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Unknown and recurring tendon/ligament burning/tearing pain followed by numbness
For the past several years I've had long periods (upwards of 6 months at a time) of excruciating burning/tearing pain in various tendons or ligaments when stretched.
The first occurrence was in my right knee. If I bent my knee near its maximum extent (such as when kneeling, crouching or climbing into bed), I experienced an incredibly painful tearing/burning sensation in the area of my patellar tendon. I would immediately react and straighten my knee and the pain would completely dissipate within several minutes. Afterward the area would feel about 50% numb, as if injected with a mild local anesthetic that was slowly wearing off, for several hours. I mentioned this to my doctor and he just dismissed it as "you probably just strained your knee", but I hadn't. Normal walking, running, jumping, etc caused no pain, weakness or instability and there was no swelling, bruising or other external indication of injury. It was only while fully bent that the pain occurred. This episode lasted for at least 6 months. Then, as quickly and mysteriously as it appeared, it was gone.
Some months later, I went to step up on a curb and I experienced the same tearing pain in my right Achilles tendon when I bent my foot upward near its max extent. Just as with the knee, the pain subsided within a few minutes and a numbness was left behind. This lasted several months as well, then suddenly disappeared.
Next, the same happened in my right knee again, although this time it was in my Lateral Collateral ligament area. This lasted for several months as well. During this particular episode the numbness that followed the pain never completely subsided, though. When the episode was over, I was left with a persisting slight numbness and slight pain sensitivity to external pressure (sensitive to the touch).
About a month ago my fourth episode began and continues today. This time it's along the outside of my right big toe and occurs when I extend my foot downward and point my toes, such as when putting on a pair of pants. Like the last episode, the numbness is not subsiding after a pain attack.
Overall the pain is short-lived when I forget myself and accidentally induce it. It's more of a nuisance than anything, but at the same time it's troubling to think that there could be an underlying reason which may be serious.
So I'd like to know if anyone else has experienced this and has a name to put on it so I can either put my mind at rest or get treatment without having to battle the usual "oh, you probably strained it, take some ibuprofen and see what happens" from my doc.
Thanks!!
The first occurrence was in my right knee. If I bent my knee near its maximum extent (such as when kneeling, crouching or climbing into bed), I experienced an incredibly painful tearing/burning sensation in the area of my patellar tendon. I would immediately react and straighten my knee and the pain would completely dissipate within several minutes. Afterward the area would feel about 50% numb, as if injected with a mild local anesthetic that was slowly wearing off, for several hours. I mentioned this to my doctor and he just dismissed it as "you probably just strained your knee", but I hadn't. Normal walking, running, jumping, etc caused no pain, weakness or instability and there was no swelling, bruising or other external indication of injury. It was only while fully bent that the pain occurred. This episode lasted for at least 6 months. Then, as quickly and mysteriously as it appeared, it was gone.
Some months later, I went to step up on a curb and I experienced the same tearing pain in my right Achilles tendon when I bent my foot upward near its max extent. Just as with the knee, the pain subsided within a few minutes and a numbness was left behind. This lasted several months as well, then suddenly disappeared.
Next, the same happened in my right knee again, although this time it was in my Lateral Collateral ligament area. This lasted for several months as well. During this particular episode the numbness that followed the pain never completely subsided, though. When the episode was over, I was left with a persisting slight numbness and slight pain sensitivity to external pressure (sensitive to the touch).
About a month ago my fourth episode began and continues today. This time it's along the outside of my right big toe and occurs when I extend my foot downward and point my toes, such as when putting on a pair of pants. Like the last episode, the numbness is not subsiding after a pain attack.
Overall the pain is short-lived when I forget myself and accidentally induce it. It's more of a nuisance than anything, but at the same time it's troubling to think that there could be an underlying reason which may be serious.
So I'd like to know if anyone else has experienced this and has a name to put on it so I can either put my mind at rest or get treatment without having to battle the usual "oh, you probably strained it, take some ibuprofen and see what happens" from my doc.
