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What Causes Bump On Knee After A Sudden Painful Pop?
Question: Today as I was getting into my car I felt a massive pop in my knee and suddenly couldn't bend my leg. A large lump appeared about 2cm inwards from my knee cap and it was very painful when I tried to move it. After 10 or so minutes I tried to bend my knee and pushed the lump towards my kneecap. Whatever it was (ligament etc) went back into place (seems like it went behind the knee cap) and my knee was back to normal. The only problem now is that it keeps popping out while I'm walking and my knee feels very unstable. It's especially bad when I am turning or changing the direction I am walking in.
I have never injured this knee before, although it has been clicking a lot when I walk or run lately. I am a very active 35 year old female.
Any ideas on what this could be?
I have never injured this knee before, although it has been clicking a lot when I walk or run lately. I am a very active 35 year old female.
Any ideas on what this could be?
Brief Answer:
Ligament tear likely.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
The popping in and out and the clicking of the knee is suggestive of an injury to the internal structure of the knee. This could be due to a torn ligament or meniscus. The best way to diagnose this is to get an MRI scan of the knee done.
It is best to consult an orthopedician for a proper examination and MRI scan. Till then avoid any strenuous knee exercises and squatting.
I hope this answers your query.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal
Ligament tear likely.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
The popping in and out and the clicking of the knee is suggestive of an injury to the internal structure of the knee. This could be due to a torn ligament or meniscus. The best way to diagnose this is to get an MRI scan of the knee done.
It is best to consult an orthopedician for a proper examination and MRI scan. Till then avoid any strenuous knee exercises and squatting.
I hope this answers your query.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your response.
I went to my GP today and got a referral for X-rays and and ultra sound for tomorrow.
While I was with my doctor my knee clicked out twice. She described my 'injury' as "chronic dislocation of left knee and meniscus". What does this mean?
I went to my GP today and got a referral for X-rays and and ultra sound for tomorrow.
While I was with my doctor my knee clicked out twice. She described my 'injury' as "chronic dislocation of left knee and meniscus". What does this mean?
Brief Answer:
Old ligament injury.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
The chronic dislocation means an old injury that is causing the instability of the knee and repeated popping on movement of the knee. It can happen due to a ligament tear that can be diagnosed after an MRI scan.
Hope my answer is helpful.
Do accept my answer in case there are no further queries.
Regards.
Old ligament injury.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
The chronic dislocation means an old injury that is causing the instability of the knee and repeated popping on movement of the knee. It can happen due to a ligament tear that can be diagnosed after an MRI scan.
Hope my answer is helpful.
Do accept my answer in case there are no further queries.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you, Dr Tayal,
Your response was greatly appreciated. I probably only have two more questions for you, I hope you can bear with me! Thanks for helping me understand these things.
The xray and ultra sound showed a 'body' behind the patella and possible fluid. The GP maintains that my patella is constantly dislocating when I walk, but I disagree with that. My knee cap doesn't seem to move out of place, it's just the weird lump that appears on the inside that makes it look like its moved... And no one seems to know what the lump is.
My question to you is - I have an MRI tomorrow, should I let them scan it while everything is 'normal' ie that I have the normal range of movement... Or should I have it scanned while it's locked straight and there is a large bump on my leg? At this stage my knee pops out nearly every third step, so it wouldn't be difficult to have it scanned in that state. My nervousness is that they won't see what is wrong if it's not in the 'popped out' position. What do you think?
Thank you
XXXXXXX
Your response was greatly appreciated. I probably only have two more questions for you, I hope you can bear with me! Thanks for helping me understand these things.
The xray and ultra sound showed a 'body' behind the patella and possible fluid. The GP maintains that my patella is constantly dislocating when I walk, but I disagree with that. My knee cap doesn't seem to move out of place, it's just the weird lump that appears on the inside that makes it look like its moved... And no one seems to know what the lump is.
My question to you is - I have an MRI tomorrow, should I let them scan it while everything is 'normal' ie that I have the normal range of movement... Or should I have it scanned while it's locked straight and there is a large bump on my leg? At this stage my knee pops out nearly every third step, so it wouldn't be difficult to have it scanned in that state. My nervousness is that they won't see what is wrong if it's not in the 'popped out' position. What do you think?
Thank you
XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Can be due to a fluid filled bursa.
Detailed Answer:
Yes you are right in pointing it out that it is best to get the MRI scan done when the knee is in popped out position. You can talk to the radiologist about the problem of popping out. This can be a fluid filled bursa that pops back into place when the knee moves. Taking the fluid out from the knee will help in decreasing the swelling.
Regards.
Can be due to a fluid filled bursa.
Detailed Answer:
Yes you are right in pointing it out that it is best to get the MRI scan done when the knee is in popped out position. You can talk to the radiologist about the problem of popping out. This can be a fluid filled bursa that pops back into place when the knee moves. Taking the fluid out from the knee will help in decreasing the swelling.
Regards.
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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