Foo - Recurring bursitis

This year, I have had a recurring problem with intensive swelling in my left knee. Today is the 4th or 5th time this has happened, with no apparent cause. The only thing I can think of which may have triggered this is my most recent rock climbing episode, 3 days before the swelling began. I just went to the hospital to get an X-ray, and am told there is nothing structurally wrong with the bone, nor does the doctor believe there to be any cartilage damage. The X-rays are yet to be examined by a specialist, which happens tomorrow. What I want to know is why this keeps coming back, this time being more pernicious than the previous occurrences. I was told to see an orthopedist if this does not rectify itself in a few more days.

Does anybody here with medical and/or a similar experience as myself have any insight to offer? Why does this occur? What triggers these episodes in the first place?

hacksaw + peg leg

no knee, no problems

FTW

http://imagesme.net/tuvie/c-leg.jpg

FTW

http://imagesme.net/tuvie/c-leg.jpg

Actually, I'd just machine my own leg. 316L stainless steel FTW.

Actually, I'd just machine my own leg. 316L stainless steel FTW.

http://sfc.strategyplanet.gamespy.com/images/sfc3/borg_picture.gif

I've always had a dream of having a foot which is more like a tool changer on a CNC mill, with an option to have a rotating end mill as a toe...
If I had the strength, I could potentially mill my way out of a situation.

cut off wheels and especially T slot cutters would be just as well :)

Actually, I'd just machine my own leg. 316L stainless steel FTW.

JP from Grandma's Boy: "I'm thinking about getting metal legs. It's a risky operation, but it'll be worth it."

I had a recurring thing with my ankle, and my doctor kept ordering up expensive tests, which ran up some serious medical bills, and doc threw up his hands and said he didn't know. After few A&P classes for nursing school, I went to a doc-in-a-box when I had a recurrance and asked for a uric acid bloodtest for gout, which cost about 0.001% of my MRIs. Sure enough, that's what it was.

Not saying that's what it is,(although gout can present in the knee joint,) just saying to let your physician know in no uncertain terms that you would like basic, logical tests run before he whips out the atom-smasher and charges it to your insurance. It ain't socialized or universal just yet.

But given that this is not an option available to me, how about that bursitis?

I don't intend to get thrown on some wild adventure, leap frogging from one specialist to another. I actually just had my blood and urine tested for a heaping variety of things, for a life insurance policy I am taking out on myself; nothing was amiss.

But given that this is not an option available to me, how about that bursitis?

You can afford a specialist and x-rays but can't afford a uric acid blood test? I'm not seeing the dilemma, unless I misread and you were sure you had a positive diagnosis for bursitis.

Left knee... let me guess. That's your short leg. If you don't know, it's time to measure. Enough yak.

1) Esoles.. it's what I do.
http://www.esoles.com/

2) experiment.. get something 2 or 3/16th of an inch thick and cut it to fit the
bottom of your cycling shoe. This isn't going to be like an innersole. It will go underneath and be more like a rug that covers the bottom of the shoe. A big old
innersole that's big enough to cut down to that size and be flat (ie, no extra arch).
You might need more arch, but one thing at a time. Put that in your left shoe.

3)Look at the bottom of an old pair of sneakers. Is there more wear on one side that the other? You pronate if the wear is on the outside and suppinate if on the inside. You can try Lemond Lewedges to counter that. LeWedges are great if you're a roadie. SPD cleats are too dinky, they will work, but slipping can be a problem, especially if you use more than one. If they help, AND they slip, you
want a pro to correct the situation by making a canted innersole and adding the correct amount of thickness.

4) Fit issues. One common thing is to have your right leg be a lot stronger. When
you are pedaling hard the left gets called on, and it's not only out of shape, it has to reach more than it wants to. You may need to lower the saddle. I don't know about you, but I'd love to get one of those pro style computerised dynamic fit sessions. They do them in Boulder, at some sports clinic, natch I am 2,000 miles away.