Thanks!!
Found this board some time ago and bookmarked it. I return to post since I think I have found something of an answer. I had the ripping burning in the outside and top of my left foot last year. The pain subsided but it was followed by numbness which I still have. Now my left thumb from the knuckle to the base. There is a specialty of some chiropractics now called ART or Advanced Release Technique. Somewhere there is a nerve entrapment in soft tissue. Inflammation, adhesion, trauma, lesions can be relieved with stretching.
Just starting to get some relief, I think. Google Brian Abelson, he has uploaded pages of videos of "nerve flossing" techniques to free up nerve entrapments
Just starting to get some relief, I think. Google Brian Abelson, he has uploaded pages of videos of "nerve flossing" techniques to free up nerve entrapments
Did you find out what was causing your problem because I'm having the exact same problem and don't know what it is. Thanks
My Goodness! What a long list of folks having difficulty. To understand what's taking place here, we need to cover a few points. First of all, if you'll note the common theme among locations for the problem, you'll see that virtually all instances involve an area near to a joint, ie the knee, the ankle, the toes, the elbow and so on. Note that I said near to the joint and not actually the joint itself.
As the body ages, small imperfections exist in the manner in which the body regenerates certain tissues. If you'll think about all the muscle, tendons, nerves and other tissues near your joints which must elongate or compress, depending upon how the specific joints move, you'll realize that things have to stretch a good distance in some cases from their static position. This is especially true for tissues at a certain distance from the joints that must sometimes stretch a good distance. In other words, the closer you are to the joint itself, the less movement or stretching of the tissues is required.
Realize that very small injuries can take place within the body all the time which produce little or no awareness. This might occur when walking, bending, stretching or other activity and it most often goes unnoticed. Even constant compression can produce an injury like this, ie certain shoe architecture or sitting on a chair where the edge would induce compression of the back side of the knees. This is not the sort of injury that causes you to wince in pain or even take note, yet it happens in all of us because due to aging, flexibility in all respects is degraded. What sometimes happens is that at the site of the actual insult, small amounts of fluid develop at the site causing tissue compression and regenerative functions attempt to make repair. Most often this healing function proceeds uneventful, but in some instances, the mechanisms which collectively work to regenerate healthy tissues goes a bit awry or is interfered with by things like continual motion or compression, ie tight-fitting shoes, clothing that bundles up at the joints, etc.
Connective tissue repairs can sometimes cause fiberous adhesion or scarring along the nerve proximal to the injury location, causing the nerve sheath to become affixed at a junction among tissues where some flex at one rate or distance and other tissues at another. At any later point where these joint-proximal tissues are flexed to their maximum or beyond, the nerve itself can become both stretched and compressed at a focal point, producing a searing and burning effect that results in an immediate paresthesia or numbness at the site. Touching the area with a hand or finger reveals a cutaneous numb sensation, although it must be remembered that the numbness is somewhat countered by sensations you alternatively sense with the finger or hand being used. If you apply a foreign object such as a cotton swab, you'll see that the numb sensation is slightly greater than it would be using your finger or hand.
This effect is quite similar to the common accidental striking of the median nerve as it nears the outer realm of your elbow and proceeds downward along the forearm to the hand. A sharp blow to the nerve produces an immediate and almost unbearable pain, often described as burning, aching or throbbing and which produces transient paresthesia or numbness along the forearm and most prominently in the hand. A similar consequence is taking place with the injuries being described in the postings by various persons, with the exception that the injury in these cases results from stretching tissues adjacent to the affected nerve whose mobility within those tissues varies from point to point. In other words, by example, if you take a rubber band and merely stretch it from two points, you'll see that it's fairly flexible from an overall standpoint. If you take that same rubber band, however, and compress one point upon a hard surface while stretching the band near, but not at the point being held, you'll realize that far more tension takes place between these two points than the overall rubber band itself. The affected nerve is much like the rubber band and can stretch easily when moved along with other tissues from one point to the next. Likewise, if the nerve becomes affixed to tissues that move at variable rates or distances, it is quickly stretched beyond its normal elasticity and the result is considerable pain.
