Unresolved Chronic Severe knee pain and buckling

[dragonsfollower]

I'm a 26yo male in good health. However, I have had chronic pain of the right knee, buckling of the knee (for no apparent reason), with occasional numbness occuring from the knee or thigh down. This has been ongoing for about 6yrs (when I had a minor injury while in basic training), but has more recently gotten to the point that my knee goes out daily several times (stairs are a real danger for me), I can barely stand the pain, rest doesn't seem to help as I try to stay off it as much as I can, it never goes away and any med the doctors prescribe dont help (the few that have were because I was too doped up or knocked out to tell anyways). I've been given steriod shots first in the hip then in the knee itself, neither helped. Doctors have ruled out joint tears and things of that nature (have had mri's, xrays, they just say there's nothing wrong per the result - one doctor even implied I was faking, though I know thats probably due to military stigmas). One doctor said that they could tell from my xray my joint is formed wrong (his example was my knee cap is like a square peg in round hole...its too deep and not shaped right). Says this causes the constant knee popping that I also have (which can cause either excruitiating pain, or momentary relief), but not all the other issues. I'm really at a loss and just looking for other opinions.

[RicoDCG]

Hi, my name's Rico. I was in the USAF for 20 years (1981 - 2001); however, I was diagnosed with MS close to the start of my 19th year in the Air Force.  Anyway, 4-months after being diagnosed, I was walking around the neighborhood with my wife and daughter. Then, out of nowhere, both my knees buckled at the same time. In a instant, I went from: a standing position; hitting my rear on the sidewalk; a squatting position for a second, or two; then wobbling my arms frantically in a sub-conscience attempt to stand back up straight~which I did. Immediately thereafter, I looked at my wife and daughter and we all began laughing so hard because of how fast everything occurred and what I looked like in my attempt to stand back up. Thinking the episode was nothing more than some kind of weird fluke (my knees never buckled before this in any shape, form or fashion) and after the three of us stopped laughing, we began to resume our walk; problem was though, it happened again. The first two, or so times this happened we all laughed so hard, it's amazing none of us wet ourselves. However, after this continued, my family's smiles quickly disappeared and everyone began to worry. My daughter actually became very anxious and started crying asking me in a very alarming voice, "What's wrong Pop!?!!" In a calm voice I told her not to worry, but to run back and get our neighbor to come pick me up. After notifying my neurologist and walking around like a duck for nearly a week (I thought I was on my way to being bedridden), my neurologist came across this (or very similar condition) in one of her MS books. She titled my knee buckling problem as a "paroxysmal positive motor disturbance". Her cure was to put me on Dilantin~an anti-seizure medicine. If my memory serves me correctly, I was walking normal again the same day; however, my knees continually buckled regardless of whether, or not I was just standing, or walking. But get this--my knees DO NOT buckle when I run. In regards to the Dilantin; well, once again, relying just on my memory I believe I was on it for three, or four months. Since then (the end of 2000) to present, my knees continue to buckle (whenever they feel like it...lol) I'm standing and walking; but again, THIS DOES NOT happen when I run. Further, I've never been put back on Dilantin (or any other medicine for that matter) for this condition. FYI~I came to this site to see if I could find anyone else in the MS community that had the same symptoms I have (my knees buckle spontaneously when I'm walking and standing, but NOT when I'm running) when I came across your question. So I hope you find my response helpful/informational and if there's anyone out there that can tell me if they are experiencing they same symptoms I am, I'd be glad to hear from you. Ciao for now and Best Wishes to All; Regards....Rico

[Tuckamore]

Hello and Welcome to the Pain Management Forum. I am sorry to hear about your chronic and untreated pain.

It sounds like you do have a diagnosis. The physician that stated you knee was misshapen may be on the right path. Did he have any answers for you? I would return to that physician and ask for a resolution to the problem.

If that physician is unavailable I would obtain those medical records and see another. In my opinion a physician connected with a large teaching facility may be best. There are physicians that specialize in the treatment of knees. Please seek out one.

It can be difficult to be taken seriously when you are young. I would be assertive and not be dismissed. Pain is pain no matter what your age. I wish you the very best and hope that you will let us know how you are doing.

Best of luck in your search.

Take Care,
~Tuck

[JadedSweetheart]

I'm sorry you're dealing with terrible pain in your knee.  It can be really difficult to be taken seriously about pain at a young age.  I was 26 when I first started having constant pain in my neck and shoulder and had had occasional pain earlier that was never taken seriously.
The only thing I could recommend might be to see a Pain Management doctor.  They work on treating the pain in different ways, not just surgically and not just with pain meds (usually).
Either than or seeing the doctor who was able to see the joint problem about what they can do, if anything, for you.