What’s going on with DD’s knees?

[BeJollyStork]

DD has had medical issues which caused her to be quite underweight for a number of years. Her weight has now recovered, and her health is much better, but she has had sore knees for what seems like forever. She wasn’t able to do physical exercise in any case, and this wasn’t as important as the other issues she had going on (gastric issues), so the focus of medical professionals was sort of consumed by the other stuff. However, the sore knees persist. Partcularly sore walking up stairs, going up hills etc. She doesn’t really do any running yet. They just seem to ache though and I’m worried. I just hope that this is something that i can help her to fix, and not something irreversible or indicative of other issues. I know it’s a vague question, but is there anything minor that could be causing this prolonged pain? She has had spells of a couple of months with no pain, but then it will return.

I have booked her a gp appointment and she is also being referred to for physio but curious if anyone here has any ideas?

Maybe look at Ehlers Danlos syndrome? Not as widely diagnosed but can impact joints and gastro. Good luck with it all

I’ve actually already asked about EDS and been told it’s not that, by three different doctors.

They can be very dismissive and it can take years to get diagnosed. Especially as there’s not an exact test for for it.

EDS does frighten me. I just want her to be healthy, she has already been through so much.

Has she been tested for celiac disease? It can cause aches/pains/joint inflammation

My brother had persistent knee pain through his teens, no one could ever figure out why despite many tests. When he was very late teens his knees started dislocating regularly and long story short, he had surgery on them to stop it happening and has been fine ever since. It was essentially a birth defect that was undetectable until the dislocating started.

I had this as a child. I’m also hyper mobile. For me it was flat feet. Hard insteps (ortha heel or similar) from boots cured it. Not the gel ones, the solid ones. When she stands up does her arch flatten?

I started having pain issues with my knees around 13. I was into football, cycling, roller skating etc. so it was assumed I just overdid it a lot to begin with.
My GP found my kneecaps moved way too much, and after tests was diagnosed with a condition with my knee tendons that is manageable with physiotherapy, although I haven't had physio for several years now.
About 4 years after that it was found I also had highly bridged feet. Special insoles and high top trainers help.

I haven’t really looked at her arches that closely. Will check today.

My flat feet caused sore hips and knees. Because you get pulled out of alignment. The insteps are an instant fix. And you can get strengthening exercises too.

Sore knees were a thing for me before I had my first IBD flare so it's worth being sure that a diagnosis has been excluded.

However, given her lack physical activity and weakness, and her hypermobility, I think there's a good chance its muscularskeletal.

Have her seen by a physiotherapist and look at 1-2-1 pilates instruction - classes are fine but, especially when someone is hypermobile, you need to be certain you're getting the correct form.

My knees get painful when I've been ill for a while and recovered because of inactivity- they take the strain which should be taken by weakened and underused muscles.

Try not to worry.