Depending upon how far the affected nerve is stretched, the subsequent paresthesia and any damage to the nerve is variable. Sometimes, resolution is complete and other times a slight numbness persists. While anti-inflammatory or analgesic medications can work to relieve immediate discomfort, there is no pill or procedure to correct or prevent the problem from recurring or even occurring elsewhere.
Also realize that throughout this entire thread, some descriptions are actually indicative of other conditions altogether and because symptoms are being interpreted differently, a sort of universal picture has been suggested that in actuality does not exist.
The condition I've specifically described is not associated in any way with peripheral neuropathy such as that experienced with diabetes, nor one of the classifications of neurological diseases such as MS.
It is a limited and focal manifestation and is most often encountered in the lower extremities. Realize that sitting in office chairs where people tend to adopt variable positions of supposed comfort such as tucking the legs back up under the chair will produce the kind of prolonged compression and subsequent tissue injury I'm speaking about here that ultimately forms the basis for the symptoms being described. It is worsened by the often habit of leaning forward to relieve back discomfort or merely flex the body while seated, placing even further compression upon the area directly behind the knee and sometimes further up the thigh to some extent. It's also important to stretch your limbs at regular intervals because as we have penetrated into work environments with characteristics of reduced mobility, the variable levels of stress and muscle tension work negatively to raise the potential for this type of injury to occur. Understand here that it's not the initial injury itself, nor even the subsequent action that produced secondary injury to the nerve, that is the problem. It's the timeframe in between that produces elements necessary for the nerve tissues to become improperly affixed within the site of original injury.
You'll all be fine. Again, while resolution is variable it's important to become aware of causal factors and take steps to consider sources which are placing you at high risk of re-inury or injury at another location prone to this problem.
Best regards,
Rutheford Rane, MD (ret.)
As the body ages, small imperfections exist in the manner in which the body regenerates certain tissues. If you'll think about all the muscle, tendons, nerves and other tissues near your joints which must elongate or compress, depending upon how the specific joints move, you'll realize that things have to stretch a good distance in some cases from their static position. This is especially true for tissues at a certain distance from the joints that must sometimes stretch a good distance. In other words, the closer you are to the joint itself, the less movement or stretching of the tissues is required.
Realize that very small injuries can take place within the body all the time which produce little or no awareness. This might occur when walking, bending, stretching or other activity and it most often goes unnoticed. Even constant compression can produce an injury like this, ie certain shoe architecture or sitting on a chair where the edge would induce compression of the back side of the knees. This is not the sort of injury that causes you to wince in pain or even take note, yet it happens in all of us because due to aging, flexibility in all respects is degraded. What sometimes happens is that at the site of the actual insult, small amounts of fluid develop at the site causing tissue compression and regenerative functions attempt to make repair. Most often this healing function proceeds uneventful, but in some instances, the mechanisms which collectively work to regenerate healthy tissues goes a bit awry or is interfered with by things like continual motion or compression, ie tight-fitting shoes, clothing that bundles up at the joints, etc.
Connective tissue repairs can sometimes cause fiberous adhesion or scarring along the nerve proximal to the injury location, causing the nerve sheath to become affixed at a junction among tissues where some flex at one rate or distance and other tissues at another. At any later point where these joint-proximal tissues are flexed to their maximum or beyond, the nerve itself can become both stretched and compressed at a focal point, producing a searing and burning effect that results in an immediate paresthesia or numbness at the site. Touching the area with a hand or finger reveals a cutaneous numb sensation, although it must be remembered that the numbness is somewhat countered by sensations you alternatively sense with the finger or hand being used. If you apply a foreign object such as a cotton swab, you'll see that the numb sensation is slightly greater than it would be using your finger or hand.
