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It's to the point where I can't even cry....
4 of the past 5 nights, I have been waking up in excruciating pain. This pain is in my knee cap. It's not something I experience when I first wake up in the morning, it's something that attacks during the night, causing me to awaken. You've got to understand and believe me when I say this - this is the most dreadful, awful, intense pain I have EVER experienced in my ENTIRE life, hands down, without a SINGLE doubt. To be perfectly truthful here, I generally cry when I'm physically hurting, as it helps me cope with any ailments I might currently be dealing with. However, crying over my sudden and harsh knee pain doesn't make much sense to me. No amount of tears, and no tantrum I could possibly throw would do this pain justice. I find that it only upsets myself more. In the past I have always be able to rely on my tears to calm myself, and now that I DO NOT have that, I'm unaware of where to turn.
I know that I'll NEVER have a proper diagnosis until I see a doctor. Problem is, I'm not covered by Insurance, as we just moved to a new state, and my father's job does not offer benefits. But who's kidding who; the REAL problem is that I am AFRAID to inform my family. I'm scared they might TRY TO take me to the doctor. I know this is what's best for me, but the doctor/hospital is my biggest fear EVER. I realize if my pain is THIS insane, avoiding the doctor/hopistal is plainly prolonging the inevitable.
I'm not really sure about what it is I am asking here. I suppose I would just like some opinions, suggestions, guesses, ideas, knowledge... ANYTHING you might have to contribute!!! =/
- I'm female; a few days away from 17.
- I'm not exessively large, but I guess I could stand to lose a few pounds?
- Again, this has ONLY occurred 4 of the past 5 nights, and ONLY during the NIGHT.
- I know that the weather can do some funny things to your bones, but the weather in Connecticut has been in the 90's for the past couple of weeks. Always humid and consistent. The weather has never had an affect on me BEFORE - at least not that I've ever NOTICED, so I'm skeptical that the weather is causing my pain. At this point in time, I'm not going to cross ANYTHING off as a possible cause.
- This is ONLY in my LEFT knee. ONLY in the knee cap ITSELF - not the entire leg, and the pain does NOT "jump" around.
- My sleeping position? Generally [and ALWAYS the case when I have experienced this pain] I have been sleeping on my RIGHT side. MEANING, my LEFT leg didn't have much weight to speak of resting upon it, understand?
- I guess it's important to add that I have a "condition" where my legs and feet randomly swell up like Stay Puffed Marshmallow Man in Ghostbusters..... This used to be insanely bad [not to mention highly disgusting] but ever since I've gotten the proper leg braces, that problem seems to be no more. Now, what CAUSES that random swelling? Salt. Basically it's where salt gets stuck within my body, causing it to expand. You might be thinking that it's the LEG BRACES that is causing this, BUUTTT.. I haven't been wearing them for the past three weeks. So the problem IS NOT the WEARING OF them. This has lead me to believe it COULD MAYBE [just as it "COULD MAYBE" be anything else]... but it COULD MAYBE be my NOT wearing them that is having this affect on me. But if this is so, why haven't I ever experienced this in the past??? Yet, problems have to start SOMEWHERE, right? But really, my legs have only been a problem TWICE [as far as swelling goes] in the past 3 weeks since I've neglected to wear my braces. Honestly, I don't believe the cause has anything to do with this. Also, when this swelling is present, it starts at my toes, and works it's way UP my body. It never has a chance to even REACH my knees, because I catch it while still in my foot.
- This brings me to my diet: My diet hasn't changed much within the past 4-5 weeks. I've obviously been cutting back on my salt intake. Other than that, I really haven't been over eating or under eating any. I eat until I'm full, and I then call it quits. I NEVER drink milk or soda; ONLY ONLY ONLY water, and A WHOLE LOT of it. The past week my Mom [who is the one who generally provides all of our meals] has been away on vacation. During this time, I've been properly fed. But to be honest, I've sort of replaced lunch with a package of Austin Peanut Butter Crackers, which are very high in sodium. If this IS NOT having an affect on my SWELLING, I severely doubt it's having an affect on my KNEE CAP. As I previously said, I am not willing to discount ANYTHING as of yet.
- I'm not involved in sports, and since I am new to the area, my friend count is a complete zero, so needless to say I don't really go anywhere. So no... I haven't hurt it during some crazy practice drill or anything. I know that I can hurt it anywhere, but don't you think I would have noticed the pain [at least a TINY bit] if I had pulled or torn something?? And if you think I might have done this, why does it only attack at night? Not even during the day in my long naps in the SAME sleeping position.. but ONLY at NIGHT. Is that just coincidence???
- This pain strikes suddenly, and ONLY leaves when I begin to work my joint like a mad man. I generally lay there in pain for about 5 minutes, before I gather up enough courage and willpower to begin extending my knee. Once it's fully extended and moved around for about 10-15 seconds.. the pain DISAPPEARS ENTIRELY!! I would NEVER know it even happened.
