Long story short,..tore the meniscus on my right knee about 6 years ago. Had it operated on. It's been decent since then.

Last night I stood up from a low chair and it went *POP!*,....hurt pretty bad. No bones seem to be broken. It's not swollen. It's just stiff and painful today.

Any ideas what it could be?

Is it swollen?

No,...not swollen. Once I get stood up it doesn't hurt much to walk on it. But bending it makes me grimace.

I'm fairly paranoid about my knees. Last time I messed it up was a bad, long term nuisance.

With No swelling you couldn’t have suffered much damage to the knee.

Aging is fun ain’t it?

My doctor told me my problem with a previously surgically repaired knee was arthritis. Snap, crackle, pop and stiff. I get cortisone shots about every 6-8 months when the pain becomes a real nuscience.

I've had both of mine replaced in the past two years. Make that your absolute last option.

You coulda simply strained your patellar tendon.

Yeah. Everything still works well enough with me except for my joints. I had a full body MRI done when I was in my early 40s and the doc said I had arthritis from one end to the other. But nothing hurt back then, so I just kind of blew it off. 20+ years later I have to make allowances for it.

I'm thinking that it might be a tendon of some sort. It doesn't really feel like a knee bone issue this time.

I've heard enough about knee replacements. I don't want that unless absolutely necessary.

Thinking I might have to get used to wearing a brace on my bad one.

MRI ?

Go for the cortisone shot if pain persists.

Bad knees are not fun.

🦫

Not true. my son tore everything there is to tear playing football including dislocation and it never had any swelling at all. talk to a doctor.

Or you coulda simply strained your quadriceps tendon.

Yeah, maybe. I'm hoping it just kind of goes away. I waited 3 months to get the torn meniscus fixed.

Thanks.

My left knee has been a problem for too many months.

I don’t want to deal with all the COVID bs at a clinic or I’d have tried an injection by now.

Advil for me until things calm down.

🦫

The meniscus is between the bones. It can swell without showing on the outside. My wife had hers repaired last May. It didn't swell on the outside until the surgery. One thing's for sure - it won't heal on it's own. An xray won't show anything. Only an MRI will show what's happened and it can be tricky to read. My wife's MRI showed a tear across it on one side and a lengthwise split on the other. When the surgeon got in there, he repaired the tear but the split turned out to be that it was just folded over, not torn. He simply unfolded it and somehow tacked it down to hold it in place. It's slower to heal than a replacement. How long depends on what's in there. My wife's been since May and it'll probably another 4 or 5 months before she can kneel on it without pain.

The surgeon said that when he operates on one, he often has an artificial joint ready to go in case he finds something serious that the MRI doesn't show. He can install it while he's in there so a 2d surgery isn't needed. The MRI is a fantastic tool but it's not foolproof.

A loose piece of meniscus found its way into the joint. I have had it happen. It will about buckle you sometimes.

I'll let it ride for a week. Might have to let the doc look at it if it doesn't improve.

I would get a doc to look at it. Bad knees are no fun, so don’t “hope it better.”
Two of my brothers younger than me have had both knees replaced. The first two weeks, the pain was pretty tough. The PT was not exactly a walk in the park, but several years later, they both say it’s the best thing they could have done, and knowing what they know, would not hesitate to have it done.

I've been installing floors since I was 14, 43 yrs and I have seldom used knee pads, by the grace of God I've never had knee problems

Three years ago I had my medial meniscus operated on. My knee was great...until this year. I twisted my knee in the snow hunting and could hardly walk. My Doc says that most meniscus repairs will become re-injured in the future unless you are really careful. This time I have just taped it up and it is slowly healing. There are several places on you-tube that show you exercises to do to help with healing. However, the first thing to do is go to your doctor to see exactly what is going on. BTW...I had no swelling last time or this time. Good luck.

Mine used to pop and lock and pop again after walking around in plowed fields for several hours.

You might start using a soft brace or wrap if youre out wandering around the yard and such.