This effect is quite similar to the common accidental striking of the median nerve as it nears the outer realm of your elbow and proceeds downward along the forearm to the hand. A sharp blow to the nerve produces an immediate and almost unbearable pain, often described as burning, aching or throbbing and which produces transient paresthesia or numbness along the forearm and most prominently in the hand. A similar consequence is taking place with the injuries being described in the postings by various persons, with the exception that the injury in these cases results from stretching tissues adjacent to the affected nerve whose mobility within those tissues varies from point to point. In other words, by example, if you take a rubber band and merely stretch it from two points, you'll see that it's fairly flexible from an overall standpoint. If you take that same rubber band, however, and compress one point upon a hard surface while stretching the band near, but not at the point being held, you'll realize that far more tension takes place between these two points than the overall rubber band itself. The affected nerve is much like the rubber band and can stretch easily when moved along with other tissues from one point to the next. Likewise, if the nerve becomes affixed to tissues that move at variable rates or distances, it is quickly stretched beyond its normal elasticity and the result is considerable pain.
Depending upon how far the affected nerve is stretched, the subsequent paresthesia and any damage to the nerve is variable. Sometimes, resolution is complete and other times a slight numbness persists. While anti-inflammatory or analgesic medications can work to relieve immediate discomfort, there is no pill or procedure to correct or prevent the problem from recurring or even occurring elsewhere.
Also realize that throughout this entire thread, some descriptions are actually indicative of other conditions altogether and because symptoms are being interpreted differently, a sort of universal picture has been suggested that in actuality does not exist.
The condition I've specifically described is not associated in any way with peripheral neuropathy such as that experienced with diabetes, nor one of the classifications of neurological diseases such as MS.
It is a limited and focal manifestation and is most often encountered in the lower extremities. Realize that sitting in office chairs where people tend to adopt variable positions of supposed comfort such as tucking the legs back up under the chair will produce the kind of prolonged compression and subsequent tissue injury I'm speaking about here that ultimately forms the basis for the symptoms being described. It is worsened by the often habit of leaning forward to relieve back discomfort or merely flex the body while seated, placing even further compression upon the area directly behind the knee and sometimes further up the thigh to some extent. It's also important to stretch your limbs at regular intervals because as we have penetrated into work environments with characteristics of reduced mobility, the variable levels of stress and muscle tension work negatively to raise the potential for this type of injury to occur. Understand here that it's not the initial injury itself, nor even the subsequent action that produced secondary injury to the nerve, that is the problem. It's the timeframe in between that produces elements necessary for the nerve tissues to become improperly affixed within the site of original injury.
You'll all be fine. Again, while resolution is variable it's important to become aware of causal factors and take steps to consider sources which are placing you at high risk of re-inury or injury at another location prone to this problem.
Best regards,
Rutheford Rane, MD (ret.)
I have had the same symptoms, tearing, burning, etc. I have to add that sometimes I would wake up in the middle of the night in excruciating pain, sleeping on my side with legs bent a little and a terrible pain, if I would stretch out my legs slowly the pain on my knees would start to go away and it felt like you said, like its numb in that area but you can still feeling the pain. It all started in 2005, I went in the army and with all the extreme exercises from the trainings gave me all this pains. It started on my left knee, sometimes I would be running and the pain would attack me, left kneee first then right knee, it would start hot and would take my whole knee, i don't know what felt worse if keep running or stopping, they both hurt really bad.
I have had MRI, X-rays, bone scan and everything came out fine, no serious damage or any diagnose. Doctors thought it was arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and after a long period of time being in treatment for arthritis the pain still going and going, the cold makes it worse, and now the last thing the doctor said it is Fybromalgia, that I need it to take anti-depressants.
I refuse to think this is all on my head, I sure know this pain is real and that I am not crazy. The pain is now on my wrist and some fingers, I have the numbing, tingling sensation as well.
I see that I am not alone but sure we would all like to have an answer to what is happening to us. by the way I just turned 24 and I am a woman, so we can disregard menopause, and I am not pregnant so they can't blame it on the pregnancy either.
Thanks if you all know find an answer please share it we all need to figure out what is happening to us.
