knees, joints

[sierra]

We have a history of loose joints in our family (don't tell me to roll them tighter either). It is a pain (excuse the pun) but not for the obvious reasons.

My 250# 6' son put his knee out over the weekend. Now, he wasn't playing soccer, rollerblading, or beating his friends with sticks, he was just standing on the wet grass looking up at a leaded glass window. wham down on the ground he went. This is the second time he has done this while doing nothing that should stress the joint. (i've a similar history of hurting myself when doing nothing strenuous... like standing or walking).

Now is the time for you medical gurus to weigh in (no pun intended, again) and give me your hypotheses as to why this happens.

 

[bbchien]

There are some familial conditions in which the ligaments are very, well, LAX. All sort of things come out- the lens of the eye dislocates, the knees, the shoulders. Some are associated with heart valve failure in mid adult life - none to wonderful.

But, usually with a knee there is a tear in the anterior cruciate ligament. This could have been past athletic in origin or genetic. IF that isn't tightened up (usually surgically) the cartilage lining really takes a beating over the next years, leading to premature jont failure and the need for a total knee replacement. This young man needs to see an orthopedist.

 

[sierra]

This young man needs to see an orthopedist.

Oh, that he is.

Are you suggesting that previous activity may have caused (or aggrevated) a weakness which waited in latency for an opportunity to just throw itself out? The appearance of "he didn't do anything" is just timing? I think it is odd that we can go out and do things that would normally strain a joint but yet the only time we hurt ourselves is when in a relaxed state.

 

[One Short]

I think it is odd that we can go out and do things that would normally strain a joint but yet the only time we hurt ourselves is when in a relaxed state.

One way to protect a joint is to strengthen the muscles around it. Relax the muscles, release the joint. A slight twist with the leg planted makes my knee jump track. (like turning to look at pictures on different walls).

Barb(One Short-I got that name trying to examine a guy whose knee does the same thing )

 

[Doug R]

take him to see a specialist!!!. I am a midlife ex football player that has no acl or or for the most part any ligaments in the knee. I have no cartlige and am bone on bone....very painful. Two weeks ago I did a second opinion consultation with a specialist that happens to take care of a major university football team. Result --- total joint knee replacement. Dr. told me to try to go another 10 to 15 years before having it fixed. I'm basically to young for this type of fix. Silicone shots don't work anymore and steriod to the bone and lots of advill is the only releive i get. Can't jog with my kids anymore and have lots of pain. Wish I would have taken care of it better when I was younger instead of having bandaid surgery after sugery to try and fix it....please at all cost make sure your son has his knee properly looked at. It will affect my flying career. Trying to put my surgery off until I'm about 50 or 55. Hoping it won't be to tough to get my medical back after the surgery. I truely think that if I would have done things differently I would not be facing this in the future.

 

[gkainz]

My best man from my wedding, best fishin' bud, retired Navy Commander had a knee replacement at 45 years old. The docs told him the same thing - hobble around in pain for 10-15 more years, because you're only good for 2 replacements on a knee. He told 'em to shove it - he's not going to feel like a cripple and miss out on all the things he was looking forward to in retirement, just so he could walk better in his '60s. Besides, looking at technological advances in joints over the last 10 years, one could hopefully project even greater advances in the next 10, so he said "the outlook is good - gimme a new knee, doc!!!"
BTW, my mother-in-law just had both knees replaced last year and is finally pain-free for the first time in 20 years.