If it hurts, and gives you chronic pain, you can go get some of the nerves ablated with radio waves and voltage. Stupifies those nerves for a few months and takes about 75% of the pain away.

15 minute procedure

Doctors.

Yeah, I might have to get something done. It's not feeling much better after 24 hours.

A POP is not good. Generally POPS do not go away on their own.

things go pop when they break. That's what happened to my wife. If it pops, see a doctor.

I've heard people say the same thing you said when they tore their ACL. If it doesn't get better, get an MRI.

I injured my knee about 12 years ago, couldn't bend it for a couple weeks. It got better eventually and i figured it had healed up. Couple years back i swtiched jobs and suddenly that injury flared up bad. Had an MRI, miniscus had a tear but dic didn't want to do surgery, said an outside edge tear had a chance of healing. It wasn't getting better, could barely walk some days. Did a little research on my own, and started doing leg workouts every other day. Sounded like someone was walking on bubble wrap but i kept it up. Now, almost 2 years later, my knee never bothers me anymore and the popping and crackling is gone too. I was always going easy on it to prevent further injury, turns out that was the wrong technique. Strengthening the muscles around it was what it needed.

Bristoe: Knee's are a human weakness/frailty!
My advice to all smart enough to listen "baby your knees"!
I mean, take care of your knees as absolutely best you can.
I tore up and broke a knee on duty just over some years ago - and the Doctor that operated on me did his best to repair the meniscus and the broken bone of that knee.
This was in 1997 at the age of 49 1/2 for me.
The Doctor who treated me is/was an expert knee surgeon being the long term repairman for several professional ball team (football, basketball & baseball) members.
After he got done with the operation and on my first return check-up he explained to me that "I" was going to have "trouble" with that knee later in life!
He also explained to me that meniscus repairs are seldom long term successes on people aged 50 and above.
He relayed how he didn't like to even try repairing torn apart meniscus on people over 50!
Well that Doctor was sure right on as several years later I started experiencing arthritic pains and various other pains/problems in that "repaired knee".
I put up with the pain for several years. That pain even made it difficult to sleep let alone walk or crawl!
2 1/2 years ago I went to another knee specialist (my original Doctor had retired) and the x-rays and scans revealed the injured knee now had 4 bone spurs, no meniscus, no cartilage between the leg bones at the knee, injury induced arthritis and something else - I forget.
In other words "knees" don't repair themselves nor do they heal by themselves - they most often only get worse and more painful.
I had to have my old knee removed and a new artificial knee installed!
I pray you have NOT suffered an irreversible injury - I do suggest getting to the BEST knee Doctor you can find!
My new artificial knee is virtually pain free and I sleep like a giant baby anymore - that, believe me, is a blessing.
And another blessing for me is that my uninjured knee is perfect - no arthritis, no pains or problems what so ever.
Good luck.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Why? A few others around here have had it done and it was mostly a piece of cake.. What happened with yours?

Kamala Harris

I had an ankle that had to be rebuilt do that about a year after surgery went to my Ortho and she said it was old scar tissue breaking loose. It might be that and you might get lucky...hope so. Good luck.

I have one knee that Doc wants to replace.The other isn't far behind.I have had enough friends with repalced knees that didn't turn out good.Screw that.

Present Doc is giving me a lubricant type stuff, Euflexxa, 3 shots,1 week apart,every 6 months. Helped a bunch.So does riding one of those stationary bicycles 10 minutes a day, but it took 4 months to see any difference. Basically strengthening the muscles around the knee. I went thru the steroid injections for a few years.Gradually they got shorter and shorter in duration for help.

I have rods and screws in my back and replaced right shoulder. Neither is fully functional.

Try some CBD cream on it or some Sombra Cold Therapy Gel.Amazing stuff. The Sombra can be had on Amazon

Try everything possible before surgery or replacement.

dayum

You milkin the sheeit out of medicare

Go for replacement and get on with it.