I have had MRI, X-rays, bone scan and everything came out fine, no serious damage or any diagnose. Doctors thought it was arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and after a long period of time being in treatment for arthritis the pain still going and going, the cold makes it worse, and now the last thing the doctor said it is Fybromalgia, that I need it to take anti-depressants.
I refuse to think this is all on my head, I sure know this pain is real and that I am not crazy. The pain is now on my wrist and some fingers, I have the numbing, tingling sensation as well.
I see that I am not alone but sure we would all like to have an answer to what is happening to us. by the way I just turned 24 and I am a woman, so we can disregard menopause, and I am not pregnant so they can't blame it on the pregnancy either.
Thanks if you all know find an answer please share it we all need to figure out what is happening to us.
Just found this thread via Google - fascinating!
I am 40, male, 188 pounds, run regularly (20 to 30 miles a week)
First pain was the kneeling knee variety. Exactly as described above but now gone.
Currently enjoying symptoms in left heel and outside/top of left little toe -both when fully extended. Doesn't hurt when I run, only when I stretch.
Physio hasn't a clue. Haven't seen a doc.
I am 40, male, 188 pounds, run regularly (20 to 30 miles a week)
First pain was the kneeling knee variety. Exactly as described above but now gone.
Currently enjoying symptoms in left heel and outside/top of left little toe -both when fully extended. Doesn't hurt when I run, only when I stretch.
Physio hasn't a clue. Haven't seen a doc.
A possible source of our set of symptoms. Burning, tearing, pulling...then numbness in non-symetrical fashion suggests to me Herpes Zoster, stage 3. Stage 1 - chicken pox, Stage 2 - Shingles, Stage 3 - an assymetrical neuropathy w/ it's unique set of symptoms such as what we describe.
If I were a research scientist, I'd likely be running some clinical studies., But, alas. The question is, then, Has everone had chicken pox or shingles who is complaining of the symptoms? CWE
If I were a research scientist, I'd likely be running some clinical studies., But, alas. The question is, then, Has everone had chicken pox or shingles who is complaining of the symptoms? CWE
4 Comments
I have the same issues. Started on top of right foot, then moved to only the left foot, gone for about a year- and now back in my right hand. Of my hand is stretched (like when chopping food) it feels like the skin is tearing. With my hens, the pain lines and shots into my arm. I have no injury, and haven't stressed the area. Besides, the poison is the exact sane set of sensations, and I've not dealt with them before this pattern started.
I had chicken pox very mildly, when i was 5 in 1979.
I had chicken pox very mildly, when i was 5 in 1979.
A friend whose symptoms started at the top of her foot, has MS. You might talk to your doc to rule things like that out.
That is the very scary place all of these symptoms lead. I asked a doctor a year or so ago, and she said it didn't "look like MS, more like a brain tumor" or something unrecognized. Not fun to hear, but I think you are right, and it is time to look at this for real. Thank you for the reality push i needed.
My friend has lasted a long time, so don't be scared. But do go get seen.
Get the western blot test for lyme. I have lyme and I have all of the symptoms everyone has on this post. Go to ilads.org for more information and take it seriously. Most people are misdiagnosed and treated for something else when it is lyme the entire time. I never had the bullseye. Thankfully, I went to the right doctor after 4 months of pain. Good luck everyone. Anytime there is something "unexplained", get tested for lyme.
I have a very painful burning and tearing sensation in my hands around my knuckles when I stretch or make a fist. Sometimes it is in my feet as well around my heels. It has also moved into my right knee lately. I had it once a few years ago and it went way after a few months. It has been 8 months and it is getting worse and my doc has not been much help. I am a former marine and am very used to pain but am becoming concerned because it is getting to be intense pain.
I have the same symptoms its is in my hands now and my right knee and has moved over the years as it has come and gone. sometimes in my feet. It seems to be getting worse with each bout and lasting longer I am going on 8 months straight. cannot believe that no one can figure this out.
