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What Does A Hard,painful Lump On The Outside Of Knee Indicate?
Question: I'm a 43 year old female, 5'8", 145 lbs. I have a hard, painful lump on the outside of my left knee, in about the 4 o'clock position to someone facing the knee, if my kneecap was the center of a clock. The pain/weakness gets worse with physical activity, sometimes to the point that it won't support me, particularly on stairs. The lump is more pronounced when the leg is extended. This has been a problem that had recurred several times in the last five years or so. It seems to heal, slowly, be fine for months, or even years, then flare up again with no real reason, other than exercising it. But I seem to be able to exercise just fine during the "well" phases.
Right now it's VERY tender, from nothing more than a game of kick-ball with my children. It's keeping me awake with pain. What might this be?
Right now it's VERY tender, from nothing more than a game of kick-ball with my children. It's keeping me awake with pain. What might this be?
Brief Answer:
Possibility of early osteoarthritis of your knee.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have studied your case.
As per your history and symptoms there is possibility of early osteoarthritis of your knee may be associated with degenerative meniscus injury.
You need to continue cartilage protecting medication like chondritin sulphate [glucosamine], that you need to take for couple of months.
I will advise to do X ray knee weight bearing and if required MRI knee can be done and if there is severe destruction of menisci then arthroscopic shaving can be done.
Right now you may need strong analgesic to relieve acute pain.
Physiotherapy like ultrasound and tens will help, along with knee exercises
Mild deformity can not be corrected with just medication, but further progression of deformity can be corrected.
Exercises will help to strengthen muscle and joint.
In lying flat supine on back – move your ankle up and down[plantar flexion dorsiflexion],keeping small towel below knee-press your patella[knee cap ] on towel and hold for 15 sec,lift your leg straight alternately [10-15 times].
Lying on your tummy- flex knee alternately, make knee rotation in flexion.
Sitting on chair- extend your legs alternately [hold in extension for 15 sec]
Standing half squat taking support of wall to back.
VISCOSUPPLEMENTATION: Hyaluronic acid injections given into the joint (especially large joints like knee joint) in prescribed dosages will give good short term pain relief in arthritic joints ranging from 1-2 years.
Newer modalities for cartilage injury include autologous chondrocyte implantation [ACI] which helps in treatment of cartilage destruction.
Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries.
Wishing you good health.
Take care.
Possibility of early osteoarthritis of your knee.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have studied your case.
As per your history and symptoms there is possibility of early osteoarthritis of your knee may be associated with degenerative meniscus injury.
You need to continue cartilage protecting medication like chondritin sulphate [glucosamine], that you need to take for couple of months.
I will advise to do X ray knee weight bearing and if required MRI knee can be done and if there is severe destruction of menisci then arthroscopic shaving can be done.
Right now you may need strong analgesic to relieve acute pain.
Physiotherapy like ultrasound and tens will help, along with knee exercises
Mild deformity can not be corrected with just medication, but further progression of deformity can be corrected.
Exercises will help to strengthen muscle and joint.
In lying flat supine on back – move your ankle up and down[plantar flexion dorsiflexion],keeping small towel below knee-press your patella[knee cap ] on towel and hold for 15 sec,lift your leg straight alternately [10-15 times].
Lying on your tummy- flex knee alternately, make knee rotation in flexion.
Sitting on chair- extend your legs alternately [hold in extension for 15 sec]
Standing half squat taking support of wall to back.
VISCOSUPPLEMENTATION: Hyaluronic acid injections given into the joint (especially large joints like knee joint) in prescribed dosages will give good short term pain relief in arthritic joints ranging from 1-2 years.
Newer modalities for cartilage injury include autologous chondrocyte implantation [ACI] which helps in treatment of cartilage destruction.
Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries.
Wishing you good health.
Take care.
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
Answered by
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