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peculiar knee pain

When I kneel on my left knee I get a sharp pain below and left of my patella, as if kneeling on a tack. Pressing on it or walking or bending or running does not trigger the pain, only when kneeling.
What can it be?
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Avatar universal
I have what feels like a drill going into my right knee when I walk, and when I bend my groin muscle hurts (same leg).  It comes and goes, more chronic now, though.  The strange thing is that when I remember and tighten my core, it gets better.  Have been going to Chiro who has been treating for IT Band: 6+ months (some help).  She now want to send me to an orthopedist. I am overweight which I realize exacerbates (working on it: difficult to exercise with what is sometimes excruciating pain: I go from uncomfortable to limping to hobbling...no real rhyme or reason: it sometimes hurts with NO movement at all...bizarre).  I don't have Insurance so have been trying to take care of through anti inflammatory supplements (was eating Advil like candy) and Chiro. The big puzzle is the on/offishness, difference in intensity and the fact that tightening my core helps.  I have searched the net over and tried a few of the "fixes" (one of which says that if I pronate inward (foot flat) it is worse than if I actually concentrate on walking on outside of right foot ( seems to help). Just noticed that this says: "Have an answer and respond to kenny265"? I clicked on the, "Ask a Question," button. Don't know how to do these threads, so if you can't help, can you please advise on how to ask an actual question?  Thank you for your kind consideration and speedy response. I am 62 and knee trouble started after forgetting my age, weight, and what had become a sedentary lifestyle when I returned home after the several hrs. trip to take care of ailing mother ( 6-7 yrs: emotionally, physically, mentally exhausted when I returned home and numbed out on TV and became a couch potato if I wasn't in town taking care of mom.) My health was great and not a bit of knee problems until after her death when I decided to do what she could not and that was MOVE my healthy body...but went to extremes: started back to Jazzercise, yoga, gym, and Zumba (Zumba: which is when I first noticed it and came home and iced knee and back, but kept going full steam (150%), 5 days a week for several months and like I said, I had forgotten I wasn't the same person: age, weight, sedentary that I was NOT before mom's slow decline in health. I pray you can help, have been trying to figure out if IT Band, meniscus, or arthritis is at fault.  I know I am wordy, (retired teacher trying to be thorough) But REMEMBER the relief from tightening core, coming and going, pain changes intensity, and rotating foot position.  I am at a loss. Thank you again and again I apologize if this goes to wrong person. This is an old thread, but when I clicked ask a question didn't know it would go to you.  Can you help me figure out how to become a member of the community thread?
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Avatar universal
I to have this pain when I kneel down its on my left of the left knee cap it feels like I'm kneeling on a stone
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Avatar universal
I also had this case... I was in an aikido class and I did the back roll wrong and landed my right knee. I thought I knelt on a small sharp pebble but there was nothing there. I didn't feel pain when I walked it's just when I kneel down then it hurts as hell so I stopped training temporarily. The level of pain is closely similar even after 2 weeks when I try to kneel down but when I jogged for about 30 mins (with breaks) in early mornings (which I usually don't do) and did that 2 days then out of curiosity I knelt down and the pain wasn't there. I'm not sure if that was the reason why I can't feel pain anymore when I kneel down but that's what happened to me.
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Avatar universal
Thank you for the resources!

I recall a number of instances where I may have injured my knee, but I also inherited a bone disorder from my father and my uncle called Osgood-
Schlatter that may be the culprit behind it.