I am having the same issue. I didn't see anyone post the likely cause or diagnosis. My situation is left knee, tearing/ripping sensation in front, just below knee cap sometime when bending my leg - especially when raising my leg and bending concurrently, like when I get into bed or into my car.
Mine can happen just by touching the skin and it sets it off. But usually it is when I am raising my leg and bending my knee.
It goes kind of numb too for a while afterward. It is only my left knee. Been going on for 2-3 months now.
My situation:
- 49 yrs old white male; 185 lbs; 5'8"
- Very active physically - work out 5 days per week and work in yard a lot
- Just slightly overweight - lots of muscle but have a small innertube around my middle
- 40 mg simvastatin daily for cholesterol
- 1/2 ML Testosterone Cypriate weekly for Low-T
- 1/2 mg Anastrazole daily to counteract the Estrogen that can result from synthetic testosterone
- Take Vitamin D pill - 1 per week - 50,000 something
Mine can happen just by touching the skin and it sets it off. But usually it is when I am raising my leg and bending my knee.
It goes kind of numb too for a while afterward. It is only my left knee. Been going on for 2-3 months now.
My situation:
- 49 yrs old white male; 185 lbs; 5'8"
- Very active physically - work out 5 days per week and work in yard a lot
- Just slightly overweight - lots of muscle but have a small innertube around my middle
- 40 mg simvastatin daily for cholesterol
- 1/2 ML Testosterone Cypriate weekly for Low-T
- 1/2 mg Anastrazole daily to counteract the Estrogen that can result from synthetic testosterone
- Take Vitamin D pill - 1 per week - 50,000 something
this is where mine is too. lower front and side of my right calf, and it radiates down to my ankle. I am in agony if I try to walk at a decent pace for more than a minute or two. Feels like someone is ripping the muscle right out of my body.
I have tried probably all the "rubs" out there and Bio Freeze was the best.... until I recently found "Fast Relief" from Plexus. Not because I am selling this, but because I truely believe it works am I posting this for you. I have suffered from Fybro for over 25 years and have all the aches and pains of it as well as the tearing and burning from whatever causes it. I am not pushing it, only relaying that is works for me even on the tearing and burning. If you want to look at my website, feel free.
http://carrierussell.myplexusproducts.com/
look under products and you will find "Fast Relief" All natural.
http://carrierussell.myplexusproducts.com/
look under products and you will find "Fast Relief" All natural.
I have had shingles at a young age, I am 52 now. I have been diagnosed
With fybro, RA (then told years later I had no signs of RA, didn't realize it went away) I too have tearing, burning, numbness in various places over the years. Never associated shingles..... Interesting concept.
With fybro, RA (then told years later I had no signs of RA, didn't realize it went away) I too have tearing, burning, numbness in various places over the years. Never associated shingles..... Interesting concept.
I've found this thread after finally going to my doctor about a tearing-skin sensation in my knee(s), and now my elbow, also got something going on with my hip girdle. All been happening off and on for maybe 15 years or so.
I've put 2 and 2 together thinking that this has GOT to be some sort of muscular attachment to the skeleton issue, but as stated in several places on here, aside from REAL pain when (say) kneeling on the affected area it doesn't affect my joints or movement etc. and generally doesn't casue me any problems whatsoever.
I have to avoid the over stretching of the area for several months and then it goes, but back to the reason for coming on here is that my doctor is baffled and called it MUPS (Medically Unexplained Physical Symptoms), well whoopie doo doc thanks for that!
If I ever, or any others on here, find out what it is we need to let the medical world know.....as I'm not sure what it is they actually do? I don't go to the docs very often, and this recent experience demonstrates why, no real attempt to diagnose my problem when there is obviously something amiss. How many ads are there on the TV expressing the need to catch things early? Feels like a waste of time hence why I am resorting to the internet, a poor state of affairs.
I've put 2 and 2 together thinking that this has GOT to be some sort of muscular attachment to the skeleton issue, but as stated in several places on here, aside from REAL pain when (say) kneeling on the affected area it doesn't affect my joints or movement etc. and generally doesn't casue me any problems whatsoever.
