Question: I have experienced progressively (from August 2012) sore and tight muscles in my legs, upper calf and side of knees generally. I have had Xrays, MRIs on both knees, resulting in no operations but eventually cortisone injections in each knee the week before Christmas. Lots of discomfort and pain requiring crutches to walk as both my legs became too weak and knees too painful to walk.
Good new is that cortisone seems to have addressed pain in knees to be able to concentrate on building back strength in muscles and tendons that support the knee. Knees were a symptom not the cause.
Soon after having the cortisone injections - say the next day - I developed a reddish red web type pattern on the skin or under the surface on the upper and inner part of both my knees - which is in fact where I tend to gently massage instinctively with regard to my leg and knee conditions. No one can really tell me what caused the deterioration in my legs... over the course of this experience I have seen of course my GP; my chiro; my myotherapist; an orthapedic surgeon; a physio; my general core muscles strneght trainer and a chinese remidal massage therapist - all have dealt relatively well from there area of expertise - some better that others - but no one can pin point the cause - I wondered and some of the professionals have suggested it might have been caused by some kind of auto immune reaction .... I don't know... all I am aiming to do it get well. Can you assist with any ideas or suggestions?

Thankyou Dr for a quick response.

The Xrays showed bones were fine with some slight degenerative indications.
Ligaments all good.

The MRI showed:
Right Knee:
1. Florid lipoma adorescens
2. Severe degenerative changes in the patellofemoral joint
3. Degenerative tearing of the posterior horns of both menisci
4. Complex ganglin along the anteromedial joint line.

Left Knee:
1. Florid lipoma aborescens
2. Severe degenerative changes in the patellofemoral joint
3. Degenerative tearing of the posterior root attachment of the mediat meniscus
4. Severe thinning and fissuring of cartliage in the medial compartment.

I am pleased I now know above as I have a strong sporting history, tennis and netball particularly - so wondered about the impact of that on my knees over the years.

Thanks for idea re local reaction of cortisone... that is what I thought, I just didn''t know if it was common or not.

The onset of the stiffening of calves and soreness around knees puzzles me as i had been attended a core muscle strength class once a week, a personal trainer once a week, chiro every fortnight and myotherapy every mnth for the past five years. I also acquired orthotics five years ago to address soreness in feet etc.

Any other thoughts...

Yes very helpful thank you.

Just one last point for me to understand - is there a difference when professionals refer to arthritis in the knee ( as in my case), from osteoarthritis in the knee?