Question: Two years back I had a major knee surgery. I had a full knee dislocation with a severed ACL, torn meniscus, and torn MCL. The knee was successfully repaired and for the last 2 years it has been trouble free.

I am a HIGHLY active individual. I am a competitive cyclist at a high level and I participate in a gravity "extreme" segment of the sport. I continued to compete and train post knee injury/ surgery.

Anyway, recently I went to see my sports therapist for a non knee related issue. While doing some super light weight (less than 20 lbs) movements I noticed an odd sensation in my knee. No popping and definitely no pain...just an odd sensation...almost like a fullness next to the knee cap on the inside. A bit like the knee is slightly out of alignment? There was no and still is no swelling to speak of and the knee has never locked or anything like that.

In any case, it has been about 4 days now and this sensation keeps coming and going. In that time I have been for 1 intense bike ride, and I also went to the gym where I was able to do dead lifts and other exercises that required me to move weight in a standing position. I did not experience the sensation during this time. I also went for a 6 mile hike and the sensation was present initially then subsided about 1 mile in.

Today, the sensation started up again at about lunch time and has yet to subside. I have been sitting at my desk most of the day and the sensation was not present when I woke up in the morning. I went for a short walk at lunch and the sensation turned to a dull pain for about 5 minutes then subsided.

I also notice a crackling noise when I drop down into a deep squat position. It is not a pop and it sounds and feels like it is coming from my quad muscles. It sounds like cereal being crushed.

What do you think? I have a race in 2 weeks. If it is a minor meniscus tear, can I just wrap it?

Hello Dr. XXXXXXX

I do not have pain climbing stairs or getting up from a sitting position. Honestly, I don't have any pain just a full feeling in my knee but with no swelling. I also noticed that the feeling goes away when I have my shoes off.

Again, this wasn't a problem until about 4 days ago and the onset was immediate and not gradual.

Thanks,

xxx