Best decision I ever made regarding my knees. Wish I'd done it sooner.

When the shots quit working you're wasting your time trying anything else but TKR's. Go to the right doc and it's no big deal, except the PT is rough for about a month. Go to an Ortho who does a bunch of them every week, not some clown who's done a few in his lifetime.

Knees? Sure I have two, one's actually original parts! On two knees, I've had 5 surgeries: 3 meniscus repairs, osteotomy and replacement.

DO NOT GO OSTEOTOMY, that recovery made replacement seem like sitting and eating ice creme, 12 weeks on crutches!

My guess is your meniscus "edge" got stuck or folded and you popped it back in place. Where was the pain, inside the joint or outside?

As for replacement. I am of the view that they are AWESOME but only when you are at the right point. When you quality of life suffers due to knee pain and that pain keeps you from doing things, then consider it.

In my case, my knee is NOT back where it was 15 years ago. However 2 years ago, I couldn't go for a walk around the block without pain and needing ice. I couldn't stand still for more than 2 minutes, couldn't run, any level of walking HURT. I couldn't hike, hunt, ski, snowshoe etc.

got it replaced and now hike, hunt miles in a day in the mountains, snow shoe, golf, go for long walks, all pain free. Still have some flexibility issues and kneeling to play with my grandson, while doable isn't fun (but it's fun to crawl/chase him around).

When it's time, replacement is worth it, but not until then. You will know.

Raider, I hit you last summer on advice, I had one lined up and my therapy accoms fell through due to covid.


The radio electro ablation has done very well for me in the interim. I climbed trees and ladders all this fall with minimal interruption from pain.


Saddlesore wont benefit from this though cause he has me on the precious safe space ignore feature.

10-4 slum......I'm glad you're doing better.

Have it looked at. I had a torn cartilage in my left knee forty years ago. Surgery before they did arthroscopic. Did well for ten years. Less well for another eight or nine. 2001 got the left one scoped. 2002 the right one. "OK" for about five years. 2007 had issues. Doc who scoped them said he couldn't go in again. Had no cartilage on the inside of either knee. Went to the replacement doc. He said I wasn't symptomatic enough but I'd be back when it was time. 2009 was back and had the left replaced. Three days before Thanksgiving in 2009 had the right one replaced. Right one is still good. A year ago tomorrow was back in for the plastic to be replaced on the left knee. It is a lot better, but don't anticipate it going but a few more years. Once you have issues, it is just a matter of time before something needs to be done.

The only good thing about a knee replacement is sharing your xray with all of you women friends

lol

Classic

Most likely a ligament that goes "pop" just like popping your knuckle. Without swelling, you probably didn't hurt anything, but if you can get your insurance to spring for an MRI, that isn't a bad idea to have a look at it. I got clipped real badly playing football and likely tore my meniscus, but didn't get it checked out. Five years ago deer hunting with a too heavy a pack my right knee went over. It swelled up really badly and getting back to the truck was a chore. Partially torn ACL and when the doc fixed it he said that the old torn meniscus pieces were wearing on the good parts and he had to take out a bunch of the meniscus. Don't let that happen to you. The doc said that a new knee would probably be in my future. You just have so many miles left in your knees. Be smart about how you are using them up. I'd sure think that by now, someone would have come up with a synthetic or cadaver replacement for a meniscus.

My left knee hurts on the inside most all the time. Not bad enough to let them cut on me.

Said everyone after a TKA!

B
Without swelling, it may just be a rolling tendon or ligament.

My advice, FWIW:
Start with RICE- -
Rest
Ice
Compression
Elevation

If in a week it still hurts, get seen.

Luck.

Bristoe: Why are you seeking medical advice from people you don't even know? Don't they have doctors in Kentucky?

You probably need some remedial orthoscopic cleaning up of old scar tissue & possibly some parts of the meniscus floating around.

My son is an ortho PA that does ton of surgeries...............it's done regularly on people that have had previous surgeries several years ago.