I don't intend to get thrown on some wild adventure, leap frogging from one specialist to another. I actually just had my blood and urine tested for a heaping variety of things, for a life insurance policy I am taking out on myself; nothing was amiss.There's lots of blood tests, are you certain you had a uric acid test? If you're just pulling a MERTON and asking for advice then making snarky comments to shoot everyone down, then **** you, kid. Good luck.

Well I saying that a test was not an option, I am saying that a terminator knee is not an option. I am also saying that I recently had a blood and urine test, which may have tested for that. My primary physician looked at the results and said it all looked good.

There's lots of blood tests, are you certain you had a uric acid test? If you're just pulling a MERTON and asking for advice then making snarky comments to shoot everyone down, then **** you, kid. Good luck.

The comments I am shooting down are those which suggest I replace my knee with carbon fiber.

late, thanks for that! This is something I had not at all considered.

A Uric Acid test isn't part of the battery for life insurance, PC. Gout is a low order of probability, but it's there. Where is the pain when t starts, back of the knee, in the thigh? If so, it may be tendinitis in the hamstrings. If the pain starts elsewhere in the knee, it may be a bruised or torn meniscus, it may be an unstable knee from ACL damage. I would suggest to you that the problem may also be autoimmune in source, ie rheumatoid arthritis. The only way to tell is to see an orthopedic doctor, in honesty.


Well I saying that a test was not an option, I am saying that a terminator knee is not an option. I am also saying that I recently had a blood and urine test, which may have tested for that. My primary physician looked at the results and said it all looked good.

Oh, I do recall the doctor saying that the knee is stable. The pain feels like it starts right underneath the knee cap, but definitely not in the back per se. If this problems continues for the next few days, I will see an orthopedist.

What is the best and most accurate way to measure the length of each leg? Is this something I can do myself?

stand against the wall with the legs straight, and butt and heels against the wall and measure from the hip joint to the floor, on both sides. You'll need some help.

Thanks, Tom. How much of a difference is normal, if any? If unevenness in leg lengths is a problem, would something as small as 1/8" do it? Or would it need to be more like .5"+

I'm just looking for ballpark figures to prepare me for whatever I find.

why are you taking out a life insurance policy on yourself? I take it your parents are your beneficiaries?

1 cm difference is within the norms. With the pain starting behind the kneecap, I'd be looking at the Meniscus, though. It's possible you have a ruptured bursal sac, but it sounds like an inflammatory issue with the Meniscus that you are describing, perhaps some adhesion in the layers of the ligament. I'd see an orthopedist.


Thanks, Tom. How much of a difference is normal, if any? If unevenness in leg lengths is a problem, would something as small as 1/8" do it? Or would it need to be more like .5"+

I'm just looking for ballpark figures to prepare me for whatever I find.

Yes my parents are the beneficiaries. I am taking out a life insurance policy on myself because I now have -- and will soon have more of-- private loans, which unlike federal loans, are not canceled if I die. This way, if I die, my parent's will not be stuck paying for an amount I hate to think about.

I had something similar in my right knee. An orthopedic doc gave me an MRI and diagnosed that injury Clinton had (Patellar tendon tear?). He recommended surgery but no rush. Then the same problem appeared in the other knee - wft? Turned out to be gout which I had previously experienced only in the big toe. Finally gave in and started taking Allopurinol - no more problems. Of course I keep worrying that the little tear in the right tendon that appeared on the MRI may come back to get me some day - but nothing in about 10 years.

http://www.physio-med.com/modules/shop/images/CHA2778.jpg

It's time for some ultrasound...

are you eating real food or processed or canned food? canned food and processed food (denty moore beef stew, corndogs... etc) causes an inflamatory response in me every time i eat it. so, i don't eat it.

also go to bodybuilding.com (they're cheap) and get some NOW! brand glucosamine chondroiton and msm, and hyaluronic acid.

Agreed on the Glucosamine, wholeheartedly! It does wonders for my joints as well. :D


are you eating real food or processed or canned food? canned food and processed food (denty moore beef stew, corndogs... etc) causes an inflamatory response in me every time i eat it. so, i don't eat it.

also go to bodybuilding.com (they're cheap) and get some NOW! brand glucosamine chondroiton and msm, and hyaluronic acid.