Unknown and recurring tendon/ligament burning/tearing pain followed by numbness

[PSUWayne]

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!!

[Artimishie]

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.

[Artimishie]

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.

[GrandMrC]

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.

[Ponyguy1966]

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.

[iam7footman]

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

[run_steve_run]

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.