What's wrong with my left knee?

[SwordToFlamethrower]

I'm peri, on hrt (gel and tablets) for rhe last 6 months. But for quite a while I have had pain in the front of my left knee, the boney bit.

In 2020 while at a dance festival, my knee swelled up with fluid, not painful, but very swollen. After the swelling went down but sharp pain started. My knee also crackles and pops when I stretch it out.

I can walk OK, but if I'm walking on uneven ground or going up and down stairs, I get the sharp pain. So it's load baring I think.

I'm worried I've got arthritis or something. What might it be and what might the treatment be for it, if at all?

Thank you

Could be many things. See GP for referral for consultant and MRI.

Thanks. My GP couldn't find anything wrong when he did an examination. I asked for a referral but I'm wondering if anyone has had a problem like this before and what the outcome was

It sounds like tightness in the muscles that are pulling on the knee cap. Do you do any sort of exercise? I get this sort of knee niggles when I run and don’t stretch. Regular stretching may help.

Sounds like arthritis unfortunately. I’d start making a fuss with the GP now as can take years to sort. I was 47 when symptoms started and 53 before I got my knee replaced following years of pain.

Without physical examination or MRI I'd guess a meniscus tear. Given the timeline involved, surgery likely but success rate varies depending on age and exact position. The only way to know for sure is an MRI.

Thanks. My GP couldn't find anything wrong when he did an examination. I asked for a referral but I'm wondering if anyone has had a problem like this before and what the outcome was. I stretch, I did a lot of yoga and runninf over the last 12 years too.

It's ny physiotherapy appointment today, I'm hoping I get some actual help!

Good Luck! 🙏

Yes, the GP is not the right bod, it's the physio. Mine is the same, just patella femoral pain it's called, basically leg strengthening exercises required. Squats and lunges.

It is not the same thing, but I was having knee pain and pain in my fingers. I was thinking the start of arthritis. Unrelated, I started taking pure collagen protein powder in the mornings and it is gone.
Might be totally unrelated, but interesting.

Hope the physio went well
I had terrible knee pain on inside of knee 2 years ago. I'm very overweight and think this didn't help. Physio get me doing single leg exercises at the gym on the leg machines and after 2 years my knees are like new again. I can leg press 100kg and curl 23kg and extend 18kg (I was 4 kg when I started the program)
I've worked really hard. I go to the gym 4 days a week and do leg day 4 times in 3 weeks....about 45 minutes per session.
My legs feel amazingly strong. I can climb up and down hills and get on and off stools with no problems. Whilst arthritis can be in the background don't underestimate a progressive excersise regime

Sounds like worn cartilage. But I am neither a doctor nor a physio.

I managed to see a physio today and I have been diagnosed with "fucked left arse cheek". Or - Patella Femoral Iritation.

Basically, it isn't my knee, it's my left hip which is causing issues elsewhere. I don't have hip pain though which surprised him. He got me to do some confirmatory poses and movements and he could apparently clearly see that I was out of alignment. It was all very enlightening!
I've been ordered to start pilates classes at least once a week, and I've got a specific exercise plan to do twice every day.

He has assured me that it's not arthritis or anything like that. And it is fixable. Hoo-bloody-ray. Also the physio has a very promising side career in stand up comedy if he so chooses! Had me in hysterics!