You can change your location above to narrow your view to a medical group, hospital, city or zip. Search Close Search. Question: My knee popped out of place two weeks ago. I popped it right back, and the swelling and pain have gone away. Is this normal, or does it indicate a problem? Answer: A cracking noise heard with kneeling that is not painful and not associated with swelling can be secondary to soft tissue folds moving over the edges of the knee joint.
Most people have experienced this sensation at one time or another, and it is normal and quite common. On the other hand, true "popping out of place" or catching in the knee after an injury can indicate an entirely separate problem. It's important to know what symptoms warrant a trip to the doctor.
Two common injuries that can lead to these sensations include kneecap patella dislocations and meniscus tears. Knee cap dislocations indicate that the patella moves abnormally out of its groove, usually to the lateral or outside of the knee. This is often associated with an injury such as twisting or planting the knee awkwardly. Most patients who experience this injury describe severe pain and an abnormality in the way the knee looks - the knee cap points to the left or right instead of straight ahead.
On occasion, this dislocation will go back "into place" on its own. Many times though, this requires a push - sometimes even by a doctor in the emergency room. Associated symptoms include bruising, swelling and pain around the knee cap. This type of injury should be addressed by your doctor or surgeon to make sure that the bones or cartilage did not break during the injury. Some of the these injuries become chronic and feelings of instability can persist for years - wearing a brace and working with a physical therapist can be helpful in many situations.
The meniscus is the soft cartilage "cushion" located in the knee joint. In a few people, it shifts toward the inside. Your knee joint is a complex hinge that joins the two bones of the lower leg with the thigh bone. A problem with any of these parts in or around the knee can lead to patellar tracking disorder.
Patellar tracking disorder is usually caused by several problems combined, such as:. You are more likely to have patellar tracking disorder if you have any of the above problems and you are overweight, run, or play sports that require repeated jumping, knee bending, or squatting. If you have a patellar tracking problem, you may have:. If your kneecap is completely dislocated, you may have severe pain and swelling.
Your knee may look like a bone is out of place. And you may not be able to bend or straighten the knee. If you have these symptoms, be sure to see your doctor. A dislocated kneecap needs to be put back in place by a doctor right away. It can be hard to tell the difference between patellar tracking disorder and some other knee problems.
To find out what problem you have, your doctor will:. You may have an X-ray so your doctor can check the position and condition of your knee bones.
If more information is needed, you may have an MRI. Patellar tracking disorder can be a frustrating problem, but be patient. Most people feel better after a few months of treatment. As a rule, the longer you have had this problem, the longer it will take to get better. Treatment of patellar tracking disorder has two goals: to reduce your pain and to strengthen the muscles around your kneecap to help it stay in place.
If you don't have severe pain or other signs of a dislocated kneecap, you can try home treatment for a week or two to see if it will reduce your pain. As your knee pain starts to decrease, do exercises to increase strength and flexibility in your leg and hip. Your doctor or a physiotherapist can help you plan an exercise program that fits your condition.
You will probably start with one or two exercises and add others over time. Make sure to closely follow the instructions you're given. Your doctor or physiotherapist may also suggest that you:. Most people with patellar tracking disorder can slowly return to their previous activity level if they:.
Surgery usually isn't needed for patellar tracking disorder. You may need surgery if your kneecap dislocates after other treatments haven't worked.
For each of these types of knee sounds, if there is no tissue torn, anabolic injections of growth factors plus lubricants our current knee cocktail is a combination of hyaluronic acid, PRP, and other sources given in one shot has been surprisingly and often dramatically effective.
If there is a pop at the time of injury, the knee has almost certainly been damaged. You have most likely injured either your ligaments — anterior cruciate ligament , posterior cruciate ligament or medial collateral ligament — or the meniscus or articular cartilage. The knee will usually swell up after these kinds of injuries. If there is pain, swelling, or giving way of the knee, we will do a careful exam, history, X-ray, and MRI.
By studying the cartilage and soft tissue within the knee, we can determine which tissues need to be repaired. Sometimes careful physical therapy , combined with injections, can fix the problem and help you avoid surgery. It is normal. If you have pain, instability, or swelling, make sure you check it out to avoid further damage to the joint. While it is always best to hear the sounds of silence, snap, crackle, and pop sometimes need to be listened to as well.
If you are experiencing undiagnosed knee pain, you may use our knee self-diagnosis symptom checker tool to learn more about your injury. Article originally published December 15, Stone, MD with scientific and content updates. Home Blog. What's happening when your knee goes snap, crackle, and pop.
Articular Cartilage.
0コメント