Kneecap Dislocation

[Drew16]

Anyone have this or know much about it. My kneecaps (both of them) dislocate occassionally and it is easily the most painful thing ever. I have mentioned it to doctors and they seem to brush it off. Im sure if I saw a specialist they would be more helpful but have yet to do so. I looked online and found limited info.

[funkymunky]

I've done this, and can confirm that it indeed is quite painful.

In my case, I had a stretched MCL ligament, and a slightly stretched ACL. So, I had medial and anterior instability of my right knee. Playing baseball, I always had a strong weight transfer, pushing off my right leg as I swung a bat.

Well, one cold, rainy day - no warm-up, muddy ground, low pitch, and me swinging for the fences, all added up to my right patella dislocating laterally.

I damaged the articular cartilage, and my knee now grinds with bending and straightening (I sound like a bowl of rice krispies when I climb stairs). Doesn't hurt ... yet.

Do your kneecaps actually dislocate? I doubt most docs would brush it off so simply. Mine was truly dislocated, it took another person to straighten the knee so the kneecap could slide back in place. (I was laying supine on the ground with my knee bent, unable to move)

[Drew16]

Yes they actually dislocate. The first time it happened I was only 9 (mine also happened playing baseball) and I was taken to the ER because they thought I broke my leg. At some point during the 6 hour wait in the ER it popped back in and when they looked at it they said it was just a bad sprain.

Now when it happens I just pop it back in myself. Sometimes it goes right back in, other times it may take 20 minutes. Usually after it happens it swells some and is sore for a day or two. Since then Ive mentioned it to doctors but they never seem to think much of it.

Id say between both knees this has probably happened 12-15 times.

[funkymunky]

Well, I guess you should see someone about rehabilitation. You want to get rid of any muscle imbalances, particularly between the medial and lateral structures of the knee. Typically, the medial knee stabilizers (especially the VMO muscle or "teardrop") is weak or atrophied/inhibited, and the lateral structures are tight. Sometimes the connective tissues on the lateral side of the knee are very tight, effectively pulling the kneecap laterally.

Again, my knee has never really been the same since the one injury. Yes, it was a little unstable, but I basically scraped my cartilage when the kneecap popped out, and/or when it slid back in place.

[KDuff]

That sounds terrible.
Definitely go to an orthopaedist. The doc will test your joint stability and maybe recommend an MRI. If the doc sees something you'll probably get PT and a knee brace proscribed.

[KOTLP]

See a specialist. Eventually you are likely to do some damage and need surgery, and will develop arthritis later in life. A physical therapist will give you a stretch routine that will help prevent them from dislocating again.

My left knee used to dislocate at least once a year and it hurt like hell. In the worst case it resulted in major surgery and 6 months of crutches/rehab. I've been on crutches a bunch of times. Streches make a big difference, but my knee is so bad now I had to just give up on a lot of activities I used to love.

[Drew16]

I was trying to find out if there were some stretches or something I could do to help. I do plan to eventually see a specialist just havent had the time or money. I guess its time to just go.

[delta k]

i read that this happened to someone playing the bowling game on their wii.

[funkymunky]

[ QUOTE ]
Streches make a big difference, but my knee is so bad now I had to just give up on a lot of activities I used to love.

[/ QUOTE ]

I hate to say it, but I'd probably faint if I had to swing a bat again. I still don't trust that particular activity.(swinging a bat is how I initially sprained my knee)

[hoterdoc]

describe your procedure for relocating it

i presume it is dislocated laterally rather than medially