MRI for knee-Will they find anything but a knee?
I've had similar pain in different places over the years; way back as far as perhaps the late 80's in one shoulder. Over the recent 10 years, I've had it in both shoulders, behind one knee, the rear inside of one ankle and around my left nipple. I saw a neurologist about it a few years ago when I was having it behind the knee and the nipple, and he could not explain it, but he put a name on it: Mononeuritis multiplex. Essentially nerve pain from one condition involving multiple areas. Gee. Thanks. Anyway, my knees have been bothering me quite a bit and I thought well, maybe there's a mechanical explanation for this particular round of pains, so let's go see a knee doctor. I see the knee doctor who takes and looks at some x-rays and sees my knees look to be in pretty good shape, except for perhaps the start of some arthritis in the right kneecap. But let's take a look with an MRI and see if anything else is going on. So even though I vowed never to have another MRI, since this is in the knee I guess I won't have to go into the machine past my shoulders. Anyway, that's the hope. Wish me luck! |
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| Good Luck Ron!!!!!!! Please let us know how things go. I hope they find the cause of your pains. |
| Ron: MRI's are used to look for soft tissue damage. For example, an x-ray will show that some bones have worn down or a break & possibly some shadowing of arthritis. An MRI will show if there is cartilage damage etc. I had one back in 2000 when I blew out my knee in the dog show ring. They only put me in the MRI machine far enough to get the pictures they needed of the knee. I was in it from the waist down. Good luck & I hope they can find the cause of your pain. There is alot they can do nowadays to relieve the pain & most drs. take the more conservative approach. I had to have arthroscopic surgery to remove damaged cartilage (the main culprit & start of my knee problems). They found arthritis (which didn't show up in either the x-rays or MRI at the time). Celebrex for the arthritis & after about 4 years I agreed to try the Supartz injections. I've had a series of 5 in each knee now 3 times. The series seems to last me about 1 year. My dr. has told me that eventually a total knee replacement will need to be done but for now this is working quite well for me. So there are lots of options out there. Good luck! |
| Good Luck ! |
| Ron have you had shingles?
I'm with you re: MRI, knock me out completely before you stink me inside that medical coffin! |
| Good luck, Ron. Will be interested in hearing the outcome, as I'm starting to have problems with my knees, too. I know there's arthritis in one but not sure why the other one hurts.
And the most recent MRIs I've had have been "non-claustrophobic" - meaning they kinda slide me under from the side, not a full enclosure. MUCH better! |
My situation was similar to ChSheepdog's. I've had torn cartilage in both knees and did the MRI to determine the extent of the damage. Only my legs were placed in the machine, all propped up and cozy with a blanket. Even had headphones with music to listen through during the process.  |
| Good luck! |
| Well, aside from a few moments of panic as they strapped my leg in, everything went as smooth as possible.
I hope to hear some results in the next day or two. This was a Siemens machine and has a field as high as the traditional tube (so they claim) while having a large opening and a short length. It would be a lot easier to go head first into that machine than my first few tiny eensie weensie tubes.  |
I had an MRI a few weeks ago, They gave me head phones with Enya playing, I fell asleep and they had to wake me up when it was over  |
| Sorry to hear about your bad wheel & your dad not feeling well. Hope you're knee is feeling better soon. |
| when will you have the results back?
my last breast mri i just layed there thinking that they should make the female side of the bed like that....two cutouts..one for each breast...great for stomach sleepers!!!! oh and i couldnt get past hearing my mom and brothers names repeated over and over again momomomomomomomomomomomomomomomomomomomomomom..click....... toddtoddtoddtoddtoddtoddtoddtoddtoddtoddtoddtoddtoddtoddtoddtoddtoddtoddtodd....  |
| Still waiting for any results....
But I've been enjoying looking at the pics on the disc I asked them to burn. I have decided that my leg looks a lot like a ribeye. |
| Ron, hope you get a good report soon. Waiting sucks! |
Quote: I have decided that my leg looks a lot like a ribeye
THAT MADE ME SNORT!! (I was trying to take a drink!) Thanks Ron!!  |
| Good luck , Ron. Some of these tests are better than the anxiety of anticipation! |
| Well I got the results in the mail today. While I don't speak radiologese I don't think my knee is doin' so hot.
