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Suggest Treatment For Cramps And Discomfort In Knee
Question: Hello. My 57 year old wife has had some arthritis in her right knee that seems to also affect muscles causing some discomfort that is relieved with an NSAID. However, a strange thing happened. Yesterday she was in her recliner with her legs extended for an hour she got up and experienced what seems like a spasm or cramp that made it difficult for her to walk with discomfort all around the knee area. It's a little better today, A cold compress seems to have been more helpful than heat. But the strangest thing is how could such a thing occur just being stretched out in the recliner and then standing up without having moved or turned her leg or anything? Thanks.
Brief Answer:
Can be due to Meniscal injury.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thank you for asking HCM
I have gone through your query. Problem occurred for her can be most likely meniscal injury. Menisci are thin fibrous cartilage which are in knee joint. This could have locked and got injured while she got up suddenly. Mild injuries will settle with conservative measures alone.
You can apply cold packs, apply knee brace or elastic bandage and immobilize knee for 4 weeks is recommended for proper healing of meniscus. You can remove the brace while lying down and sleeping. Ice packs apply on and off for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. You can repeat 3 to 4 times daily. You can also take NSAIDs for pain relief.
If there is no improvement or worsening of symptoms then consult an Orthopedician. In that case you might have to do a X ray and MRI to rule out meniscal or other structural injuries.
Let me know if anything not clear.
I am happy to help you.
Thanks.
Can be due to Meniscal injury.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thank you for asking HCM
I have gone through your query. Problem occurred for her can be most likely meniscal injury. Menisci are thin fibrous cartilage which are in knee joint. This could have locked and got injured while she got up suddenly. Mild injuries will settle with conservative measures alone.
You can apply cold packs, apply knee brace or elastic bandage and immobilize knee for 4 weeks is recommended for proper healing of meniscus. You can remove the brace while lying down and sleeping. Ice packs apply on and off for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. You can repeat 3 to 4 times daily. You can also take NSAIDs for pain relief.
If there is no improvement or worsening of symptoms then consult an Orthopedician. In that case you might have to do a X ray and MRI to rule out meniscal or other structural injuries.
Let me know if anything not clear.
I am happy to help you.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you. Actually she made no sudden movement when she stood up. She can't figure out how it happened. Could it be some spasm down from the back? She had no back pain either....
Brief Answer:
Explained below.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome again.
Thank you for your follow up query.
If spasm from back then she will be having stiffness on back also. But if she don't have such stiffness or back pain then it is not likely from back. Sciatica can gives cramps and pain in knees but that will also have stiffness and back pain. While lying down - straight leg raising with out bending knees will be painful in case of pain from back but for meniscal injury this won't be painful.
The position she was sitting is more prone for menisci to get locked and get injured.
Let me know if anything not clear.
I am happy to help you.
Thanks.
Explained below.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome again.
Thank you for your follow up query.
If spasm from back then she will be having stiffness on back also. But if she don't have such stiffness or back pain then it is not likely from back. Sciatica can gives cramps and pain in knees but that will also have stiffness and back pain. While lying down - straight leg raising with out bending knees will be painful in case of pain from back but for meniscal injury this won't be painful.
The position she was sitting is more prone for menisci to get locked and get injured.
Let me know if anything not clear.
I am happy to help you.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks again, Dr. XXXXXXX What do you mean that the meniscus can become locked by sitting? Or in her case lying in the recliner with her legs extended? And this would cramp up the muscles around the knee? Actually this morning the situation got much better, she can walk much better now. It seems strange.
Brief Answer:
Explained below.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome again.
Thank you for your follow up query.
She got experienced the condition when she got up from the recliner with leg extended position. So that time knee is going to get locked , compressive force is applied on knee joint and tensile force transmitted on menisci. From relaxing position when knee is locked especially for those who had previous meniscal injury further injury is possible. Menisci get strangled and locked up wrongly while locking of knee and cause tear.
A physical examination by orthopedician will be helpful to get signs of the meniscal tear. MRI is required to confirm it.
Initial treatment given is conservative and most cases resolve with conservative treatment alone. Yours could be a mild tear initially causing an inflammation which might have settled down already. It is better to give rest to the joint for at least two weeks by applying elastic bandage while walking.
Let me know if anything not clear.
I am happy to help you.
Thanks.
Explained below.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome again.
Thank you for your follow up query.
She got experienced the condition when she got up from the recliner with leg extended position. So that time knee is going to get locked , compressive force is applied on knee joint and tensile force transmitted on menisci. From relaxing position when knee is locked especially for those who had previous meniscal injury further injury is possible. Menisci get strangled and locked up wrongly while locking of knee and cause tear.
A physical examination by orthopedician will be helpful to get signs of the meniscal tear. MRI is required to confirm it.
Initial treatment given is conservative and most cases resolve with conservative treatment alone. Yours could be a mild tear initially causing an inflammation which might have settled down already. It is better to give rest to the joint for at least two weeks by applying elastic bandage while walking.
Let me know if anything not clear.
I am happy to help you.
Thanks.
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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