I have to avoid the over stretching of the area for several months and then it goes, but back to the reason for coming on here is that my doctor is baffled and called it MUPS (Medically Unexplained Physical Symptoms), well whoopie doo doc thanks for that!
If I ever, or any others on here, find out what it is we need to let the medical world know.....as I'm not sure what it is they actually do? I don't go to the docs very often, and this recent experience demonstrates why, no real attempt to diagnose my problem when there is obviously something amiss. How many ads are there on the TV expressing the need to catch things early? Feels like a waste of time hence why I am resorting to the internet, a poor state of affairs.
I realize this thread is about 6 years old and a doctor came on and gave an explanation. Over the last couple weeks I have experienced a very painful burning/stretching sensation in the top of my right hand. It feels like every single tendon is being stretched in the top of my hand. This happens when I stretch out to reach for something or I bend my hand.
3 weeks prior I was sitting down at the head of a bed in a hotel room and stretched my right arm out on the top of the head board and wow did it hurt. Felt like someone was applying a torch to he top of my hand.
Now it returns about once every other day when I reach out for something. I'm not a doctor but I believe I just overstretched and with my ever increasing age (an active 48) and the inevitable body breakdowns as you get older I just keep re-injuring it.
I am concerned (which is the reason I googled this symptom and wound up here) that it might be something different like a circulatory issue or some sort of degenerative issue but obviously hoping it isn't.
Just my 2 cents.
3 weeks prior I was sitting down at the head of a bed in a hotel room and stretched my right arm out on the top of the head board and wow did it hurt. Felt like someone was applying a torch to he top of my hand.
Now it returns about once every other day when I reach out for something. I'm not a doctor but I believe I just overstretched and with my ever increasing age (an active 48) and the inevitable body breakdowns as you get older I just keep re-injuring it.
I am concerned (which is the reason I googled this symptom and wound up here) that it might be something different like a circulatory issue or some sort of degenerative issue but obviously hoping it isn't.
Just my 2 cents.
For me the most frequent pain occurs in my knees and most often when i exert force; ie motion through standing up or sitting down, walking up steps, getting out of my car. Also when exercising; jumping, sqauting, leg press, or leg extension. The feeling i experience is a 'ripping' or 'tearing' sensation across the front of my knees which results in a sharp pain that is followed by tingling or numbness. I sometimes get this feeling, although not as often, in my hands, arms, shins, and top of my feet with the most painful being in my knees. I'm 27 years old and I have been experiencing some of the symptoms everyone has mentioned above for over 10 years now. At first, I thought it was due to my height (6 ft 7 in) and that I hadn't grown into my body yet. Then I played collegiate sports (football), yet still the issue persisted. I simply wrote the issue off thinking it was probably a result of muscle growth and attributed it to the fact i had yet to grow into my frame. Here I am over 10 years later still having the same issues.
The issues mentioned in this thread are the closest symptoms I have found relating to what I've been experiencing. I'm young so I'm hopeful there's a resolve for this, but a little worried as this thread has been going strong for 7 years. Please post a reply if you hear anything!
-Brandon
The issues mentioned in this thread are the closest symptoms I have found relating to what I've been experiencing. I'm young so I'm hopeful there's a resolve for this, but a little worried as this thread has been going strong for 7 years. Please post a reply if you hear anything!
-Brandon
I just came down with this symptom myself a week ago -- intense tearing/burning sensation occasionally when bending knee like ripping off a scab or tearing open a wound, such that I want to check for blood -- I had been treating it as runners knee, with lots of stretching and it seems to help, but the good doctors explanation certainly aligns very well with what I have been feeling! The stretched nerve prognosis sounds right because there is no other physical manifestation, just the unexplained tearing sensation.
I do run lots (hence why I was drawn to runners knee) but I sit at work and have some bad habits with how I rest my leg sometimes, especially driving. I will fix these and hopefully gain some healing over time or at least keep it from getting worse.
