kneecap looks dislocated - is this possible??

victoriannsays
victoriannsays Posts: 568 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
muscle spasms behind & around top of knee with serious pain. swollen no relief from nsaids, heat, ice or compression. just compared knee caps and my left is no longer in the center but at least 5-6 cm off?? is this even possible....??? if so, what is a medical term for this? will make doc apt asap

Replies

  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    Ouch. Luxating patella. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxating_patella Caused by damage to the anterior cruciate ligament. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anterior_cruciate_ligament

    I'd consider going to an urgent care center if the doc can't see you right away.
  • yourenotmine
    yourenotmine Posts: 645 Member
    Luxating patella. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxating_patella Caused by damage to the anterior cruciate ligament. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anterior_cruciate_ligament

    Yep - this. I don't know if it's always caused by ACL damage in humans, but it certainly isn't in animals (which is my field).

    OUCH. Go to the dr asap.
  • JTick
    JTick Posts: 2,131 Member
    Yes, it is possible to dislocate your kneecap, sometimes for no apparent reason. I had a kneecap that would chronically dislocate, and had surgery to fix it a few months ago. My dislocations would tend to reduce themselves and slide back into place...if yours does not after a few hours I would go to ER.
  • Jonesingmucho
    Jonesingmucho Posts: 4,902 Member
    Maybe patella tracking issue...

    See physician, but usually can be corrected with bracing and exercises to increase flexibility and strength of thigh muscles.

    For now rest!

    Good luck!
  • iwillwin1313
    iwillwin1313 Posts: 55
    Wow, sounds painful! Definitely sounds like a tracking problem- maybe a dislocated patella....
    Go get it seen, and good luck!
  • soobie
    soobie Posts: 69 Member
    Subluxation/patellar tracking issue. This can often be helped with strengthening and patellar taping/kinesio-taping. See your doc and then a physical therapist.
  • CyberEd312
    CyberEd312 Posts: 3,536 Member
    Luxating patella. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxating_patella Caused by damage to the anterior cruciate ligament. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anterior_cruciate_ligament

    Yep - this. I don't know if it's always caused by ACL damage in humans, but it certainly isn't in animals (which is my field).

    OUCH. Go to the dr asap.

    Yep been fighting my knee's for over 12 years now and this spring I tore my ACL (will not repair it cause I am getting knee replacements in late spring) and upon my last clean outs he had to remove quite a bit of Arthritis behind my knee cap and when I went through therapy we realized my kneecap was no longer track right, the natural grooves had been ground down when he removed all the arthritis so he said it was like the Luxating Patella due to the instability from the shredded ACL and no natural wear pattern. So of all things he order Kinesio taping to help lift my knee to allow blood flow behind the patella while hold it in its natural position.. This continued for 8 weeks of therapy and my knee started to respond... I have been taping myself the last several months and it still locks up on me from time to time but is much better than when I came out of surgery back in March... I would definitely suggest seeing your ortho doctor, at the very least get some therapy for it.... Best of Luck....
  • RaeLB
    RaeLB Posts: 1,216 Member
    happened to me when I had an ACL tear

    terribly painful :ohwell: I would go the doctor, clinic, or ER asap because you can do more damage if you move it around

    it needs to be braced
  • MommaSpunk
    MommaSpunk Posts: 113
    Yes, dislocated kneecaps or you may have issues with the ligaments and tendons not holding the knee cap in place.. The second is why I had to stop playing softball in highschool .. It agitated my knees and at times my knee caps would pop out of place....it is not a nice feeling...and if yours are that way you need to go to teh doctor..sound slike they might have fluid on them though.

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