Can someone tell me.. is this a "common" thing? Does it ever happen to YOU? Know any possible remedies or temproray solutions? What do you *ADVISE?
I understand you are not a medical professional, but I would be ever so appreciative of some guesses here. Please, anything you've got. This pain is so intense, my body begins to shake violently, and I get the urge to vomit. :D It's just not a pretty picture. Last night I slept with a huge garbage bag at my side, as I expected the pain. Can I predict the future or what -- I'll be damned if it didn't happen AGAIN. =[
Thank you, all, very very much for ANY information you provide.
Mackenzie
My apologies on the length of this question. I was trying to the best of my ability to NOT leave any details out, clearly.
In case you're curious, you should expect a rating. It's the least I can do.. :D
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My first instinct was that it's growing pains, which my brother had when he was growing up. I has something to do with your bones growing fast during puberty and it causes pain in your joints. But since you're 17 then that's probably not it, unless you're a late bloomer.
My best guess is that it's due to you not wearing your leg braces. You probably favor your left leg when you walk (putting more wait on it), but when you wear your braces, your weight is more evenly distributed. Since you haven't been wearing your brace, you might be putting a strain on your leg. Maybe you should try wearing your brace again for a few days to see if the pain goes away. I'm not a doctor or anything, but I have worn a leg brace before, so I know a little something about them.
My grandfather has pain in his legs when his potassium level is too low. He has to take a potassium supplement, which you can buy over the counter. Maybe you should try eating a couple bananas which are high in potassium. You could also try taking a daily multivitamin that has potassium.
If the pain doesn't stop in a few days, you should really see a doctor. I know you don't want to, but it could be a symptom of something more serious. You should check with the local hospital, they may have a program for people without medical insurance. Maybe free care or a big discount or something.
I hope I helped!
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Hello there! I`m def. not good with all this medical stuff but.. my mom has the same problem! Sometimes it would happen for a week and then just stop hurting her. It is not the way you diet or anything because you are really healthy. My mom did go to the doctor for this and he did prescribe her some meds for it but its not that serious at all. Everytime her knee start hurting she puts something really warm on it and it doesnt hurt anymore. So just try keeping your knee warm and see if it works. Have you ever feel on your knee when you were younger and gotten a scar or something? There is a possibility that it could be from that. I`m not exacly sure how it happened to my mom but I think you should see the doctor just to make sure everything is okay! Haha I just noticed I kinda talked about my moder lots! lol anyways.. hope your knee feels better!! ;D
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Hey Mac! I'm agreeing with chaos here in thinking that with the suddeness of the onset and the pain happening at night that this is some sort of muscle cramp. Yeah, I know, no muscles in the knees; just tendons, ligaments and cartilage, but I would try what chaos suggested. Either take a multivitamin and/or include some bananas in your diet. I also find that a lot of the sugar-free yogurts have a lot of potassium as well.
The best thing you can do when you get them is what you are doing right now. Get up and move and/or rub the affect area to get the blood circulating again and get the affected muscle to loosen up.
I know it's extremely painful, but I'm hoping that it's just a vitamin deficency. Of course if this persists longer than a couple of weeks there may be something more seriously wrong (like a ligament detachment) and I would suggest seeing a doctor at that time.
Good luck Honey and keep us posted as to how you're doing.
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Do you take a multivitamin or eat bananas? You may need some potassium. I would try that for a few days to see if it give you any relief. If there are exercises you have done in the past for you leg problem, I would suggest making sure to do those. Sometimes it's just a horrible muscle spasm. They usually make me scream bloody murder. But after that, you have got to find some way to go to a doctor, even if it is the local health department. It will eventually keep you from sleeping, make you irritable, and affect your grades. I hope you start feeling better soon.
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that's very weird, because usually when you get some sort've muscle, bone, etc. related pain at night, its due to exersize like charlie horses, which are like causing your muscles to tighten up. People in my family have knee problems, but it's cause of their weight, and since you probably aren't too much over weight, that's probably not it. It might be something to do with nerves. The first thing you should do is go get an xray, to see if its with your bone structure, er anything in those lines. They'll tell you what to do from there.
good luck!
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Im no professional, but i think it would be best that you took some pain medicine that you find in your home right before you go to bed just to see if that helps, if it doesnt then i would try to wear my brace to bed and see if that helps. Another possible thing that could be causing this would be your body responnding to you being non active, and like you said you have to move your knee alot, so maybe if you could run around your block for a little bit or walk before you go to bed that might help, but it might also make it worse, so id try the medice and the brace first. I dont know really what else to say and i dont know if its a common thing because no one i know has it, But i would also try drinking milk? i dont know if that will help seeing that your almost to the point where you stop growing, but if you that desperate, try it!
hope that all helps!!
____*becca..rate me!
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