MM

Same here, JG, for the right knee. Left one responds well to the occasional cortisone shot.

You know it when it's time, huh Old Toot?

lol

Carpet burns on her knees.

Like anything else, it depends on where you get the work done, and your expectations. My second replacement was three years ago, July 20th., November 22 I shot my bull elk in the Crazies in Montana after climbing a "cow face" as the guide put it, I worked for that elk and worked harder to get there.

Rehab is a bitch, but less painful than 8 years under Obama...

Had mine done at Southern Joint Replacement center at Centennial in Nashville, the only good thing about that crap hole city, except the Nephrology Division at Vanderbilt.

Just hearing other's experiences. If I had wiped out and crashed my knee I wouldn't be so perplexed,..but all I did is stand up. Besides, whatever it is,... it is. I'm going to give it a few days before I do the doctor routine.

I appreciate everyone's replies.

That makes sense. I can walk on it with very little pain,...just kind of peg leg along with it,..and I can sit with it bent with very little pain.

But the transition from bent to straight or from straight to bent is fairly painful.

The knee doesn't feel wobbly like it would if a tendon was torn. It just hurts when I either fold or extend it.

I'm hoping it's just some type of strain. I'll know in a few days, I guess.

Had my left one replaced 4 years ago and I waited about 5 years too long. You will get to the point where you start to depend on others for small things like a glass of water cause it hurts to much to get up. I too heard the horror stories but bit the bullet and went for it. Do as much pre-therapy as you can stand to build muscle tone. First 3 days kinda sucked cause of the pain meds but after that it was just a nuisance. Start taking stool softeners now. Afterwards hit the PT with a vengeance. Best decision I ever made cause it made me mobile again.

Wish I had those last three years to do over with my old bird dog Jake and a new knee.

So what is your contribution to the OP's issue?

George Floyd knew a little something about knees....so ask paul

B,

Find a GOOD sports med orthopedist and have a thorough functional knee exam. He’ll likely want an MRI of your knee as a recurrent me is also tear is a real possibility to rule out.

BTW, although knee replacement is not a first line therapeutic option, when it’s needed and done by a HIGH-VOLUME joint replacement orthopedic surgeon and TEAM, results are very good and durable. Rehab is a lot of work starting before surgery, and you’ll hear horror stories, but when surgery is done well, as in life in general, it’s back to your everyday activities.

Hope you get good news and can heal on your own.

Had something very similar happen back in the Spring out of the blue just standing up. Took about three weeks to be able to walk on it. Hit it hard with ice then heat several times a day. My ortho guy couldn't see anything on MRI that could have been causing it. He told me the ice -heat thing and said to take these. It worked. I cut way back on the bourbon also.

Tumeric+Curcumin

Solgar Choline-Inositol tablets

Thanks. I'll look into it.

Found some kind of horse pill ratholed in the medicine cabinet from back when I had a molar pulled.

It's taken the edge off a bit.

My wife had a knee replaced, doc said it was not that bad looking when he went in. Come to find he did knees only and the bigger problem was the hip. So much for referrals from trysted family doctors.
Her symptoms were different, but I since always say to get the hips and back checked too.

With any surgery, it should be your last option.

I have had both knees replaced. I am 72. Waited to long for first replacement. Hurt so bad I had to miss hunting season 5 years ago. Had second knee replaced in June 2020. I was walking without a walker next day. Do a lot of exercises before surgery to strengthen knee muscles. Physical therapy was a little rough for a couple weeks. But I was ready for hunting season 4 months later. Don’t wait to long

I had both knees replaced in 2015 --7 weeks apart. Best decision I ever made, My knees felt so much better after the operation that the therapy was a piece of cake.
The therapy I had for the second knee overlapped the therapy for the first knee. I had 24 therapy sessions total at two a week and when they were done I decided they would never get as good as I thought so I started walking/hiking out in the hills. That was the ticket! A friend and I (also had one new knee) ended up hiking 900 miles in 3 1/2 years. Just counting hikinging only. I was 70 yrs old and he was a year younger.
In June I fell real hard and broke a hip. That was a piece of cake compared to the knees as far as healing goes, and I am now back walking with my wife several miles a week which isn't much, but it helps her get in shape and it keeps the peace around the house.
I don't know if all orthopedists work the same, but the hospital I was in started therapy within several hours of the operation. Now that was a pain, but I was only there for two nights.
During my weekly walks I was probably in better shape than anytime in my life. I didn't lose a pound either and I was (am) overweight.----still.