Your doctor should have you contact everyone commenting here to provide her with case studies for a paper. :)

Anyway, thanks again for the resources.  This has been really killing me!
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Avatar universal
Severe Burning Knee Pain under left kneecap only {no ortho surgey in right knee while in bed overnight then most pain goes away during the day no burning pain - I have very painful burning pain and stiff knees overnight  while in bed and also when moving and getting out of bed- I am a senior and have run over 30,000 miles and no longer can for three years without discomfort so my body told me to stop.  X-rays show decent joint spacing and that may be due to the stem cell treatment.  Not sure but doubt it is natural after all that running and my age.  The orthopedic doctor said he wish he had my knees when he is my age. The x-rays shows  both with kneecaps [top view on a bent knee] are badly pushed to the outside.  Three years ago I had stem cell treatment  No surgery in this left knee with the burning pain only the right knee ten years ago for cartilage tear.  Been running seven years there after at the gym on the treadmill.  MRI tomorrow night.  Cortisone show seven weeks ago seem to help for a few weeks but then no help at all.  The shot was not for the burning pain but for pain on the inside of the knee that I seems to be improved. I know I have bad tracking of the patellar because I can feel the rough tracking when I slide my kneecap from side to side.  The right knee surgery  cleaned the kneecap and improved the tracking so it is so much better. The surgeon just showed me the xrays and said here is what your knees look like showing my the top view with the kneecaps out of position and no freaking follow-up commentary.  I was stunned by the x-ray so I was speechless at that point, but should have asked what cause it and what does it mean.  No pain in the right knee, but left knee looked further pushed to the right and maybe somewhat pushed ino the bone or something, not sure what it showed.  I was disappointed in retrospect by the orthos doctor handling of the commentary.  Like what was I to say, lets replace the knees.  I had to ask for a cortisone shot when he was leaving the exam room.  I am loosing my confidence in doctors. He is an excellent surgeon  I hear but that only takes you so far.  
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Avatar universal
I felt an ache in the inner calf of my left leg that seemed to be better after a few weeks of Advil and no strenuous exercise. A few days ago (a sunny January day), I was walking, and something snapped. I couldn't put weight on that leg for two days. I'm getting around better now, but the sharp pain comes and goes behind and below the left knee. I have an ortho appointment in a few days, but I am curious if anyone else has been through this. Thanks!
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Avatar universal
I had a similar situation due to fall I took while playing rugby on hard ground.
I found out it was knee bursitis which is the inflammation of the Bursa (fluid sac) at the front of the patella. This can be excruciating because any pressure on the knee was bad. The inflammation/swelling caused a nerve which runs across the front of the knee to be squashed so the knee also felt numb although it still hurt on impact. The best treatment for this is to sleep with your leg elevated at night and to put ice on it. Also just keep it moving and loosen it up so the fluid can get out quicker. Although it takes months for the pain to fully go away I was playing rugby again after a couple of weeks. As long as you can deal with the pain, its not dangerous I would suggest strapping your knee up as well if you are going to do any impact sports. This article is useful for information:
http://www.sophisticatededge.com/can-bursitis-cause-numbness.html
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Avatar universal
I spent a good bit of time reading all the posts on this thread since I've been dealing with a pain close to what many people described. I thought I should post my experience with potential solutions.

My pain was on the right knee and felt like pins and needles when I either kneeled on that knee or bent my knee to an acute angle. I tried several of the solutions, but the one that worked for me was a combination of avoiding those activities and applying heat using a bean bag heated in a microwave for quite a few evenings when I could devote the time to doing that.

I don't know if it improved due to time passing or the heat but after about three weeks I've noticed that I can bend my knee and kneel on that knee with no pain. I'm still being a bit careful with it, but I'm grateful for the relief I've experienced so far and I felt I should offer my feedback.
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Avatar universal
LHM
Nope, you are not alone at all. I too have a *sharp*, intense pain when I kneel. It's as if someone is shoving a pointed, wide blade knife into the soft tissues   on the outside of my right knee, a fingers-width to the side and slightly lower than patella-center. It came on very suddenly about two weeks ago, after no discernible injury.

This is different from a tendon or ligament injury of the knww, as I've had both (and still have effects). There is no swelling or discoloration, and there is no continual ache - just the sharp pain when I am kneeling and putting pressure on the knee. If I search carefully, I can even find the spot in my knee which, when pushed, produces this pain.

