Patellar Tracking Disorder

[westsnoop]

To put it simply, I have a very sore left knee. It bothers me when I go down into a squat position or if I sit to long with a bent knee position. Walking doesn't bother me, so I self-diagnosed myself using these symptoms on the webmd site.
I've used NSAIDs, over the counter orthotics to limit foot pronation, and a knee brace to limit knee cap movement.
Are there any other things I can try?

 

[canadianhitman]

Go see an orthopaedic surgeon...only way to find out just how bad it is, and what needs to be done to correct it.

 

[MikeMartial]

Get an assessment by a physio--your self diagnosis may be right, but they'll be able to see possibly why it's happening.

They'll also give solutions to the problem. I had this a number of years back, and it was due to a weak vastus medialis and an overly tight IT band.

 

[Latamier]

Without an X ray it could be just about anything. How old are you to start with? Have you ever sublexed or dislocated your patella before? I am a licensed Physician assistant for a group of Orthopedic surgeons so feel free to send me an email or Pm with any other questions.

 

[6FULLMETALTRUCKIE9]

To put it simply, I have a very sore left knee. It bothers me when I go down into a squat position or if I sit to long with a bent knee position. Walking doesn't bother me, so I self-diagnosed myself using these symptoms on the webmd site.
I've used NSAIDs, over the counter orthotics to limit foot pronation, and a knee brace to limit knee cap movement.
Are there any other things I can try?

any clicking or giving out of the joint in question? case if so then it may be a medial meniscus tear thats common in aging but when you start getting swelling and redness of the area it's a full on tear that needs arthroscopic repair . you really need to see a ortho if it gets worse bro. sometimes it can lead to a low grade infection if untreated fyi and that requires draining with a real "cannon" of a needle good luck bro ..................................................FMT

 

[bigtbone]

An x-ray will most likely be useless in diagnosing the problem. You cannot evaluate soft tissue and therefore patellar kinetics with an xray. Without further history and a physical exam it's impossible to diagnose, but I'd be willing to bet chondromalacia is causing your symptoms as a result of abnormal patellar tracking. You need to see an orthopod and need an MRI to look at the soft tissues for futher evalution.

 

[6FULLMETALTRUCKIE9]

bro get the MRI before you really mess up your joint and have to go thought a distal patella realinement like I did you'll never walk the same again.

 

[subluxfxr]

Is it tender when you go down stairs? This is pretty common with people who run. Not saying for sure, but with pain going down stairs is a pretty good indicator of chondromalacia patella. What it is is abnormal tracking of the patella causing inflammation underneath. MRI is certainly not the first step in evaluating this condition unless there was some trauma that may have perpetuated it.

 

[bigtbone]

MRI is certainly not the first step in evaluating this condition unless there was some trauma that may have perpetuated it.

MRI is most certainly the first and ONLY step for diagnosis of chondromalacia. One cannot make this diagnosis clinically. And, this condition is very, very rarely caused by acute trauma. It is a chronic condition which typically occurs over an extended period of time.

 

[subluxfxr]

MRI is most certainly the first and ONLY step for diagnosis of chondromalacia. One cannot make this diagnosis clinically. And, this condition is very, very rarely caused by acute trauma. It is a chronic condition which typically occurs over an extended period of time.

lol
I'm assuming you have some kind of medical background considering you were in the know enough to dx what I would consider pretty accurately given the info presented...I wouldn't think most people are famaliar with such a presenting condition. However...an MRI?? You should well enough that you go from least invasive to most invasive and an MRI is...well, pretty invasive, especially to the wallet. A simple physical exam of the knee and some orthopedic tests should be all that is needed (if you want to be very thorough, examin the foot and the hip as well) unless maybe the pain does not receed following treatment.

Also...when I mentioned trauma, I was refering to "if" the pain were a result of recent trauma, I would possibly be leaning in the direction of a different dx if that were the case. I also could then MAYBE, depending on the physical exam, MAYBE an MRI, but not for chondromalacia patella.