Prepatella Bursitis

[neufox47]

Just diagnosed. Can't bend my leg more than about 20 degrees without major pain and pressure at the top of the knee cap. Swollen knee, especially under the knee cap. Doc said to call back if it isn't better in 72 hours and prescribed Naproxin and Tramadol for pain. Anyone had this? Is this going to bug me all season? Should I push to get it drained?

[cmcrawfo]

Call back and ask for Oxycontin ... tell him you only get buzzed for a few hours with tramadol and that's its way to expensive to sell on the street.

.... I would see how it plays in 72hrs before pushing for one treatment or another. ice is your friend for now. I hope it resolves simply for you, some times time can be the best treatment.

In the mean time, double down on the trammy-doll.

[neufox47]

Oh also, weird thing is that I didn't have anything tramatic happen. Basically happened after having a lazy day Sat and woke up to it Sun. However I skied the previous Sat and Sun, and worked out Mon Wed, Thurs. However, working out 5 out of 6 days isn't out of the norm. Also, I am deloading right now so it wasn't like I was lifting super hard.

[BigDaddy]

Been there... Need to chair stretch when better.

Had it when I was 30 for a year and figured I was cursed, but haven't had any pain or swelling for 25 years since.

There's hope.

[neufox47]

Been there... Need to chair stretch when better.

Had it when I was 30 for a year and figured I was cursed, but haven't had any pain or swelling for 25 years since.

There's hope.

What's the chair stretch? Google returned chair stretches for hip bursitis but not knee.

[BigDaddy]

What's the chair stretch? Google returned chair stretches for hip bursitis but not knee.

Though I've had bursitis, I had what's called patella femoral syndrome. The chair stretch is to stretch your quads. You put your leg up on a chair, then with the knee slightly bent, do a slow squat, stretching the quad. It helps to keep pressure off the patella, so it stays loose. Not sure if this may help, so consult your PT...

My doctor told me I would be dealing with this for the rest of my life, but like I said, it's completely pain free for many years.

[umby]

give it plenty of rest, ice it, be patient, get multiple opinions if it does not get better. Never had busitis, but am currently recovering from meniscus repair surgery (can't get on skis until late February, hopefully I will be 100% by April). I have no idea how I tore my meniscus. Basically out of no where I started having symptoms over labor day weekend when pedaling on my road bike. The first orthopedic surgeon I saw didn't bother doing an MRI and instead just gave me cortisone shots in two places in my knee trying to fix it/mask the pain without truly diagnosing it. The two subsequent orthopedics I saw did MRIs and X-Rays to start with and took lots of time to walk me through what they saw and what my options were. (Thank god I have amazing health insurance that basically covers anything with no referrals or pre-approvals, even for surgery) If you are not comfortable with what you heard, make appointments now with other doctors as they can take a week or two to get into. If it does not get any better in 72 hours I would definitely start looking into getting multiple opinions from the best doctors/specialists you can find. Ask around who people recommend in your area, look at their bios on the hospital websites. Some of the ones I saw had notes in their profile that they have special interests in weekend warriors, skiers, cyclists, etc.

By the way - is your bro patrolling at squaw again this year? I did not see him at the Squaw OEC refresher... Let me know if you make it out here again this season, I will be at the various village bars drinking my face off most weekends until I can ski/patrol.

[neufox47]

Getting better. Up to 90 degrees of motion now. Keep popping that NSAID every 11 hours. Knee feels strong, just need to get that motion back. No beer all week has been the bitch .

Yeah, he's patrolling again. Plan on heading out to Squaw when this damn Cali drought ends. Sory to hear about your meniscus. I was freaking out before I was diagnosed because that is what I thought this was, a stuck knee from meniscus tear. Kept telling myself that maybe they could "clean it up" and maybe I'd be out by the new year

Patient, fuck patience. I plan on skiing this weekend.

Thanks BD, I have to talk to the PT after this weekend. I had been stretching my quads and got lazy about a month ago. Now this happens. This will give me the motivation needed to stretch enough. Also, hoping this will motiviate me to lose 15 lbs or so.

[Vinman]

NF,

Get some ultrasound and iontophoresis with Dexametazone from your rehab provider.

Stretch quad AND hamstrings.

Ice after activity.

Did you kneel on anything? Bursitis can come from several causes,

1. Trauma, not in your case

2. overuse, sounds likely

3. Infection, possible. The smallest splinter or piece of dirt can cause this. Plus you've been in the gym....not the cleanest place in the world.

If this looks really red and begins to spread get it checked ASAP. Acquired infections from the gym ....really bad usually.... Staph, MRSA.

If it is getting better it is probably not this. But if there is a chance it is infected you don't want ultrasound from your rehab person...contraindicated..potential to make an infection worse or spread.

[neufox47]

Thanks Vin, the only thing I can think of in hindsight was that I was in the airport Friday night and had to charge my phone and I squated down with my back against the wall and only my feet touching to look at my phone. So basically I held an ass to grass squat position with my back supported for like 3 minutes.

Will talk to a PT. Waiting for blood work back, but I don't think it is an infection. They are also checking for Lyme, RH, Gout, etc, for the slight possibility.

[fortysix&2]

On a side note, please be careful with Tramadol. It has a reputation as non-habit forming in the pharmaceutical community. However, it is in fact very physically addictive and has some serious withdrawal symptoms. I know this from personal experience and subsequent research. Google 'tramadol withdrawal' and you read story after story of people like myself who thought it was non-habit forming, but were taken by surprise.

[neufox47]

Fuckin bursitis is back. In to see the ortho hopefully tomorrow or thursday. Felt it start Sunday night, then I flew, which pissed it off, have to fly tomorrow again. Should I push for them to aspirate it? Other than them sticking a big needle in my knee are there any downsides to them aspirating it?

[Vinman]

microscopic risk of infection, and even if they aspirate it may come back, especially if is acute and still actively inflamed and swelling.

[neufox47]

Ortho basically said that its odd that I'm getting it and it may be due to some issue with the cartilage under the patella, but hes not really sure. Doesn't want to do any imaging unless it comes back for the third time. Maddening part is that by yesterday the knee was 95% better and he told me to come back when / if it gets bad. I tried calling everyday while it was bad to get in while they had something to look at.

Going to see a good manual physical therapist on Thurs, I'm a little intimidated, guy is known as a bit of a "sadist" who gets results.

[neufox47]

Ortho basically said that its odd that I'm getting it and it may be due to some issue with the cartilage under the patella, but hes not really sure. Doesn't want to do any imaging unless it comes back for the third time. Maddening part is that by yesterday the knee was 95% better and he told me to come back when / if it gets bad. I tried calling everyday while it was bad to get in while they had something to look at.

Going to see a good manual physical therapist on Thurs.

PT says, 1 its not prepatella bursitis it may be infrapatellar bursitis or possibly an inflamation of the fat pad; and that he thinks it is being caused by tight quads and a tight IT band pulling my kneecap off to the side during heavy use / overuse.

[vt_ski]

Hey Neufox - your injury sounds very similar to what I did to my left knee last weekend. 5 days later and not really any improvement. Both the "Dr." at the walk-in clinic here in Stowe and my chiro in w-bury did not give a specific diagnosis, just the standard RICE deal. re-evaluating tomorrow. Any updates?

[neufox47]

Forgot I started this thread. Here I am 10 years later. Maybe this time I’ll lose the 15lbs


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