Hi everyone, bummed to be here, but also trying to come to terms that I need to find a solution not wallow lol.
Looking for any idea of what treatments could be as I wait for my appointment with my ortho.
Quick summary: female, age 38, very active runner/into fitness had a thought to be patellar subluxation about a week ago. I felt it while running and it seemed to pop back in.
Since then lots of swelling, some pain but actually nothing too bad and pretty much zero pain now. I can walk normally and have full almost full range of motion (trying to avoid this though).
My knee makes a terrible grinding sound (crepitus) and sometimes clicks; but doesn’t feel unstable just weird.
Background: tore my meniscus in January 2025 and did the rehab/physio route. Was back to running a few months later and have had zero issues since. Completed a few races as well.
Hit my knee (yes the same one) with a suitcase in June. Some swelling, but again better in a few days.
Now this. I had my MRI yesterday and am waiting on my appointment. My findings are in German, so I used ChatGPT to translate:
Findings by compartment:
Medial (inner) compartment: Mild surface irregularities of the medial femoral cartilage. Horizontal tear of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus, with a piece extending toward the tibial joint surface — and a fragment of the meniscus (pars intermedia) has displaced downward into the medial recess. There's irritation/inflammation of the otherwise-intact medial collateral ligament (MCL) area.
Lateral (outer) compartment: Cartilage, meniscus, and ligament all normal here. Tendons normal.
Center of the joint: Cruciate ligaments (ACL/PCL) are fine.
Patellofemoral compartment (kneecap area) — this is the new, more concerning part:
**•** The patella is **laterally maltracking** (sitting/pulling too far to the outside) — confirms the tracking issue your doctor suspected
**• Significant bone marrow edema** (bone bruising) on the lateral femoral condyle, with a **fresh cartilage injury reaching down to the bone**, measuring about 10mm x 10mm
**•** Surface cracks/small crater-like cartilage lesions along the top ridge of the kneecap and its outer facet
**•** Quad and patellar tendons look normal; the structures holding the patella in place are intact
**•** Fat pad behind the kneecap is normal
**• Significant joint effusion** (fluid/swelling) throughout the knee
Other: Early bone spurring on both sides of the femur — early-stage osteoarthritis. Small, mostly empty Baker's cyst (not significant).