So I will be making an appointment with the doctor to have him tell me what is wrong and what, if anything can be done about it. Here is the report: TECHNIQUE: IMAGING WAS PERFORMED ON A 1.5 SIEMENS ESPREE OPEN BORE MACHINE. THE FOLLOWING SEQUENCES WERE PERFORMED: AXIAL PROTON DENSITY FAT SUPPRESSION, CORONAL T1-WEIGHTED, CORONAL PROTON DENSITY FAT SUPPRESSION, SAGITTAL PROTON DENSITY FAT SUPPRESSION, SAGITTAL T2-WEIGHTED. FINDINGS: A small joint effusion is present. Small posterolateral 1.4cm x 1.0cm x 1.4cm (transverse x AP x xraniocaudal) hyperintense T2, hypointense T1-weighted posterolateral corner tibial marrow signal abnormality near tibiofemeral joint space is noted probably representing small focus of bone bruise. There is subtle disruption of the lateral tibial cortex probably representing nondisplaced impaction fracture with bone bruise. No history of recent trauma is provided. [Because there wasn't any -Ron] There is minimal edema in the proximal tibiofibular joint (and there is mild signal alterations in the intra or articular portion of popliteus tendon and near femoral insertion compatible with partial tear versus tendinopathy. A complex tear of medial meniscus posteriour horn and body is noted. [Yes, I have a complex.] There is mild nonspecific edema at the medial menisocapsular junction. [What's your function?] Lateral meniscal degeneration is noted. There is no evidence of lateral meniscal tear. [Well, that's good.] Anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments, medial and lateral collateral ligament complex are intact. [Woo hoo!] The extensor mechanism is intact. [Yay.] Minimal intrasubstance partial tear/tendinopathy of quadriceps femoris tendon is noted laterally at the patellar insertion. [Owch] There is mild patellar tendinopathy near tibial tuberosity and patellar insertion. [grimace] Minimal fluid is seen in the deep infrapatellar bursa. [Is that good or bad?] Minimal tendinopathy/intrasubstance partial tear of semimembranosus tendon noted near the tibial attachment. [Good thing it is only semi membranosus. If it was fully membranosus, my knee might hurt.] There is no significant Baker's cyst. [Because I'm not a loaf.] The visualized muscles are normal. [:cheer:] There is mild chondromalacia patella (medial facets) and uniform thinning of tibiofemoral cartilage. [Mild to you -- you're not the one with the knee.] CONCLUSION: 1. SMALL JOINT EFFUSION 2. COMPLES NONDISPLACED TEAR OF MEDIAL MENISCUS POSTERIOR HORN AND BODY EXTENDING TO THE INFERIOR ARTICULAR SURFACE AND FREE EDGE (PROBABLY DEGERNERATIVE). [I'm a degenerate and the MRI showed it. My how far we've come.  ] NO EVIDENCE OF LATERAL MENISCAL TEAR NOTED.
3. POSTEROLATERAL TIBNIAL MARROW ABNORMALITY DESCRIBED ABOVE LIKELY REPRESENTING FOCUS OF BONE MARROW EDEMA/BONE BRUISE. THERE IS MINIMAL ADJACENT FLUID IN THE PROXIMAL TIBIOFIBULAR JOINT AND POPLITEUS TENDON INTRA-ARTICULAR PORTION PARTIAL TEAR VERSUS TENDINOPATHY. INTERVAL FOLLOW-UP MRI OF POSTEROLATERAL TIBIAL MARROW ABNORMALITY WOULD BE BENEFICIAL [to my child's college fund] IN 3-6 MONTHS TO DEMONSTRATE RESOLUTION OF BONE MARROW BRUISE AND EXCLUDE THE POSSIBILITY OF OSSEOUS LESION/NEOPLASM. 4. QUADRICEPS FEMORIS AND PATELLAR TENDINOPATHY/PARTIAL TEAR AS DETAILED ABOVE. 5. OTHER FINDINGS AS DETAILED ABOVE. Funny thing is, it was a toss-up on which knee we would perform the MRI. |
 So now you know everything about it!!!
