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What Causes Knee Locking And Pain After Knee Ligament Repair?
Question: I had surgery on my knee after a fall that tore three ligaments. That was April 29th this year. After four weeks my surgery knee seemed to be locking up. I could bend it back so far and them it would seize up and I would experience the most awful pain and the pain would last until the knee became unlocked. I told my surgeon and he did the same exact surgery on XXXXXXX 24th and he stated he could not find any reason for my knee/leg to be locking up. Ust a few minutes ago I was trying to get under my sheets and I bent my leg back to far. I can not explain the pain. Like pain I have never felt before. Can you help me with this awful problem. My surgeon said that after the second wurgery he could bend my foot back to my butt. I can not see how....Please help this pain is unbearable. Many Thanks
e-mail: YYYY@YYYY (XXXX)
e-mail: YYYY@YYYY (XXXX)
Brief Answer:
Meniscus tear, Posterolateral corner injury
Detailed Answer:
Hi there.
I have read your query and understood your problem.
Do you have swelling of the knee joint ?
Do you have fever ?
From what I understand you have sustained a high energy trauma and tore three ligaments. You must have been through a tough ordeal. I can understand the trouble you have faced. During the surgeries, I presume that the torn ligaments have been repaired or reconstructed.
Now as your are facing symptoms of locking of your knee and severe pain while bending the knee, I think there could be a meniscus cartilage tear which may have been overlooked. This feature of knee locking up is typical of a meniscus cartilage tear especially large tears like bucket handle radial tears. It occurs as the torn meniscus flip and bend inside your knee causing locking of the knee joint and difficulty in extending the knee straight. Also there will be pain on bending the knee and restriction on mobility, not allowing you to fully bend your knee.
Other possible causes that I can think of are arthrofibrosis, tightening of the capsule of the knee joint, meniscus cysts, other unnoticed ligament injuries like Posterolateral corner injuries.
I understand you had a second surgery which I presume was a diagnostic arthroscopic procedure to look around in the knee for any problems after your first surgery and your Doctor hasn't found anything in this attempt. However I would advise you to get a new MRI of your knee joint and consult your surgeon. This report could detect certain tears of the meniscus or other ligament injuries which may have been missed while performing the second surgery.
Until then if you are having a hard time moving about and flexing or extending your knee, I would recommend you use a Knee cap or Hinged knee brace. This week help to support the knee and prevention from getting those difficult symptoms to a certain extent.
Kindly perform quad stretching exercises and Ankle pump exercises to strengthen you muscles around your knee, by straightening your knee upto the end and holding this position tightly for 10 seconds. Repeat this for about 20 times a day. Also flex your ankles up and down to the full range of movements daily for about 10 times a day.
Eat a diet rich in protein like eggs, cereals, pulses, lean meat, chicken, nuts to hasten healing of the joint soft tissue. Avoid smoking or drinking alcohol. Keep well hydrated. Avoid exercises that involve the bending if the knee like squats. You cab do brisk walking safely.
You may take pain killer like Ibuprofen 200mg twice a day over a meal for pain relief. You can also apply pain killer gels containing Diclofenac over the knee joint. Avoid bending your knee, squatting, cross leg sitting or kneeling.
I will be available for follow up queries.
I hope I have answered your query.
Thanking you.
Regards,
Dr. Aashish Raghu
Meniscus tear, Posterolateral corner injury
Detailed Answer:
Hi there.
I have read your query and understood your problem.
Do you have swelling of the knee joint ?
Do you have fever ?
From what I understand you have sustained a high energy trauma and tore three ligaments. You must have been through a tough ordeal. I can understand the trouble you have faced. During the surgeries, I presume that the torn ligaments have been repaired or reconstructed.
Now as your are facing symptoms of locking of your knee and severe pain while bending the knee, I think there could be a meniscus cartilage tear which may have been overlooked. This feature of knee locking up is typical of a meniscus cartilage tear especially large tears like bucket handle radial tears. It occurs as the torn meniscus flip and bend inside your knee causing locking of the knee joint and difficulty in extending the knee straight. Also there will be pain on bending the knee and restriction on mobility, not allowing you to fully bend your knee.
Other possible causes that I can think of are arthrofibrosis, tightening of the capsule of the knee joint, meniscus cysts, other unnoticed ligament injuries like Posterolateral corner injuries.
I understand you had a second surgery which I presume was a diagnostic arthroscopic procedure to look around in the knee for any problems after your first surgery and your Doctor hasn't found anything in this attempt. However I would advise you to get a new MRI of your knee joint and consult your surgeon. This report could detect certain tears of the meniscus or other ligament injuries which may have been missed while performing the second surgery.
Until then if you are having a hard time moving about and flexing or extending your knee, I would recommend you use a Knee cap or Hinged knee brace. This week help to support the knee and prevention from getting those difficult symptoms to a certain extent.
Kindly perform quad stretching exercises and Ankle pump exercises to strengthen you muscles around your knee, by straightening your knee upto the end and holding this position tightly for 10 seconds. Repeat this for about 20 times a day. Also flex your ankles up and down to the full range of movements daily for about 10 times a day.
Eat a diet rich in protein like eggs, cereals, pulses, lean meat, chicken, nuts to hasten healing of the joint soft tissue. Avoid smoking or drinking alcohol. Keep well hydrated. Avoid exercises that involve the bending if the knee like squats. You cab do brisk walking safely.
You may take pain killer like Ibuprofen 200mg twice a day over a meal for pain relief. You can also apply pain killer gels containing Diclofenac over the knee joint. Avoid bending your knee, squatting, cross leg sitting or kneeling.
I will be available for follow up queries.
I hope I have answered your query.
Thanking you.
Regards,
Dr. Aashish Raghu
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Dr. XXXXXXX thank you so much for your reply. All of the information has been most helpful! I will be starting physical therapy next week and I am sure that this will heal any remaining problems.
Once again thank you so much for your reply.
XXXX
Once again thank you so much for your reply.
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Surgical consult
Detailed Answer:
Hi there.
Kindly do show your Orthopaedic surgeon as well before starting therapy to face a better understanding of the situation.
Wishing for a speedy recovery.
Thanking you.
Regards,
Dr. Aashish Raghu
Surgical consult
Detailed Answer:
Hi there.
Kindly do show your Orthopaedic surgeon as well before starting therapy to face a better understanding of the situation.
Wishing for a speedy recovery.
Thanking you.
Regards,
Dr. Aashish Raghu
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
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