Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Family Medicine (Expert Forum)
Pain behind the knees
Answered by
Kevin Pho, MD - Internal Medicine
Kevin Pho, MD
Boston - MA
Questions in the Family Medicine forum are answered by Dr. J.M. Keyes. Topics covered include general health issues, adolescence, babies, child health, eating disorders, fitness, immunizations and vaccines, infectious diseases, medical tests and procedures, and senior health.
Pain behind the knees
by Laurel Menlo Park, May 04, 2005 12:00AM
I am a healthy, active 54-year old, 5'10" 140 lbs. I exercise regularly, have a healthy diet, sleep well, and have no history of chronic pain or any other medical conditions. I own a small ad agency; most of my work is at the desk & computer, but I am up & down the stairs & moving around the office quite a bit. I awoke 2 days ago with lower back pain, which felt like a pinched nerve. Aspirin or aleve provided adequate relief & it subsided.
Yesterday, the pain (related I assume?) seemed to move down to behind my knees. It is not responding to aspirin & became strong enough it woke me out of a sleep. I have just spent about an hour at 4am on the computer searching for this topic & was led to your website. None of the matches I found made any sense (lupus, arthritis, RLS, etc) because this came on so suddenly and there is a total lack of other syptoms.
The pain in dull, throbbing, and is not relieved by changing positions--pretty constant whether I'm lying down in any position or sitting. It's better standing but I can't sleep or work standing. There is still some pain in the hips/lower back. I have had no change in activity, no unusual exercise or movement or change in routine.
This is so uncharacteristic for me--the pain, the reading about med issues online--I want to see if this is possibly symptomatic of something serious, but mostly what I can do to relieve the pain so I can sleep & work. Any suggestions?
Yesterday, the pain (related I assume?) seemed to move down to behind my knees. It is not responding to aspirin & became strong enough it woke me out of a sleep. I have just spent about an hour at 4am on the computer searching for this topic & was led to your website. None of the matches I found made any sense (lupus, arthritis, RLS, etc) because this came on so suddenly and there is a total lack of other syptoms.
The pain in dull, throbbing, and is not relieved by changing positions--pretty constant whether I'm lying down in any position or sitting. It's better standing but I can't sleep or work standing. There is still some pain in the hips/lower back. I have had no change in activity, no unusual exercise or movement or change in routine.
This is so uncharacteristic for me--the pain, the reading about med issues online--I want to see if this is possibly symptomatic of something serious, but mostly what I can do to relieve the pain so I can sleep & work. Any suggestions?
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Pho, MD, May 05, 2005 12:00AM
, May 05, 2005 12:00AM
Whenever I hear about pain behind the knees, you want to rule out a blood clot (deep venous thrombosis). This is unlikely, but certainly possible. A simple ultrasound would be a reasonable test for this.
Assuming that's negative, then you can look at less serious diseases. They can include a Baker's cyst (a fluid filled collection behind the knee) as well as various types of muscle strains or nerve impingements. These can be treated with anti-inflammatories and physical therapy if these causes are suspected. Further testing can include plain films or an MRI of the back, as well as referrals to an orthopedist or neurologist.
I would discuss these options with your personal physician.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
Medical Weblog:
kevinmd_b
Assuming that's negative, then you can look at less serious diseases. They can include a Baker's cyst (a fluid filled collection behind the knee) as well as various types of muscle strains or nerve impingements. These can be treated with anti-inflammatories and physical therapy if these causes are suspected. Further testing can include plain films or an MRI of the back, as well as referrals to an orthopedist or neurologist.
I would discuss these options with your personal physician.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
Medical Weblog:
kevinmd_b
I had a DVT a couple of years ago. I had back pain for about 4 days before my right leg went completely dead. It wasn't until I consulted a nurse the day my leg completely died, that I noticed that my right leg was purple! At any rate, I got to stay in the ICU for about 4 days, so it is very very dangerous.
Do you take estrogen, smoke or take anything else that could thicken the blood? These, along with a birth defect and ephedra, caused my DVT when I was only 22 and now I am never allowed to have any hormones again.
Good luck and I truly hope you do not have a DVT.