MRI shows nothing, knee pain continues - do I need surgery?

[aaskybabe]

According to my MRI and CAT scan I had a tibial plateau fracture, torn ACL, and torn MCL. After my surgery, my OS said my Tibia was perfectly fine (pristine was the word he used) not even a dent. But my femur had a "rough" area that he wasn't sure was from my accident (it could have been old) and my meniscus had a grade 3 tear. He repaired my meniscus and fixed my femur (since he was"already in there." )

Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is that my MRI was wrong and so was the CAT scan. So if your still in pain I would definitely consider having them look inside your knee. (I had no pain and all my surgeons thought that was odd. They just assumed I had a high tolerance for pain. Which I didn't since nothing was broken) (And I saw 3 different ortho surgeons because I didn't want a plate in my knee unless it was absolutely necessary... Turns out I didn't need a plate at all)

[jessthemess]

REPLY: hey
Your not alone on this I have the same problem I hurt my knee 3 yrs ago on a skateboard and they said the same thing to me my knee continues to get worse does ur knee lock or click -if so then go to ur gp they will talk u through all the options and maybe u can get to the bottum on this.

Hello,

I am writing this forum because in doing research on my knee injury I've found some excellent and informative posts that have been very helpful to me. I injured my knee three months ago doing some mountain climbing/hiking. I jumped up on a boulder and during the plant of my jump may possibly of hyper-extended my knee. After climbing down from the boulder I felt a sharp pain in the lower external (front left) part of my left knee as well as some pain in the upper external (front left) part of the same knee. It was especially painful hiking downhill. I thought I had strained some ligaments and rested it for a week. I then resumed activity and was able to jog/run/ride a stationary bike without too much pain. However, going down stairs or changing directions while running was extremely painful. I got an MRI that showed inflammation in the area of the injury, but no damage to the ligaments or cartilage. I was diagnosed with a bone bruise on the femoral condyll, but my doctor said that it was possible that I may have torn some cartilage even though the MRI showed nothing.

I am a pro basketball player in Europe and therefore in the past three months I have been trying to rehab my knee with the help of my team's trainers. I have made progress with my strength, but certain movements still give me very sharp bursts of pain. If I do too much I have residual pain for days that keeps me from being able to workout. Therefore I am in a constant back and forth game of trying to make progress without doing too much to set myself back.

Two months after the injury I got a follow up MRI that showed that the inflammation was gone and that the "bone bruise" was healed. The doctor said it was normal to have pain even after the MRI showed nothing. Therefore I have begun to step up the intensity of my workouts. However, as I increase the intensity I am starting to notice the familiar discomfort. It hasn't reached the levels of before, but I fear I am heading down that road.

My question is at what point do I need to pull the plug on the rehab process and get my knee scoped? If the MRI says the bone bruise has healed why do I feel like the pain and problems are still there (though I am able to do more than I was before)? Is it possible that a bone bruise can still be present though not visible on an MRI? Is it more likely that I have some cartilage tear that was not seen on the MRI? Would an exploratory scope resolve these questions? My season begins in several weeks and therefore the amount of rehab time I have is diminishing. Shortly I will begin to go all out and I fear that if I have another setback then surgery will be the only alternative.

Any help/advice/previous experiences with these type of injuries is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Shredhead]

My buds the head trainer at a major university. If the athlete has insurance and it will pay for an MRI, they get one. If not and the university is on the hook, they just scope it.

