A couple weeks ago, I wrote this post about my recent diagnosis of Patella Femoral Pain Syndrome. Dr. Marienau had prescribed me a combination of taking Tylenol and doing leg lefts. While that helped some, I was still in alot of pain and unable to do some normal activities, so I called and left a message with Dr. M's nurse that I was still having problems. A few days later they called me back and set me up an appointment with an Orthopedic doctor. Monday morning I met Dr. Renne and his staff. Everyone was super friendly and knowledgeable. I had x-rays taken and everything looked fine. Dr. Renne agreed with Dr. M's diagnoses of Patella Femoral Pain Syndrome. They gave me a sheet of things to do and not do - no kneeling and squatting, but to continue with the leg lifts to strengthen the thigh, two Tylenol three or four times a day whether needed or not for two weeks, when to use heat and when to use ice, water aerobics or a recumbent bike, talked to me about using MyFitness Pal to help me lose weight. He said for every one pound you gain, it's like adding four pounds on your knees. The plus to loosing weight is for every one pound you lose, it's like taking off four pounds from your knees.
He also gave me a cortisone injection since we are traveling next week. I think I was most wigged out about the injection because I hadn't even thought of getting one and hadn't read up on it, so I wasn't sure what to expect! It didn't hurt and so far it hasn't bothered me. I'd just always heard bad things about them so when he said he would give me one, I was unprepared for it! LOL!! It was funny cause he was telling me he could give me one as an option if I wanted and then he said "say like for example if you were driving to the Grand Canyon next week..." And I said "oh you mean how like we are driving to Florida next week?" He said "yeah, I better go ahead and give you one". LOL!! I'm glad he did too cause on Labor Day I took a little couple hour road trip with my sister and Gavin and by the time we got back my knee was killing me from the driving and felt so heavy! I was already concerned about our drive to Florida so I'm glad I got it now!
That injection is like a miracle drug straight from God! My knee feels SO MUCH BETTER!! In fact, I really don't feel any pain with it at all. It's like I've got a new spring in my step!
Showing posts with label Patella Femoral Pain Snydrome. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Patella Femoral Pain Snydrome. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
A few years ago I was mowing the yard and stepped in a little whole and twisted my leg/knee a little. Every since then, I’ve felt like my right knee cap area is kind of indented and when standing or walking on it for long periods of time it kind of sweats and feels mushy.
I used to squat a lot – when getting things out of the bottom cabinets, when playing with my nephew, when doing a photography session, when gardening and pulling weeds. And I’ve had my knee pop before in these positions, but usually when standing up, it pops right back into place.
Well a few weeks ago I was squatted out by our storage shed pulling weeds and turned while squatted and felt my knee pop. I thought no big deal and when I went to stand up it wouldn’t pop back and I thought I was going to die. I tried squatting down again and had a lot of pain trying to stand up. I couldn’t walk on it and it hurt really bad. I gimped my way through the yard and garage and up the stairs into the house to call my husband to come and take me either to the Mec center or the ER. As I was sitting in the chair trying to move my leg and knee around I just felt this relief and stood up and started walking on it and it was fine. It was fine for a day or two, but every since then it’s been bothering me and it feels like it’s getting worse. When I walk, I’m kind of limping and it’s causing my right ankle and hip to hurt now. And when I walk, I’m cracking more then ever. I’ve iced it, used a heating pad, used a stop pain spray, tried Tylenol and a pain pill and nothing really seems to bring relief.
So I ventured to the doctor last Tuesday afternoon and he told me I had Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome and told me more about it, but said I could look it up on www.webmd.com for more info. I was also told to use Tylenol for pain (I'm allergic to NSAIDs which would probably help better) and then to do these leg stretches a few times a day.
Here is what WebMD has to say about it:
What is patellofemoral pain syndrome?
Patellofemoral pain syndrome is pain in the front of the knee. It frequently occurs in teenagers, manual laborers, and athletes. It sometimes is caused by wearing down, roughening, or softening of the cartilage under the kneecap.
What causes patellofemoral pain syndrome?
Patellofemoral pain syndrome may be caused by overuse, injury, excess weight, a kneecap that is not properly aligned (patellar tracking disorder), or changes under the kneecap.
What are the symptoms?
The main symptom of patellofemoral pain syndrome is knee pain, especially when sitting with bent knees, squatting, jumping, or using the stairs (especially going down stairs). You may also experience occasional knee buckling, in which the knee suddenly and unexpectedly gives way and does not support your body weight. A catching, popping, or grinding sensation when walking or with knee movement is also common.
