knee cap movement.

[kgill69]

i can do this and its not normal well at least my husband says its not. have a friend who is a physio and she said there is some range of movement but not being able to move knee cap right over both sides. It causes me alot of pain when i do this.

[Ruby]

I used to have a lot of problems with my right knee. The patella has a tracking problem (lost it's sat nav !) so it wobbles all over the place. Like you lil miffy it caused me lots of searing pain and would buckle under me and I couldn't walk on in it for days afterwards.
This started for me in childhood. I had three ops to clear out muck but really it's just become firmer with age. I use medial taping for days when it is loose but really it comes down to physio, physio, physio! I spent years convincing myself physio didn't work as it wasn't immediate results but years later I can now see muscles that hold my knees in place. Yaaaay! Just thought a wee glimmer of hope may be good here

[Stone]

I think I just had my patella sublux and go back in - I was perched on the sofa (head at one end, feet bent up at the other, I'm 5'11'' and it's a 2-seat sofa). When I straightened my legs out to move position there was a sickening wet crunch and it felt like my kneecap was being torn off I haven't even got out of the door yet!

Normally my clicky bits are either a normal 'click' or a more solid 'crunch/pop', this one sounded like someone tearing a lump of gristle in half

No doubt I'll now have a day of fun at work...

Stone

[shen]

Modnote: Title edited for clarity, please see board rules. Topic merged with existing discussion on patella movement.

I don't know if there is a similar topic, i couldn't find one when i searched.

My kneecaps have always grated and clicked, and a while ago the physiotherapist told me i have some tracking problems with them. But in the last 2 months they are are almost constantly out of place. I have to crack them back into place, even then they aren't so aligned. After 10 minutes they are back out of line and need realigning again. They are very painful and weak, going up the stairs hurts a lot and they feel very unstable. My right one is far worse that my left. Has anyone had similar problems? Was there a solution for this? I can manage with them for now, but they are getting worse everyday and more and more painful.

[iNeko]

My knees are a nightmare - I have to twist my legs at the knees quite often to get them back in place or they'll just lock on me! Stairs are a nightmare for me as well, you're certainly not alone! I've noticed mine get worse when the weather changes (but then again, all my joints do...)

[shen]

The physio i saw gave me exercises to strengthen my knees, but they really don't seem suitable for HM knees. Standing on one leg and bending down then straightening back up. I tried it a few times and every time it resulted in my kneecap trying to move house to the side. It was incredibly painful to do too. I thought about trying to find a splint to hold it in place for now because it keeps giving out, though i know they can make things worse if they aren't the right ones. I have to fight to get it back into place sometimes it can take 5-10 minutes to get it to crack back in. Its not even walking that sets it off, just sat in the chair and it still slips off track.

[Stone]

My knees are a nightmare - I have to twist my legs at the knees quite often to get them back in place or they'll just lock on me! Stairs are a nightmare for me as well, you're certainly not alone! I've noticed mine get worse when the weather changes (but then again, all my joints do...)

Sounds exactly like mine, so I sympathise!

When mine go (usually the right one, and usually because it's rotated inward) I usually end up standing on my left leg and swinging my right leg from the hip while twisting at the knee - if you have your leg fully relaxed then the momentum snaps it back in. Bending the knee immediately afterwards you get the big clunk and the pain goes away...

This is probably really bad for you so don't try it!

Over the last couple of weeks it's been really bad as it got colder - I find myself locking my knee a lot to avoid having to bend it, because if I put weight on it when it's slightly bent then it suddenly 'flips' and ends up hyperextending backwards with my full weight on it. Ow. That just messes up my ankles...

Stairs I usually manage by keeping the knee locked straight and using the right handrail like a crutch, but it's bad for your elbow / wrist and going up them's still a right mission.

Sometimes I wonder why I bother!

Stone

[iNeko]

Luckily I use a crutch (I'm supposed to use two, but shh!) so when my knees go, it's not so bad - when my hips sublux, that's a different story!

I have tried many ways of getting my knees 'back' but a lot of things make it worse! I hate travelling kneecaps! Does anyone else sublux knees if they knock into things?

[Finarda]

The best excercise that I found to do (I found it myself years ago and it was the main one that the physio advised too) is quad contractions. It focusses on the quad muscle as the most likely muscle to strengthen to keep the kneecap tracking properly.
Here's where I found the exercise originally: http://www.bigkneepain.com/knee-exercises.html

Quad Strengthening Contractions:
Sit down on a chair and stretch out your legs, so that your heels are on the floor, with your knees as straight as practical. Tighten your thigh muscles and keep them contracted for 10 seconds. Relax for 3 seconds. Do 10 repetition several times a day building up to 2 or 3 sets of 10 repetitions at a time. I find it easy to do while I'm eating breakfast, lunch and dinner or if I can't do one of those, then when I'm watching TV. It's very discreet and no-one will notice you're exercising!

Fiona

[Rosie]

Hi all

Fiona, I just tried that exercise I cannot isolate these muscles to tighten them. I was concentrating so hard that I was pulling faces without realising it! Oh well

Rosie

[Stone]

I tried it and something went ping around the back of my knee

Physio guidance only for me I think...

Stone

[shen]

I tried it ... it subluxed my kneecap

[cracker]

my knee caps move too when i show people if they think i joking they realy cringe
it does hurt tho i keep been told i shouldnt do it.

[madmum]

My left kneecap has started slipping inwards. Can do without it. My right one used to do it,I ended up without it. When it goes back I then get a grating pain behind the kneecap when I sit down or stand up. Any idea what it is?

[gharman2]

Pain in knees is very tiresome. Have been diagnosed with EDS Hypermobility type in April of this year by Prof G. The main pain has been my back and neck, jaw and feet. After 20 months of Pilates at my local hospital the pain in my back and neck is really under control for the first time in 4 years. However its been replaced by pretty unpleasant pain in my knees. I'm now working orthotics from an NHS podiastrist and was really hoping my feet would start to improve. I did get a small window of improvement over the summer but I suppose I'm really my own worse enemy. On holiday I went horse riding, climed a mountain (with sticks) despite the pain and felt brillient for it. Then started power walking and finished off doing another riding lesson last week. However I knew I had overdone it the minute I had to dismount after a half hour tough session which I had certainly felt in my knees and ankles. On dismount I had to hold on to the horse's mane which involved about a 3 foot drop for my feet on to concrete floor. Didn't like the way my knee felt AT ALL when I landed and I usually avoid any jumps or anything like that as my knees can't take it. The the pain has just increased in the week since. I'm really struggling to climb or come down the stairs or walk and my left knee is clicking, cracking and feeling continutally sore (not excruitiating) but its certainly made me feel low as I haven't been able to exercise by walking since. I know the problem has been brewing in my knee over the past few months as even swimming (front crawl or backstroke) causes pain in both my knees.
Every time I feel like I am learning to live with this condition it feels like I get knocked down again when another part of my body gives out.
I'm waiting to see Prof. G again but just wondering if anyone has any ideas for knee supports or anything else they could recommend in the meantime as I suspect I might well be in for a very long wait for my appointment.