[hello_3482]

I'm wondering if anyone else has had this knee issue: I didn't get it from any sports or anything which makes me feel dumber lol. I was at a friend's house and had my leg under me. I turned to look at something and my knee went "pop" extremely loud followed by excruciating pain for like 20 minutes. It didn't seem to swell. Then after that it only hurt up and down stairs. Well, I am in the military, and I went to a school for a couple months and the knee pain got worse. It cracks and pops about 20 times a day and hurts sometimes when it finally does crack or pop. When I sit too long it stiffens and locks. I went to a PA and told him all this and he said "patellar tendonitis." Gave me naproxen which doesn't do anything. Well it's getting worse so I got an MRI done today and waiting on that. I've been told by other people with knee problems I tore something - and could have torn my meniscus. But I'm wondering why the doc would tell me it was patellar tendonitis when I told him about the pop? I know patellar tendonitis and torn meniscus have similar symptoms but it's now to the point I can barely walk. Now I think the rest of my leg is compensating because I have hip pain for a month now and in my thigh it feels like when you see someone pull an elastic band as tight as they can until it might snap but it doesn't snap - that's how my thigh feels now.

Anyone have ideas what it might be? I've seen that sometimes MRI results don't show up anything but I know something serious is going on in there.

[splat]

I highly recommend all you one post people try the search function...

[basinbeater]

Tightenyourfuckingboots.com

They cured my knee pain when the mri came back aok.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using TGR Forums

[Knee injury]

Do you have pinching, catching, clicking, locking in your knee? Pain with deep knee bending?[/QUOTE]

Hi my right knee does all the above as well as grinding and collapsing at times. I had an MRI but the doctor says it's fine and discharged me. I cant stand straight as my knee automatically bends. Im 16 and cant do any sports or run even walking or sitting for a long time hurts. SOMEONE PLEASE HElP. I don't know what to do now.

[old goat]

Do you have pinching, catching, clicking, locking in your knee? Pain with deep knee bending?

Hi my right knee does all the above as well as grinding and collapsing at times. I had an MRI but the doctor says it's fine and discharged me. I cant stand straight as my knee automatically bends. Im 16 and cant do any sports or run even walking or sitting for a long time hurts. SOMEONE PLEASE HElP. I don't know what to do now.

See another doctor, preferrably one who will listen to you and carefully examine you before looking at your MRI, preferrably an orthopedist or sports medicine specialist who is experienced with teenagers--since at 16 your bones are not fully mature (if you're a young man) and treatment may be different than for an adult.

If you tell us where you are womeone may be able to recommend (also good if we know your insurance situation.)

[polar bear]

hi guys ..first of all thanks for all useful info above . i am new to this forum . I am experiencing same issue , pain in my right knee top left and middle .Cant remember when i got hurt but the fact is its now increasing . Had an x ray , Ultra sound , MRI . all negative . I am also experiencing clicking and popping sounds . I can feel the difference b/w my left and right knee . One of my doctors told me it could be an deficiency of calcium , i started taking extra calcium but nothing working . Have been to my doc multiple times , don't know way to go . Plz guide //

[Boricua2026]

Hello, I also need help.. I joined the army 3 years ago and have had knee surgery while I was in. Now I still have knee pain and the MRI they did on me shows a little swelling!.. I don't get it, I can't run no more, jog, squat , play basketball .. I can't do nothing that I used to do and they tell me I just have a little swelling like I'm crazy.. What should I do?? The pain that I feel on both knees is a 10 ..

[fameonner]

Im a 55 year old woman who has had problems with both knees for the last few years. I love to walk/run mildly and over time it seemed like it was getting harder to keep up with my old regiment . Lately i noticed that it was getting harder and harder to walk up hills and then the stairs in my home. It got to the point where i actually had to crawl up my stairs. I had an Mri done on both knees because of the pain and swelling
After cortizone shots and having my knees drained over the next couple weeks I insisted on a Mri. The results were negative. Thank goodness my doctor decided to scope them anyway. Both knees had ripped menisci. They were trimmed i followed with therapy and i could walk again with limited pain. Now 6 years later I am again going in for meniscus surgery. This time it did show up on my MRI. So I would definately push for a follow up even if the MRI doesnt show anything. As long as your insurance covers it why not take care if it now instead of trying to guess for years/months what is wrong.

[Charsouthgate]

Hey! I recently had a bone bruise! And now mine has "gone" but I'm still in a lot of pain whenever I do activity! Has your pain gone now??

