“Knee pain?”
My knee popped loudly, then the pain shot through it and almost made me fall. All the pain is concentrated on the backside in the bend. Ice pack for an hour, knee wrap, had to use a walker for support. Can hardly walk.
Female | 72 years old
Complaint duration: 3 hours
Medications: joint supplements
Conditions: some arthritis in knee
8 Answers
Sounds like you need to be evaluated by a specialist.
It would be nice to know what you were doing when the event occurred, when you had the pop? If there is no significant swelling, meaning if no visible increased fluid in your knee, just pain behind the knee joint, you probably have nothing to worry about. There are bursae behind the knee that help with the large hamstring tendons and these can "pop" and cause pain, and we call it "knee bursitis" or hamstring bursitis. It will resolve on its own. Continue to apply ice packs 2-3x per day for minimum 30 mins each. If you have no reflux symptoms, you may try Aleve, 2 tabs twice daily for 3-5 days (always after eating), and continue to apply soft compression like a neoprene knee sleeve or an Ace wrap for extended walking.
Good luck.
Good luck.
You likely developed a torn meniscus on top of the mild arthritis. A little over half will respond with time, rest, anti-inflammatory medicines, and cortisone injections. The others usually need surgery.
It seemed that you sustained a meniscal tear in the back of your knee. I strongly recommend you to see an orthopedic surgeon to have X-ray and MRI of your knee to confirm the diagnosis. If you have a tear in the meniscus in your knee, the tear will not heal by itself.
You might have ruptured a “bakers cyst”. This is A fluid filled sac that forms from some irritation in the knee. The most common reason is arthritis. It can also arise from meniscal Cartlidge tears. When this sac ruptures, it can be a knifelike sensation in the back of the knee that even can radiate down into the calf.Other considerations Include an acute tear of a meniscus Cartlidge but commonly that would have persistent pain and mechanical problems. Less likely is a form of a compression fracture that is sometimes seen in an arthritic knee. Again that would have more long lasting pain.Should have this evaluated.
You will need to be seen in a physician office to evaluate.
Jeffrey R. Carlson, MD
Jeffrey R. Carlson, MD
Based on your history and your age, it is either arthritic pain or you have a torn meniscus. See an orthopedic doctor asap. Stay on the walker till then.
Hope it helps!!
Dr. Bose
Hope it helps!!
Dr. Bose
This is a common problem and is most commonly due to aggregation of Pre existing arthritis or a meniscal year. Commonly this is a special kind of tear called a root tear. If with time pain, swelling, stiffness, catching or locking of knee persists then you should be evaluated and have radiographs and perhaps MRI performed. Initially rest this by modifying activities(avoid squats, stairs,too much time standing). Use cane or crutch for awhile to rest if unstable. Ice, light massage if tender, light stretching. If not progressive improvement or worse after 7-10 days suggest evaluation. Good luck.
