Unabale to bend knee

[cathee96]

I have been unable to bend my right knee for 6 months.I walk with a limp and have aching down my calf and sometimes pain can come on around the left side of the knee.It is slightly swollen.I have seen three consultants and have had 1 xray and 2 mri scans but no one has been able to diagnose me.
My quality of life has been restricted as i walk with a limp,cannot walk up stairs properly,cannot drive ad ride a bike.

The first consultant i saw was an orthapedic surgeon who could find nothing wrong but as leg was in spasm he referred me on to a neurologist who then referred me on to a rheumatologist.She has referred me to physiotherapy despite previously saying that this would not work.The first consultant also said that physio would not work.I went to physio today and it seems they cannot do anything either.

I am desperate for any help and advise on this as i am getting very depressed and fed up that i have not been treated.

[SHOLUV1]

Hello I woke up this morning and the back of my knee was hurting so bad. It was really hard for me to go to work. I got there and the pain got worse. It is 8pm and I can not bend my knee, the pain is throbbing and I am just sitting here. It hurts for me to touch it.  I have not fell or anything like that. The pain is behind the knee, top of my calf, and up my thigh. Please if you find something, please let me know.

[Dr Vinod]

Hello!

I would suggest you to go for scans on the present date and rule out any soft tissue or ligament problems. You have three pairs of ligaments in your knee joint which control your support and movement. (Cruciates, collaterals and mensisci)

Take care!

[motay26]

I have the same type of symptoms.  My pain is in the soft tissue behind my knees and down into my calf.  This has been going on for years and has gotten progressively worse and is now also in my left knee as well as my right.  I stepped in a hole and fell about a year and a half ago and my knee forceably bent all the way and I was unable to walk and had to be on crutches for days.  My calf muscle was so tight and the pain immense.  If you learn anything, please let me know what they have to say because I can't seem to get anyone to take me seriously.  They want to treat the joint and the pain isn't in my knee joint but behind my knee.

Thanks,

Kat!

[cathee96]

Hello again

Both my ankle and toes are very stiff and i cannot wiggle my right toes very much.There is greater fullness  around the thigh,knee and calf.Ocasionally i get pins and needles and burning sensation down the leg.

The last neurology visit he said he was unable to flex the knee and there was no crossed abductor response.Light touch was mildly impaired over the whole of the right leg.The muscles are also weak in the right leg but i have no severe pain on moving only aching and stiffness.

Look forward to hearing from you

C

[Dr_Veena]

Hi,
     How are you? Inability to bend the knee is not a manifestation of nervous damage. There could pins and needles sensation, weakness in the limb, severe pain on moving, but inability to bend the knee could be due to a local cause. The tibial nerve is the medial and big branch of the sciatic nerve derived from the preaxial division of the L4-S3 spinal nerves. So, L4- S3 involvement should be ruled out.
Consult a neurologist for further assistance.
Best.

[cathee96]

Thanks for your comments.

The first mri scan i had of the whole spine showed the following:

Cervical spine demonstrated loss of normal cervical lordosis with mild narrowing of the C5/6 and C6/7 disc spaces.There was central disc bulge at both of these levels without cord or root compression.

The Thoracic spine did not reveal evidence of \anything.

The lumbar spine examination reduced nucleur signal from L4/5 and L5/S1 discs.There was mild narrowing of L4/5 and moderate narrowing of L5/S1.There was mild posterior disc bulge at L4/5 without root compression.There was moderate posterior bulge and posterior osteophyte formation at L5/S1 without root compression.

I also had neurophysiological evaluation undertaken and mild neurogenic changes were seen in the right EDL which suggested mild L5/S1 radiculopathy.There was reduction in the number of voluntary motor units in all tested muscles.

Would any of the above cause my knee to be able to not bend?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
C

[Dr_Veena]

Hi,
     How are you? Pain in the knee traveling down to the calf, without allowing the knee to bend could be due to claudification, baker’s cyst, arthritis and electrolyte imbalances. Also pinching of nerve in the knee can cause such symptoms. But as your reports deny of anything positive, I would suggest that you visit a physician to rule out causes for claudification and electrolyte imbalances.
Also, a second opinion from a orthopaedician would be better to assess the condition.
Best.