How is patellofemoral pain syndrome diagnosed?
Your health professional will conduct a medical history and physical exam to determine the cause of your pain. In some cases, imaging tests including X-rays or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be done. These tests allow a doctor to view the tissues inside your knee to rule out damage to the structure of the knee and the tissues connected to it.
How is it treated?
Patellofemoral pain syndrome can be relieved by avoiding activities that make symptoms worse.
Avoid sitting or kneeling in the bent-knee position for long periods of time.
Adjust a bicycle or exercise bike so that the resistance is not too great and the seat is at an appropriate height. The rider should be able to spin the pedals of an exercise bike without shifting weight from side to side, and the legs should not be fully extended at the lowest part of the pedal stroke.
Avoid bent-knee exercises, such as squats, deep knee bends, or 90-degree leg extensions.
Other methods to relieve pain include:
Taking nonprescription anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen sodium, to decrease swelling, stiffness, and pain.
Ice and rest.
Physical therapy exercises. Exercises may include stretching to increase flexibility and decrease tightness around the knee, and straight-leg raises and other exercises to strengthen the quadriceps muscle.
Taping or using a brace to stabilize the kneecap.
Surgery.
I used to squat a lot – when getting things out of the bottom cabinets, when playing with my nephew, when doing a photography session, when gardening and pulling weeds. And I’ve had my knee pop before in these positions, but usually when standing up, it pops right back into place.
Well a few weeks ago I was squatted out by our storage shed pulling weeds and turned while squatted and felt my knee pop. I thought no big deal and when I went to stand up it wouldn’t pop back and I thought I was going to die. I tried squatting down again and had a lot of pain trying to stand up. I couldn’t walk on it and it hurt really bad. I gimped my way through the yard and garage and up the stairs into the house to call my husband to come and take me either to the Mec center or the ER. As I was sitting in the chair trying to move my leg and knee around I just felt this relief and stood up and started walking on it and it was fine. It was fine for a day or two, but every since then it’s been bothering me and it feels like it’s getting worse. When I walk, I’m kind of limping and it’s causing my right ankle and hip to hurt now. And when I walk, I’m cracking more then ever. I’ve iced it, used a heating pad, used a stop pain spray, tried Tylenol and a pain pill and nothing really seems to bring relief.
So I ventured to the doctor last Tuesday afternoon and he told me I had Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome and told me more about it, but said I could look it up on www.webmd.com for more info. I was also told to use Tylenol for pain (I'm allergic to NSAIDs which would probably help better) and then to do these leg stretches a few times a day.
Here is what WebMD has to say about it:
What is patellofemoral pain syndrome?
Patellofemoral pain syndrome is pain in the front of the knee. It frequently occurs in teenagers, manual laborers, and athletes. It sometimes is caused by wearing down, roughening, or softening of the cartilage under the kneecap.
What causes patellofemoral pain syndrome?
Patellofemoral pain syndrome may be caused by overuse, injury, excess weight, a kneecap that is not properly aligned (patellar tracking disorder), or changes under the kneecap.
What are the symptoms?
The main symptom of patellofemoral pain syndrome is knee pain, especially when sitting with bent knees, squatting, jumping, or using the stairs (especially going down stairs). You may also experience occasional knee buckling, in which the knee suddenly and unexpectedly gives way and does not support your body weight. A catching, popping, or grinding sensation when walking or with knee movement is also common.
How is patellofemoral pain syndrome diagnosed?
Your health professional will conduct a medical history and physical exam to determine the cause of your pain. In some cases, imaging tests including X-rays or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be done. These tests allow a doctor to view the tissues inside your knee to rule out damage to the structure of the knee and the tissues connected to it.
How is it treated?
Patellofemoral pain syndrome can be relieved by avoiding activities that make symptoms worse.
Avoid sitting or kneeling in the bent-knee position for long periods of time.
Adjust a bicycle or exercise bike so that the resistance is not too great and the seat is at an appropriate height. The rider should be able to spin the pedals of an exercise bike without shifting weight from side to side, and the legs should not be fully extended at the lowest part of the pedal stroke.
Avoid bent-knee exercises, such as squats, deep knee bends, or 90-degree leg extensions.
Other methods to relieve pain include:
Taking nonprescription anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen sodium, to decrease swelling, stiffness, and pain.
Ice and rest.
Physical therapy exercises. Exercises may include stretching to increase flexibility and decrease tightness around the knee, and straight-leg raises and other exercises to strengthen the quadriceps muscle.
Taping or using a brace to stabilize the kneecap.
Surgery.
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