I agree with ADNA that you don't want to wait too long to get those knees working. Hiking where you hunt or on unused country roads is what we did. Started at sunrise and if it wasn't too far below zero we hiked.

Damn, I lost my xray that looked just like that one!

I was in the hospital one night and they had me on my feet the day of the surgery (I was the doctors 2nd knee replacement of the day, so in my room just after noon time)

first week of PT SUCKS until your quads wake up and you can actually pick your foot up, after that it HURTS when you stretch it to get range of motion back, but if you don't do it the PT person will and that will REALLY HURT. They are going to get it to bend, so do your part!

Hiking and biking are the best for knee health!

I'm ecstatic to announce that my knee is almost back to normal today. All I can figure is that I have some junk floating around in there from my previous injury. Apparently, it got in position to cause a 36 hour problem.

I was fairly distraught about the whole situation yesterday. The last time I crashed my knee it caused a serious tribulation for several weeks.

I *really* didn't want to go through *that* again.

A buggered up knee makes life barely worth living.

Smashed all the cartalidge under my knees in high school have hurt forever.. now the rest of me is catching up....I hurt

This +10 mb

It called a “joint mouse”.

Only you can tell if it’s worthwhile getting that removed via arthroscopy, probably based on frequency of it occurring.

I wish I had done mine earlier than I did.
Op, did your knee lock? You might have a deteriorating meniscus. I had my left knee scoped and it never bothers me. I had the right scoped which I thought was my good knee yet that job made it worse and ended up replacing it.

Jeez, the thought of working on my knees makes my palms sweat. You must have calluses like a pro surfer.

not sure but the knee bone connected to the leg bone

I ripped up the meniscus a few years ago. I had it scoped. There's not much meniscus left in it.

A regular MRI Won’t be able to discern old damage from new damage. You have to do an MRI with contrast. They inject dye into the joint before the MRI. Been there done that.

the gold standard is going in and lookin

Had both replaced 02/14/2020. Great surgeon(s), one team on each! 2 days in hospital. We had a very good home health PT that came for three weeks 2-3 times per week. Therapist got me in a good place to attend clinical PT sessions. I did not hunt 2020 but will resume turkey/hog hunting near immediately. We walk each day w our big Airedale. And, also ride a stationary bike. I’ve had very good results. Good luck w yours.

went skiing about 10 years ago, fell down pretty bad, bent my leg in a direction it wasn't supposed to bend. Knee swelled up to about the size of a grapefuit, had to get crutches.

Ended up going to one of those Urgent Care places - the kind where guys that finish last in med school work.

Doc told me straight up I'd torn my ACL and started giving me the laundry list of options. Went to the ortho to get it looked at and he told me ACL was fine, but I had micro fractured my tibia just below the knee.

I was so thankful it was that and not my ACL. He said my ACL looked like a thick piece of rope and was in good shape. Knees are a tricky thing. I'm at the stage of my life where I walk sideways down stairs.

Glad it has gotten better for you.

I have had 3 operations on the knees,1 on the right and 2 on the left.

They both had meniscus tears.

The first done on the left had the worst problem and the doc drilled holes in the bone heads to make scar tissue,i had the second after a wreck and that doc said that that was the first time he has seen that done.

It still works to this day.

The right just had a tear and a crapful of fluid that had to be drained and it is doing well.

Both happened about 15 years ago.

I have a brace to wear on the left if i feel like it needs the help but have not needed it in years.