However - nothing that matters. Hope your doctor can make something "healing" out of this report! Good luck to you and your troubled knee!!! |
| Well actually you know quite alot....... you have a torn meniscus a common but painful problem. My "guess" is they will recommend physical therapy and possibly arthroscopic surgery.
Cruciate ligaments are fine which is a HUGE WHOO HOO (believe me you would rather have a meniscus repair than a cruciate ligament repair). It also looks like, to my uneducated eye, that you may have a stress fracture of the tib fib joint. Not much you can do about that except let time heal it. I wonder if they will want to do a bone density. At "our age"  some degeneration of the joint is to be expected and normal. You have mentioned in the last year that you have gained weight, which has undoubtedly added stress to you joints.
I've gained weight too ROn, much to my embarressment  and although my knees are not in the trouble yours are they are definately complaining. Maybe we can make a weight loss pact!!  |
| Ron, its too bad you're not a loaf. If you were, you'd be rolling in dough. :rimshot: |
| Ouch! So glad that Nurse Ginny could make sense of that for you!
Sounds painful. As you may recall, I had lingering pain after my broken leg and surgery and I thought something must be wrong from the surgery - fragments left in the joint, improper healing, something they overlooked, etc. But in fact, all it took was doing regular workouts at the gym focused on strengthening the muscles around my knee to make it go away. My trainer was making me do squats in every direction. I was very skeptical, but it worked. Of course, some of your stuff may require actual treatment but don't underestimate the need for steady exercise once your doctor gives the ok. Just like with our dogs, our weight also has a huge impact on our joints. Hoping you are on the path to treatment and recovery.  |
| It is only painful when I bend it and touch it with a hand or kneeling or anything. On Saturday Mulligan put his elbow on my knee on the bed while my knee was bent. That hurt.
Thanks Ginny! I'll let you know what the knee guy says if/when I ever get to see him. Thanks to all for the wishes. |
| Yep, Ginny and Val are right, as our bones and joints get weak, we must keep the muscles strong to carry the load.
My kneeling days are long behind me thanks to Mr. Arthur Ritis, but I can keep the regular pain minimized if I keep those quads and hamstring plus the others strong. I ignore them for awhile and I'm reminded with the day's first steps. "Diet and exercise" have replaced the doctor's "take two aspirin and call me in the morning" mantra. |
| Just catching up here - ditto the above.
Nothing too bad, just some annoying things.
Around here, the treatment would be the same a Ginny mentioned - some arthroscopic "cleanup" and PT!!! |
| Ron, just catching up and wanted to wish you the best.
Joe's knees always are in severe pain and was thought it was due to the MS but the diagnosis was severe arthritis in both knees. So here in our house we totally sympathize with you. |
| I'm just catching up, too. Sorry to hear you're having joint issues, Ron. That cannot be fun. Sounds like you're on the right track, though, to getting some relief. Let us know what the doctor recommends. Good luck! |
| Ron: One thought that passed thru my mind while at work today was to mention to you that a really good walking/running shoe would help your knee problem now & also once your dr. decides what treatment options to use on your knee. I buy New Balance model #1122. They have roll bars in them that help your foot stay in the correct position thus helping your knee to stay in the correct postion. They are recommended for people who have had orthopeadic surgery also. If you've never had shoes with the roll bars in them they can take a bit getting used to but once you do, you will really notice the difference especially in how your leg will not "tire out" so quickly. I started buying this model after I had arthroscopic surgery on my right knee back in 2000. A bit on the pricey side but well worth it. I buy mine online. |
ChSheepdogs wrote: Ron: One thought that passed thru my mind while at work today was to mention to you that a really good walking/running shoe would help your knee problem now & also once your dr. decides what treatment options to use on your knee. I buy New Balance model #1122. They have roll bars in them that help your foot stay in the correct position thus helping your knee to stay in the correct postion. They are recommended for people who have had orthopeadic surgery also. If you've never had shoes with the roll bars in them they can take a bit getting used to but once you do, you will really notice the difference especially in how your leg will not "tire out" so quickly. I started buying this model after I had arthroscopic surgery on my right knee back in 2000. A bit on the pricey side but well worth it. I buy mine online.
I can recommend theese " Masai-shoes" - good to all the joints in the body :
http://www.swissmasai.ca/Default.aspx?lang=en-CA Using theese shoes realy makes a difference to me! |
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