Chronic knee pain in teen girl?
I am a seventeen year old girl who has had knee pain for 9 years now. I have been to multiple physicians and nothing ever helps. Every time I go I am told to go to PT and take anti-inflammatory drugs. I had a scope 5 years ago on my right knee and they cleaned up the joint and removed a bunch of fluids. They found a small crack in the back of my kneecap from a previous fall years before. The scope seemed to help for a few months and then everything went downhill again and both knees began to hurt. This is just after I hit my growth spurt.
About two years ago I got a cortisone injection in my right knee and I had an "allergic" reaction. After that they pulled me from sports and I haven't been able to do much sense. My knees are gradually getting worse and nothing is really helping. Sometimes taping and bracing works, but sometimes it just my knee even more uncomfortable.
I am sick of going to the doctor and just being told to go to physical therapy and take meds. It hasn't done anything for the past 5 years and no one has even really told me what it is, although I think it is probably chondromalacia. The pain in mainly in the front of my knee, but occasionally wraps around to the back. Running and jumping makes it worse, and even walking for long periods of time.
I am running out of things to try. Are there any suggestions on what to try or do? I can't do some of the things I love anymore because of my stupid knees. If I go to the doctor again I'm afraid it is just going to be PT again..
Public Comments
1. Have you had an MRI done on your knee to see if there is any structural damage to the cartilage , ligaments, etc? This is important to pinpoint the cause of your pain. After that, you can focus on the proper home exercise program for Quad, Hip and Hamstrings strengthening. If it is Chondromalacia, then a soft neoprene brace with a horseshoe cutout at the kneecap will help the knee track properly and stabilize it. Ice and anti- inflammatory medications are still the most effective treatments for this condition. If it is a structural problem, surgery may be your best option to alleviate the pain and avoid long term damage. Good luck. Hope this helps.