Thanks for maintaining this thread and all those that have contributed so those that need to can find out more! It has given me peace of mind although I understand any treatment will be very gradual. I wish this condition had a name but at least I know whats going on.
I do run lots (hence why I was drawn to runners knee) but I sit at work and have some bad habits with how I rest my leg sometimes, especially driving. I will fix these and hopefully gain some healing over time or at least keep it from getting worse.
Thanks for maintaining this thread and all those that have contributed so those that need to can find out more! It has given me peace of mind although I understand any treatment will be very gradual. I wish this condition had a name but at least I know whats going on.
Wow, I have the same thing as most everyone here, started with my knee about 2 years ago, the numbness did recently go away, and the pain doesn't happen in the knee, (although I try not to kneel anymore). But now my hand, between the index and middle finger has the tearing/burning pain followed by numbness...when it was my knee, I could avoid bending it that far most of the time, but my hand is different. It happens just from holding things or moving in a certain way. It is very sad to see that people have been posting to this for for SEVEN years with no answers. My doctor actually told me not to bend my knee so far that it hurt....wasn't that a Groucho Marx joke?
Relief to know it's not just me. Tearing pain on the top of right hand and left foot when moved to certain positions, followed by numbness. Doc thought it might be a soft tissue injury but was somewhat nonplussed.
One interesting point, I played golf 4 weeks ago (for the first time in 3 years) and while the pain in the hand was present as I played a shot, it gradually reduced and has not reoccurred (yet). I am not very good at golf so it got 99 shots-worth of "physio".
Maybe repeated incidents (while very painful) help clear the issue?
Hoping someone will post a diagnosis!
One interesting point, I played golf 4 weeks ago (for the first time in 3 years) and while the pain in the hand was present as I played a shot, it gradually reduced and has not reoccurred (yet). I am not very good at golf so it got 99 shots-worth of "physio".
Maybe repeated incidents (while very painful) help clear the issue?
Hoping someone will post a diagnosis!
I am only 22 and are dealing with pain and a sense of peeling/ tearing pain in both knees this will happen every day as I kneel down my job requires that type of movement . But I will get the pain as described by all of you and then the knee goes numb if someone finds something out please share .
I'm a 45 yr old male; active/athlete; began experiencing the same "skin ripping sensation" on the outside of my leg just below the left knee. I does not impact running, jumping, ect.; however, if the leg is bent at a certain angle, it is excruciating -- especially if something is rubbing on it while bent. Like many here have described, it has a local numbness on the direct site of where the pain occurs, but I've noticed that if I rub/bump/brush the opposite side of the knee/leg, it also triggers the painful burning sensation... which leads me to believe it has to be nerve related. I have experienced a similar sensation in years past in my wrist and shin, but always subsided -- was typically painful when I'm drying off with a towel.
Hope some medical professional eventually comes up on line to help us all figure this thing out!
- KTP45
Hope some medical professional eventually comes up on line to help us all figure this thing out!
- KTP45
Having just returned from my GP who prescribed codine I thought I'd try my own research. I have the exact same problem on kneeling (I can run without issue) but in both knees. I have the same in both elbows and since friday across the bottom of my pelvic bone. I told GP it felt like the tendons were going to rip! He chose to mask it with pain relief! I'm going to look into it further myself and visit a chiropractor.
hi there
i have the same thing you are describing about your right knee but for me its in my left and the pain doesnt subside as quickly as you have described and when i kneel down my knee actually feels like its going to snap, altho last yr i was told by a doc that i had over strained my knee from walking up and down a flight of stairs too often and then the pain was only when i went up the stairs as now its only when my knee is at its most bent (feet touching bum) ie crouching or kneeling
from neko
i have the same thing you are describing about your right knee but for me its in my left and the pain doesnt subside as quickly as you have described and when i kneel down my knee actually feels like its going to snap, altho last yr i was told by a doc that i had over strained my knee from walking up and down a flight of stairs too often and then the pain was only when i went up the stairs as now its only when my knee is at its most bent (feet touching bum) ie crouching or kneeling
from neko
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