Injury to knee due to spasticity/stiffness

[deborah0904]

With the change of weather from warm to cooler my muscles seem to be experiencing more tightness.  Unfortunately, I believe this tightness may have lead me to a torn ligament or something else in my knee.

About 3 or 4 days ago I was standing in my kitchen and all the muscles in my left leg and even ankle were pretty tight and kept popping everytime I took a step.  Because I have so much weakness and tightness, I feel like I walk like a zombie.  I actually had my left foot planted and turned a little bit.  Problem is that when I turned something in my knee popped and kind of burned.  

Yesterday, when I was sitting at the dinner table and got ready to stand, I pushed away from the table with my left leg.  A horrible tearing and burning pain seared through the front of my knee.  I can't tell if it's under or above my knee cap.  I just know it is bothering me.  Also, now I can bend my knee and have pressure on that same leg and experience a tearing pain.  I'm just praying I didn't tear a ligament.

I'm just wondring if anyone else with MS has experienced injuries such as this due to your stiffness/spasticity.

Thank you for any information.

[Fluffysmom]

I agree that you should be evaluated by your doctor; I've had 5 knee surgeries, and what you describe sounds familiar.  It could be a ligament strain, or a meniscus tear, or who knows what.  Only a doctor can figure that out.

In the mean time, you could try rest, ice, compression, and elevation.  Compression (like an Ace bandage) never seemed to help me, but might give you some relief.  Of course, if ice makes your spasticity worse, then don't use it.

Can you call an advice nurse at your doctor's office?  They can help you decide whether or not to make an appointment.  

Hoping for speedy relief from the pain,

Kathy

[rendean]

I'm with Lulu on this one, check with your doctor to rule out any damage. It sounds different than my spasticity and I do NOT have tearing pain with movement.

Sending well wishes,
Ren

[Lulu54]

hi Deborah,
We are so quick to blame everything on our MS - I would think that you need to be evaluated by your doctor and make sure that you have no serious damage.

What you are describing doesn't really sound to me like its associated with spasticity, but I could be totally wrong.

feel better,
Lulu