I am 20 lbs overweight, and have difficulty getting up and down from the floor after a stroke 8 years ago at age 50. I am certain that this pain is made far worse by the added stress  of extra weight and weak musculature. I am starting an exercise regimen, following the outline of "Treat Your Own Knees," by Jim Johnson. It will take some time, but it will be better than surgery if it works.
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Avatar universal
I am experiencing the same type of pain. I work as an Activity Director for seniors, while I was picking up bean bags after a game of cornhole I moved from a sitting position on the floor,onto my knees and I instantly felt a very sharp pain in my left knee. It was so bad that I actually screamed out in pain and flopped back onto my butt to look for the thumb tack, glass, carpet staple that I had to have just jammed my knee into- there was nothing. I was wearing a sundress so I was easily able to inspect my skin for a pin-prick and again there was nothing. The pain quickly subsided and I felt nothing when I pressed on it, walked, or bent my knee. So I thought nothing more of it - though my seniors got a good laugh out of their 30 year old Activity Director moaning over a "bad knee" and even joked from now in I should just let them do all the strenuous work, Later that day I was home cleaning out the fridge and as soon as I down on that knee the pain was again so bad that I basically threw myself back down on to my butt. Ok, I figured that maybe I did kneel on something at work and was having residual pain. Days passed and I never had any problem with it doing my day to day activities so and figured whatever I had done to it must have healed. Nope! Getting into bed last night I got up on my knee and even on the soft mattress a sharp pain like a thumbtack on my left knee, below the knee cap and slightly to the left. So I went to Dr Google truthfully afraid that I must have something  sharp inside my knee (even with no pain to the touch- maybe slight tenderness if I press in just the right spot) and lo and behold I find this site where you're all experiencing the same thing.
I am only 30 years old and my weight is on target for my height.I am moderately active now but spent years as a softball player, cheerleader, and dancer. Working with seniors and navigating wheelchairs and walkers and overall putting their safety before mine I do tend to bump myself quite a bit without even noticing  until a giant bruise shows up - so it is quite possible that at some point I've knocked my knee so hard that this nerve pain I've been reading about in this post could have happened. Its just so odd - I've NEVER even had trouble with my knees before. Glad to have found this post- I'm not crazy!
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Avatar universal
A great idea, using the towel under the shin! I have had this "broken glass" pain under my kneecap accompanied by an area of numbness to the outside of the knee off and on for nearly 30 years! It flares up in the spring when I garden, so I've learned to sit and weed. No doctors I've consulted have any idea what causes it. So frustrating.
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Avatar universal
Here is a trick I've learned to avoid "the pain" when I have to kneel (doing yoga or gardening).  Place a pad (folded or rolled towel works, size depends on you) under your SHIN, not your knee, so that your knee is off the ground and you are weight bearing on the tibia instead.  I still have the weird numb area on the lateral side of my knee, but not the pain there.
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Avatar universal
Here is a trick I've learned to avoid "the pain" when I have to kneel (doing yoga or gardening).  Place a pad (folded or rolled towel works, size depends on you) under your SHIN, not your knee, so that your knee is off the ground and you are weight bearing on the tibia instead.  I still have the weird numb area on the lateral side of my knee, but not the pain there.
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Avatar universal
I have the same issue with my right knee. Just found this site today. Have you or anyone found any relief besides surgery? Only when I kneel on it, no other pain
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Hello, I fell down on my right knee so hard. I went straight to the ER and they never thought of checking my knee just my head and wrist. Its been months and i have this weird pain that no one can understand..When tap accidentally boy does it hurt....first i tried explaining that its like a burning sensation....then like a vibration....but it really is a shooting pain and it goes to the other side plus it almost feels like a string......Reading your thread sounded more like mine...what was your outcome?
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The long running information exchange above may, at last, provide the answer or a clud to my 'mystery' knee pain - an ailment that 3 top orthopaedic knee consultants, various radiologists, physiotherapists, acupuncturists, a brilliant GP with 20-years experience in a ski resort and others have not been able to define or cure.

