though the knee bends inward (but not entirely). I'm worried ! and: I have no insurance. -Randy
Posted by livachic (livachic), 24 January 2005
Hi was concerned wen i read ur post cos thats how my problems started 10yrs ago, and because of lack of pain i never bothered to get it properly seen too, just iced it etc
Ive just had knee surgery on 20th Dec, lateral menisc, chondroplasty and lateral release.
Basically cos i never took care of it, and just learnt to walk a certain way to compensate for the locking, i did a lot more damage,
I was told by my surgeon last week that he has never seen such a bad knee in someone as young as me, im 40, and that even wen its healed ill never be able to run or jump again, and will have to always take care of it,
so althoug i dont know wat u have done to urs, my advice is not to let it go, just because theres no pain, if i had of had mine taken care of yrs ago, i wudnt be in this situation now, im still not doing any physio, have simply been told to rest till the swelling goes down properly.
good luck
Posted by Nettan (Nettan), 24 January 2005
Hey Randy !!
You are from US aren't you ? If someone gets sick of course you must be allowed to get help even if you haven't insurance or money. I'm from Sweden so I'm not keen on this issues. But you need to get help now so you don't damage more. Think of the future. You need your knee to function and to be able to work.
Hugs Nettan
Posted by suek (suek), 24 January 2005
Hi.
I was in a similar situation in as much as because of the way I injured the knee (rising from a squat) both consultant & PT thought it was unlikely that there was any meniscus tear involvement or if there was a tear it was only minor, however you know yourself when something is not right with your body and you should listen to it, so after really pushing my leg to straighten doing PT 3 times a week for a month. I decided to push ahead and get it done.
You are right in what you say about MRI scans not being that accurate, mine only showed a horizontal tear on the posterior horn of the medial meniscus, but when I finally had the Op there was damage to the lateral too. When I saw the surgeon afterwards he again asked me to describe what had happened as he couldn't believe I done so much doing so little.
I'm really pleased with the outcome even though I'm still at the early stages of my recovery, and my good knee, which had started to get quite painful & aching has also started to recover.
You can't keep limping about without other parts of your body starting to suffer as well, and if there is damage time will only make it worse not better.
Hope things work out for you.
Posted by sienna (sienna), 25 January 2005
You'd be surprised how little force it takes to injure your meniscus. I damaged my posterior horn of medial meniscus by squatting and lifting school students (I work with disabilities). this put too much pressure on my knee and it tore. Normally this wouldn't be enough but 6 tmhs earlier I was kicked in the same knee. Not much became of it at the time of the origian injury but my doc explained that the incident weakened my knee and I was susceptible to injury with not much force.
The moral of the story is that knees are delicate things not to be taken lightly. It doesn't take much to injure them.
The fact that your knee is locked at 45 and won't/hasn't budged for a while, tells me that someting is in the way. Luckily it is not painful but you'd better get it sorted sooner rather than later to prevent further damage.
I have read that a good xray will show most things provided the correct angle is used.
I can understand money being a major issue but a small outlay now may prevent a larger one later.
Good luck and keep us updated on how you go.
Take care
Updated Thu Aug 21 2008