Knee locking - ligament sprain? Advice needed

[PinkJazz]

I’ve had painful knees for most of my life. Last year I saw a Rheumatologist who said I had Hypermobile Spectrum Disorder and osteoarthritis in my knee.
My knee has worsened and keeps either giving way (I’ve fallen down due to this) or locking so that I can’t straighten my leg. If I manipulate it about a bit it will unlock with a painful crunch.

I went to the GP, I don’t know what I was expecting really but I thought they might be able to help as my knee is really unstable and the pain wakes me at night. He was really dismissive and asked what I expected him to do about it. He said we already know what’s wrong with it so I just need to manage it. Then he moved my knee about it and said I’ve sprained a ligament. He told me not to do any weight bearing exercises and to put hot cloths on it.

I’m not sure what exercises I should be doing now. The Rheumatologist told me not to do any exercises that aren’t in a straight line and now the GP had told me not to do weight bearing exercises. Is swimming ok? I really need to loose weight as that’ll help my knee.

Does a sprained ligament cause locking? I was concerned it might be like a torn meniscus or something

I feel for you. Find a good physio or sports therapist and get it sorted. They will give you exercises. Good luck

Painful locking can be a meniscal issue, for this you would need to be under the care of your local msk service (if in the uk). Physio can assess and you can talk through options together. Would likely be trial of physio first then maybe scan/onward referral to ortho if no better.

Hypermobility can really influence knee pain-you’ll want to make sure you have strong glutes and thighs and are aware of joint positions to not overly stress the joint.
Have a look at Jeanie Di Bon on you tube channel. She has hypermobility (as part of another condition called Eds) but she’s great at explaining ways to move and strengthen individual hypermobile joints.

Locking is almost always a meniscus issue. Typically no amount of physio will fix it I’m afraid - you need a referral to orthopaedics

I have an issue with my hip locking and sub-luxing that affects my knees as well. Lots of clunking going on!

Your local gym may have a hydro pool or small warm pool and a good start point would be walking in the water to lose weight or, if u are able, swimming, but be careful of the type of stroke you do.

You may wait a long time for an NHS physio referral and then just get a print out of exercises to do at home.

I find NHS Scotland very good for physio information and thought this sheet may give you pointers of the sort of exercises they may suggest.
https://www.nhsfife.org/media/vxy80ily/hypermobility_exercise_programme_v7.pdf

I have found that nowadays physios tell you not to do anything that causes pain or makes the joint more unstable but hopefully walking in water or simple exercises could be a starting point .

This organisation may also be able to give pointers:

https://www.hypermobility.org

@Reginald123 - can I ask what your issue is? I have similar symptoms and don't know what's causing it.

@garlictwist

Mine is a combination of bone issues and muscles not working as they should to hold things in place. Femoral leg bone goes clunk as it is in the wrong spot plus spasticity means my muscles can't hold my hip joint in place.

It is a fun combo but lots of scans have worked out the problem, just not the solution.

Hope you don't have the same and can get a diagnosis of what your clunking is down to as my uneven hip has led to horrible knee and back issues so it is worth trying to get it sorted or at least to give you the muscle strengthening exercises to keep your hip and knees as healthy as possible.