Mrs Robinson, your opening statement (3 Sep 13) leads me to wonder if your ailment was identified exactly right and cured? I am desperate for a solution, and I will travel anywhere to obtain it. Henry Morris
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Avatar universal
After reading all the comments, I'll say two things: 1.Somewhat 'comforting' to see I'm not alone with this weird pain. 2.No one seems to have a cure. Having said that, I don't think I'll bother with a doctor appointment. I'll mention it to my PCP at my physical next month, but I won't expect any real answers or cures. I am taking glucosamine, but if it's a nerve issue that probably won't help. As someone  mentioned, sugar could be exacerbating it, so I'll cut down on that as well.

I'll continue to monitor this community in case someone has any new words of wisdom.
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I would like to bring to people's attention that a bite from a tick can cause Lyme disease. I have had this twice and each time a course of antibiotics has cured the symptoms (which were similar to some on here as it affects nerves). However, I now  have this 'burning, surface knee pain' when I kneel, allied to a numbness and I wonder if there could be some residual problem associated with Lyme disease. If you suspect it could be the case, have a blood test, looking for Lyme borreliosis.
Good luck.
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So glad I found this discussion.  I've had a sudden onset of pain in my knee when kneeling, (not that I kneel a lot) and when it's aggravated it even hurts to touch it, especially in a flexed position.  I don't recall having any trauma to the knee recently, either.  This is such a huge discussion thread, has anyone found something that relieves the pain while waiting for it to subside?
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I have the same symptom. I discovered it at the end of a workout session in class. We kneeled down for stretches and that's when I discovered the sharp pain on my inner right knee cap. I have no issues with it during the workout. Only when I have to use the knee for kneeling. Unfortunately, I can't cheat at pushups anymore. I have to be on my toes now. :)
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Hello leader of this website, here a message from Holland. In November 26 I had an operation , done by a very wellknown neurosurgeon , for the pain in my left leg after an operation in 2009 for a tibia plateau fracture. This pain was at the lateral side of the leg. Any other treatment had not been succesful, so it was decided to cut the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve.  After the operation I was told that the 2 lower branches had been cut. BUT : now  I have this terrible new pain under the patella en the medial side of the tibia; also tingling feelings, swelling etc. Medication did not work and now I have to wait 4 months to come back to the professor. He is a very concerned doctor and the only explanation he could think of is that the 3th (upper) branch has taken over the painfunction ( for nothing) since the other 2 have no function anymore.
Is this possible? What can I expect? Will this pain go away? What solutions can there be?

Lineke
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Avatar universal
Saw an Ortho earlier this week.  Had x-rays which showed nothing, and an MRI that showed a very small cyst in the fat pad directly in the area where I feel the pain.

The Doc is not sure yet if the cyst has anything to do with the pain.  I believe that I injured myself doing a new, extensive stretching routine with lots of standing hamstring stretches (standing on one leg, other leg up on a chair).  I think this over-used my knee.

We are giving it 6 weeks of no-stretching and certainly NO kneeling.  I hope that this resolves itself.
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Avatar universal
Hi there,
I have been to the Dr today,he has sent me for a knee x Ray and blood tests .
I have been in pain for 12 months even turning over in bed can wake me up wanting  to scream ,If I touch my knee in a certain place it can be like I live wire or a cluster of nerve endings all being touched at once , I'm hoping to get it sorted the Dr says it may be arthritis I told him I never knew anyone with arthritis with these symptoms . Now I have something to work with
Many thanks Dave
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Avatar universal
Hello,

I hear you about knee pain; I've had an arthroscopy on each knee. If you have any questions regarding knee pain or orthopedic recoveries for knee pain, you should contact  http://www.ossburbank.com/where-does-it-hurt/ to learn more about your knee pain.
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