Knee injury - what's the issue?
My wife has injured her knee. The pain started at the front, outside of her knee with a sharp pain (on her left leg). However, the pain has now migrated to the back of the knee and the pain has gone from being sharp to being a dull pain. To complicate matters, she is pregnant and cannot have an MRI or X-ray. My question what are the possibilities here? What is the most likely diagnosis?
Thanks to everyone so far with the answers they've provided. My wife is only at about 8 weeks - so I don't think an MRI or X-Ray is advisable.
We thought it was a torn meniscus but the symptoms don't seem to line up with her pain.
Public Comments
1. I am surprised she cannot have an X-ray...the body can be shielded from the knee during the x-ray2. Most likely diagnosis is torn meniscus. Wikipedia that.. if I recall, they have a good explanation.
MRI and Xrays aren't the only thing that can diagnose that. An athletic trainer (someone that works with sports injuries, not the type that teaches/motivates you to work out), a physical therapist that has experience in sports injuries, or an orthopedic surgeon all can diagnose that based on history and a couple of physical tests.
3. Yeah my orthopedic specialist was great at diagnosing my knee problem without x-rays. He told me to wear these compressive therapy knee brace to support the joint & relieve pain. He said gentle exercise would also help strengthen the muscles to prevent reinjury.
4. She should go and see and orhtopeadist. He/she will be able to do some tests which will give him a pretty good idea of what is going on with her knee.
Also how far along is she? If she is more then 3 months then she should be ok to have an xray or MRI done(MRI would be better cause xrays dont show soft tissues)
