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What Causes Muscle Spasms Around Knees?
Question: Hi, again, Dr. XXXXXXX I just received my own MRI report on my right knee. Since doing the only MRI last week for discomfort and difficulty on the stairs I began having cramps/spasm around my knee area for a couple of minutes whenever standing from a seated position. I stretch and move my whole leg and it goes away until the next time I am seated. This is strange and only began in the last week! Of course it is very annoying too.
What do you make of the various issues in this report, how will weight loss alleviate the symptoms, and what is likely for my future? I realize "everybody" has had these problems, including my own near relatives, mother, brother, grandmother, aunt, uncle, etc. etc. Thank you.
What do you make of the various issues in this report, how will weight loss alleviate the symptoms, and what is likely for my future? I realize "everybody" has had these problems, including my own near relatives, mother, brother, grandmother, aunt, uncle, etc. etc. Thank you.
Brief Answer:
Bursitis.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for contacting HCM with your medical question.
Thanks for including your MRI of the knee. Your symptoms correlate closely to bursitis of the knee. In your past history I see you have also had some tracking abnormality of the patella. This combination is seen together. When the knee cap keeps rubbing the wrong way the tissues around the knee get inflamed. This inflammation causes fluid and inflammation of the tendons and the bursa around the knee.
In my practice I have my patient try anti-inflammatories like aspirin or ibuprofen. If that does not help then an injection of steroids into the bursa may give immediate pain relief. I recommend that you see you primary care doctor or orthopedic surgeon for the injection.
To reduce future bursitis losing weight will help. I also recommend rest and not climbing stairs or deep knee bends or kneeling for prolonged periods.
Hope this answers your question. Please contact us again with your health care questions and concerns
Bursitis.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for contacting HCM with your medical question.
Thanks for including your MRI of the knee. Your symptoms correlate closely to bursitis of the knee. In your past history I see you have also had some tracking abnormality of the patella. This combination is seen together. When the knee cap keeps rubbing the wrong way the tissues around the knee get inflamed. This inflammation causes fluid and inflammation of the tendons and the bursa around the knee.
In my practice I have my patient try anti-inflammatories like aspirin or ibuprofen. If that does not help then an injection of steroids into the bursa may give immediate pain relief. I recommend that you see you primary care doctor or orthopedic surgeon for the injection.
To reduce future bursitis losing weight will help. I also recommend rest and not climbing stairs or deep knee bends or kneeling for prolonged periods.
Hope this answers your question. Please contact us again with your health care questions and concerns
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Thank you, Dr. Schubert. If the patella maltracking and bursitis has been caused by the gait problems as a result of the posterior tibial transfer 50 years ago, why have I not suffered from the effusion and bursitis much earlier, and if this is the cause, then how can it ever be truly alleviated?
And what would be the recent cause of the cramps/spasm around and in the back of the knee when I stand up from a seated position, and the little shocks in that same right foot? Is it the effusion?
And what would be the recent cause of the cramps/spasm around and in the back of the knee when I stand up from a seated position, and the little shocks in that same right foot? Is it the effusion?
Brief Answer:
Over use
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for contacting me again with your medical questions. The body is an amazing thing but after 50 years it has a tendency to breakdown more often. In this case your knee has been able to accommodate the change in gait but now the wear is starting to show. With your gait problems you have been using a whole different set of muscles to ambulate and get up from sitting so these muscles are now overused and fatigued.
You did not mention in your prior history that you had a posterior tibial tendon transfer. This was I assume for drop foot. What cause the drop foot in the first place? Did you have polio as a child? That may also have some bearing on your current problem with the muscle spasms and shocks.
I look forward to hearing back from you
Over use
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for contacting me again with your medical questions. The body is an amazing thing but after 50 years it has a tendency to breakdown more often. In this case your knee has been able to accommodate the change in gait but now the wear is starting to show. With your gait problems you have been using a whole different set of muscles to ambulate and get up from sitting so these muscles are now overused and fatigued.
You did not mention in your prior history that you had a posterior tibial tendon transfer. This was I assume for drop foot. What cause the drop foot in the first place? Did you have polio as a child? That may also have some bearing on your current problem with the muscle spasms and shocks.
I look forward to hearing back from you
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Yes, I had the posterior tibial transfer that effectively keeps my foot from complete movement because I was pigeon toed at birth. It was deemed a new experimental surgery, and apparently now I am paying for it. I also had a heel chord lengthening.
I don't understand why I am now getting that spasm/cramp especially behind the knee when I stand up. I shake my leg and it goes away, but it only started less than two weeks ago.
