Knee Locks Up - Fibula Slipping Out of Joint?

[driz]

My right knee has been locking up for 10 years. Been to four specialists, 2 MRI's, one scope, zero results. The doctors are baffled. If I straddle my right leg so that the knee is hanging rightwardly loose, or simply allow the R knee to exist without support in a rightward manner - or pulled rightward by gravity, or even if I let the right leg lean rightward too much while I'm sitting at a desk - it can go into lock condition and is VERY painful. Can't move until it unlocks, which can sometimes take up to an hour or more, though I've learned some tricks that can usually unlock it sooner.

It's a PHYSICAL LOCK UP and it's a BIG BONE that's locking up ("THUNK") and/or coming "out of joint." That's the only way I know how to explain it, but when I tell the doctors this they tell me it's impossible. When it unlocks, it gives another "THUNK" and I can feel it sliding back into its proper place. It's a horrible sensation. One doc surgically took out a small piece of Meniscus, but that wasn't the problem. It solved nothing. I've checked all the medical websites and none of the listed "knee lock" symptoms correspond to mine.

I've been experimenting (painfully) during lock-ups, trying to isolate the problem area. The issue seems NOT to be in the central knee, but on the right side of the leg below the knee about 2" - apparently where the Fibula connects with the Tibia, best I can gather from anatomy diagrams. My only conclusion is that the Head of the Fibula is sliding out of its normal joint - as if certain ligaments (Collateral, Posterior, etc.) have been damaged (or degenerated) and cannot hold the Fibula in place when the knee/leg is bent or pressured outward-rightward. Based on my lay efforts to localize the source of locking, that's the only conclusion I can draw.

Ortho doctors may scoff at this. But until they can properly diagnose it and fix it, they have "no leg to stand on." I would enjoy talking with others who share this issue: JL (at sign) JPS (dot) NET. Maybe if enough of us got together, we could petition some medical college to do a small study on us all. I would travel anywhere in the world if I thought someone could truly fix this condition. It is misery to live with. 

[bavage]

With the info supplied, to date, I can only relate what occured with me.

I had an MRI which indicated a meniscus tear. The OS went in to repair this and ended up removing 1/2 of the ligament. So much for the trustworthyness of MRI's.
Shortly afterward, I had the same clicking noise and locking up of the knee as you only not as loud. 11 months later I had a TKR. But you have not and I find that amazing.

When you had some of the meniscus removed, did that surgeon, who got a first hand look at your knee, see anything at all? It kind of reminds me of a friend who was double jointed. He could manuveur his legs in a way nobody else could.

This is puzzling and I sympathize with your concern.

[digginit]

I've had something similar happen lately since my TKA 7 weeks ago, only it doesn't seem to be as dramatic in my case.  Often when I try to extend from flexion, my "fibular head" seems to catch.  I have to maneuver it funny before it pops and extends.

I've wondered if it's the biceps femoris tendon and the bursa that's under it...and inflammation.

~dig

[driz]

When you had some of the meniscus removed, did that surgeon, who got a first hand look at your knee, see anything at all?

No. Just a small (1/4"?) tear removed that he said may or may not have been getting inside the joint.

At that time, neither of us were thinking Fibula. I hadn't located the source of lock-up, so I think he assumed (as I did) that it was in the central knee area, not the lower structure.

Thanks for your thoughts. The specter of TKR bothers me more than the lock-up. 

[TwoBadKneesUSA]

Hi driz,

I have actually had my fibula dislocate during a kneecap subluxtion. I had to have the dislocation reduced by my docs office. So you are not nuts!  I still can have problems with it wanting to pop back and forth.  Thankfully it has never locked my knee up, but it does cause some issues.  I agree it could be a tendon issue.  Maybe check with yet another OS.  Keep looking for one who will hear what you have to say.  Good luck.

Milly

[tootall17870]

Have you found out anything more about your knee yet? I have the same problem and Drs. wont listen so just curious.