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Original poster

What's making DH's knee sore? - and it's not me kicking him.... yet.

20 replies

PeachesMcLean · 03/02/2007 21:46

DH has a sore knee. I'm posting here because I'm getting slightly irritated by it, particularly because he didn't ask the Dr when he went about something else just two days ago.
It's been hurting for a month or more now. It's slightly swollen and hurts when he presses the top above the kneecap. He says there's no point asking the dr because the dr won't be able to help and he'll have to go for a scan at the hospital. He's not generally a hypochondriac though. I know really he should talk to the doc about it. Can anyone give me some really scary stories to get him moving? or explain some common knee problems which need nothing more than a tubular bandage?

OP posts:

TrinityRhino · 03/02/2007 21:50

hyperchondromalatia patella

not as horrid as it sounds
I have it, it just means that the fluid that your kneecal sits in is going drusty and therefore the joint gets aggravated and sore
I have periods of a months or so when it's sore and slightly swollen as you have described but sometimes there are months and months of nothing

I have been told there is nothign that can be done

Mine also has creaks and clicks on a bad day

this is just a knee issue I have that it could bem I'm not saying this is what you dh has

Hope he gets it checked out

Original poster

PeachesMcLean · 03/02/2007 22:02

Fantastic! The name that is, not the pain.
Not too keen on the "nothing can be done" bit.
Any one else got a knee problem I can tell him about???

OP posts:

Twiglett · 03/02/2007 22:03

arthritis?

soft tissue damage?

if he's not mentioning it to the gp he's an idiot .. tell him from me .. the gp will need to write a referral .. wtf does he think is going to happen .. the hospital are going to call him up and say 'we heard on the grapevine you have a sore knee would you like to come and see our top specialists'

arse .. get thee to the doctor and mention it

Original poster

PeachesMcLean · 03/02/2007 22:12

LOL Twiglett.
Arse says "I have either medial or cruciate ligament injuries in my knee. I WILL go to the doctors...." Don't know where he's got words or expertise like that from. Degree in Economics probably.

OP posts:

Twiglett · 03/02/2007 22:15

tell arse I also have a degree in economics

and I'm right

get thee to the doctor

Original poster

PeachesMcLean · 03/02/2007 22:23

Gosh the things they cover in economics these days?!!!
I know you're right. It's just motivating him to do so, since he thinks he knows the problem. Think I might need to go scary rather than strict....

OP posts:

Twiglett · 03/02/2007 22:23

(um I also have a DH with a particularly pernicious form of arthritis)

Twiglett · 03/02/2007 22:24

(can provide MANY scary stories if you wish)

Original poster

PeachesMcLean · 03/02/2007 22:31

I was thinking, ooh yes scary stories would be good but DH's gran and mum both suffered with arthritis, so he's seen how bad it can be. Does it sound like arthritis though? It's so isolated to one knee. I'm just worried it's going to get worse if he doesn't do anything about it. He's just starting to get into cycling to work, which would be really good for him, so don't want a niggling knee problem to get in the way.

OP posts:

Twiglett · 03/02/2007 22:40

sounds more like soft tissue damage to me .. although cycling doesn't tend to put any strain on the joints ..

ibuprofen taken long-term should help with the swelling .. tell him to try it for a couple of weeks (its an anti-inflammatory .. DH was on it constantly for a year or so IIRC .. no contra-indications)

fryalot · 03/02/2007 22:48

Could very well be arthritis - especially if it runs in the family. Mine started in my left knee and I only had it there for about ten years before it moved into other joints. It is quite treatable with ibuprofen type drugs, but these can be dangerous taken over a long time. He could try cod liver oil, which I have found helps drastically. Really, he needs to see the quack.

Polgara2 · 03/02/2007 22:50

DH currently has 'dodgy' knees!!! He felt something 'go' in work one day and hasn't been right since really. Doc said he had damaged the ligaments initially which then caused patella (Sp) bursitis (or something very, very similar )(fluid/swelling) on his knees. Needs rest/cortisone injection/physio - any combination of the above! DH had to have knees strapped up for months. Had regular physio and may yet need the injections. Cannot kneel down anymore.

Original poster

PeachesMcLean · 03/02/2007 23:10

Well I've quoted all this to Arse and he still doesn't think he should bother with the docs. He doesn't think GPs know anything about knees and he seems to think that he, as someone who's played various sports for years, is something of an expert.
To be fair, he's been to the GP several times over the last two years with a variety of weird but legitimate ailments (which the GPs have sorted) but I think he's a bit fed up of going. It's a particularly grim clientele at his doc's place.
You're all absolutely right though - he does need to go again.

OP posts:

fryalot · 03/02/2007 23:15

If he plays a lot of sport, is there a friendly physio he can chat to? Even if all he does is refer him to gp?

superloopy · 04/02/2007 00:19

I used to get painful knees like OP described and a very helpful chiropractor diagnosed fallen arches in my feet as the cause.

Having fallen arches put everything slightly out of alignment, putting stress on the ligaments in my knees. The solution was to put arch supports in my shoes and it resolved itself really quickly.

Very simple and might be helpful. Maybe drag him to a chiropractor/osteopath or such if he doesn't like Dr's. Good luck!!

sallystrawberry · 04/02/2007 00:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

liquidclocks · 04/02/2007 00:27

With knees I'd think it was worth bypassing the GP for now if he has an aversion to going. Seeing a physio at a sports injury clinic would be a good idea.

Lots of reasons for knee pain - mine hurt when I don't wear my insoles because my right leg is cm shorter than my left.

could go on and on...

Worth getting checked though, if it's something like mine where it can be compensated for then he should do it as the liklihood is without my soles I'd be looking at knee replacements in my 30's and equally if it's arthritis, depending on the type, there are meds that can slow the rate of damage.

liquidclocks · 04/02/2007 00:29

2cm, sorry. keyboard still dodgy after being vomited on by DS1. Also I have 'fallen' arches too.

tenbygirl · 04/02/2007 15:35

Ditto what Trinity said or an inflamed bursar - either way a physio is a good idea.

Original poster

PeachesMcLean · 04/02/2007 18:18

Maybe a sports injury clinic would be less depressing than going to the docs again. I do know of one round here, so will phone and check it out. Might have to offer to pay but it would be worth it for the peace and quiet...
Thanks all for your comments. To be honest, what has horrified him most today is that I posted about him on MN and that he's inadvertently been named Arse. That alone has been worthwhile!! And the name might stick...

OP posts:

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