Does it have anything to do with the joint effusion, and what kind of non-surgical solution would do the best job for me - physiotherapy, massage, chiropractic?
Can any solution correct the cramping or the patella tracking and other problems? Of course I assume that losing weight would produce positive results too.....
I don't understand why I am now getting that spasm/cramp especially behind the knee when I stand up. I shake my leg and it goes away, but it only started less than two weeks ago.
Does it have anything to do with the joint effusion, and what kind of non-surgical solution would do the best job for me - physiotherapy, massage, chiropractic?
Can any solution correct the cramping or the patella tracking and other problems? Of course I assume that losing weight would produce positive results too.....
Brief Answer:
muscle fatigue causing spasms
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for answering my questions and giving more history
I am sorry to hear about the spasms going on behind your knee. Because you had the posterior tendon transfer the posterior muscle behind your knee is now putting more pressure on the muscles. When walking or ambulating the muscle is getting fatigued and causing the spasms. While sitting in the chair and getting up you are stressing the muscles which again go into spasms. The best thing to help treat this is to have your physical therapist work on lengthening the tendon and muscle again. This will be painful but may reduce your problems in the future. You can also try on your own stretching exercises that your therapist can demonstrate for you. I do not recommend using any muscle relaxants as this type of isolated spasms are not well treated with medication.
Hope this answers your question. Please contact us again with your health care questions and concerns
muscle fatigue causing spasms
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for answering my questions and giving more history
I am sorry to hear about the spasms going on behind your knee. Because you had the posterior tendon transfer the posterior muscle behind your knee is now putting more pressure on the muscles. When walking or ambulating the muscle is getting fatigued and causing the spasms. While sitting in the chair and getting up you are stressing the muscles which again go into spasms. The best thing to help treat this is to have your physical therapist work on lengthening the tendon and muscle again. This will be painful but may reduce your problems in the future. You can also try on your own stretching exercises that your therapist can demonstrate for you. I do not recommend using any muscle relaxants as this type of isolated spasms are not well treated with medication.
Hope this answers your question. Please contact us again with your health care questions and concerns
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Overall I feel better with methacarbamol....is it likely I won't be able to eliminate the maltracking because of my distorted gait caused by the effects of the leg surgery? Unfortunately I experience fatigue in my lower back after walking or standing for a long time, and even painless cracking or squeaking sounds from my back when bending forward.
Brief Answer:
management of fatigue explained
Detailed Answer:
I am sorry to agree with you that because of the gait problems you will have difficulty with your knees. It is also probable, because of the way you walk you use your back muscles to also power your ambulation and this will contribute to your back fatigue. With my patients who have post polio syndrome they also have gait problems and fatigue. I counsel them to pick their battles. They need to make decisions on what they want to do and how much energy to divide up. It is not an easy thing to live with disabilities but I understand them and appreciate how people overcome those impediments.
I recommend you keep moving.
Do regular low impact exercise. Tai Chi is an excellent option for exercise that improves movement and provides good aerobic exercise.
Good Luck
management of fatigue explained
Detailed Answer:
I am sorry to agree with you that because of the gait problems you will have difficulty with your knees. It is also probable, because of the way you walk you use your back muscles to also power your ambulation and this will contribute to your back fatigue. With my patients who have post polio syndrome they also have gait problems and fatigue. I counsel them to pick their battles. They need to make decisions on what they want to do and how much energy to divide up. It is not an easy thing to live with disabilities but I understand them and appreciate how people overcome those impediments.
I recommend you keep moving.
Do regular low impact exercise. Tai Chi is an excellent option for exercise that improves movement and provides good aerobic exercise.
Good Luck
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Thank you. Then am I likely to face the need for knee replacement one day in that knee or even both knees?!
Brief Answer:
Possible
Detailed Answer:
Thank you again for contacting HCM
Knee replacement is always a possibility for everyone but your MRI only shows mild osteoarthritis and overall a good knee. The bursitis is not degenerative and would not increase your risk for knee replacement. I strongly believe that with good care, light exercise like tai chi your possible need for knee replacement is low.
Hope this answers your question. Please contact us again with your health care questions and concerns
Possible
Detailed Answer:
Thank you again for contacting HCM
Knee replacement is always a possibility for everyone but your MRI only shows mild osteoarthritis and overall a good knee. The bursitis is not degenerative and would not increase your risk for knee replacement. I strongly believe that with good care, light exercise like tai chi your possible need for knee replacement is low.
Hope this answers your question. Please contact us again with your health care questions and concerns
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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