[millview41]

One of the best ways to help build up cartilage in the knee joint is by taking a good supplement. A supplement can assist the body and can prevent any additional loss in the future. Supplements that contain glucosamine, chondroitin or similar substances actually help to rebuild cartilage. Specialists recommend moderate exercise to help relieve joint pain.

What supplement would you recommend for this????

[VECHESLAV]

Regenerate cartilage tissue.
Connective tissue disease.
Hyaline cartilage.
Knee joints.
youtu.be/Udq__aSFV6s
youtu.be/PCY_U5bOZrQ

[helpcame]

Write to me in PM. I will tell him to help himself.

[todobien]

General Info:
• Male 36 H: 5'7 W: 140
• ACL Repair and partial lateral meniscectomy in 2000
• Ongoing lateral pain and inflammation post exercise last 4-5 months.
• Impact and climbing sports seem to increase pain and inflammation

About 4-5 months ago I tweaked my leg on hike but not immediately painful and within 2 weeks I started having knee pain and chronic inflammation after most exercises even non impact swimming /cycle. Knee feels tight and swollen after any exercises. Cycling/swimming is possible none of the my favorites like skiing/surfing or running . Been doing loads of research. Rested for a few weeks light activity no swimming or cycling. Now I am currently doing knee VMO exercises knee, PEMF machine 2 times a week, loads of vits: Glucosamine/Chrono, gelatin, fish oil and cycling 2 times a week trying to rehab. I have been to 3 doctors and had MRI. The first ones recommend NSAIDS which I took for 1 week straight no real change. Last doctor said I have a very thin Lateral meniscus and recommends meniscus allocraft/ transplant.

Right now I can’t afford that.
My question is should I go in for another meniscus removal considering not much left? I read on forums that many people have had it done 3 times. Worried about making it worse? Should I hold out for PRP injections and see what happens? Like to try Stem cell injections, HGH perhaps? Missing $$$ for that?
How to get Chronic inflammation to go away?
In my opinion the future of medicine will be cell healing and less cutting and sawing.

Thanks for any help /advice well received.

[DasBlunt]

^^^^^^Stem cells do the same as HGH.

do it!

[m3bb15]

Hi i had an injury where someone fell into the back of me and my knee buckled and smashed onto a solid wood door frame,it hit directly onto the front of my kneecap and i was in agony after about 5 minutes and couldnt put any weight on it,this was now 2 years ago and im still in alot of pain,iv had and MRI and an x-ray and nothing showed up,iv had physio for around 5 months and the pain is slightly better but i still wake up a few daysa week unable to get out of bed because of the pain,it is most difficult going up stairs,and just in general walking for over an hour,jogging is a no-no,and i still cannot kneel on the floor because the pain and discomfort is too great.if anything hits or knocks my knee slightly i am in great pain and it almost feels numb at times.i cant sit for a prolonged time with my knee bent or crossed because of stiffness and pain and i am unable to lead a normal life as it all depends on how badly my knee is hurting that day,on average there is a severe aching and burning sensation in the muscle and tendons around the kneecap,and a very sore pain underneath my kneecap,i have been told that my kneecap slides out of the tracking and goes sideways but physio has not helped this and it still doesnt explain the other pain.symptoms are severe burning sensation on and around kneecap,unable to apply any pressure directly on kneecap,difficulty using stairs and a constant aching which can be excruciating or just a dull ache.my doctor is debating over an arthroscopy or mri and im concerned iif the mri is negative then i will be refered to physio again which did not help.if the mri is negative will they go ahead with the arthroscopy or not?any advice is appreciated after 2 years of this im at my wits end!thanks! it doesnt give way it just is unbearable to walk on or move when it is at its worse,it is not whether or not i have over exhurted myself but at complete random :s thanks

Did you get this sorted out? I have exactly the same problem/symptoms in the same place. Hurt my knee in a hike back in June, MRIs show "nothing wrong" and get told "it should get better". Cheers, Bruce, aged 63, Sydney, Aust