Question: On Saturday I did some strange movement or something, and my right leg suddenly developed a tightening spasm/cramp while I was walking that made it very difficult to walk. It then loosened up and I took some Tylenol/methocarbamol, but after sitting the muscle just in the back of my knee and to the right today is not like yesterday, but it is very tight, like a rock. It takes a while for it to loosen up. I also feel some muscle quivering on its own in my leg. I realize something similar occurred about 2 years ago and discussed it with Dr. XXXXXXX who discussed maltracking, etc. related to my childhood surgery on my right leg to straighten foot (posterior tibial transfer) for something called mono paraplegia. In any case, I guess this is the second time in two years this whole event has occurred.

Thank you, Dr. Tayal. I have taken the products I indicated, but since yesterday there has been improvement, but I experience the tightening of the calf muscle when standing from the chair. I will start drinking more, but how would hydration affect a single leg/knee muscle area to that degree?!

Hello, Dr. Tayal. As a followup from the question about my spasm behind my knee, i have been trying to follow your suggestions as well as to do an exercise by swinging my leg back and forth. The sudden spasm/cramp behind the right knee to the right has decreased, but I still get the tightening if I stay on my legs too long. It has now been 4 days. My wife wonders if there is an alignment issue, however I experience no actual pain at all around my knee, so if it were caused by a misalignment wouldn't I experience pain?

In any case, if it was caused even by an improper positioning, movement, etc.of the muscles how long should such a situation continue? I have not even gone outside the home yet since Saturday even though there has been some improvement. The tightening behind the right knee feels to be on the right side of the rear of the right knee. But as I mentioned, the sudden spasm (which made me feel like I would fall down) has definitely decreased.

Thank you. I suppose it's a bit of a mystery. The sudden cramp that didn't let me walk is decreasing progressively, and I find the tightness behind the knee feels better when I swing the keg a few times back and forth. I still have no pain, so is this a typical situation that takes a week to resolve itself?

Hello again, Dr. Tayal. I am seeing that my problem relating back to the effects of surgery as a child to correct monoplegia in my right leg could possibly be connected to what is called maltracking, even if I have tightening with no actual pain.

If this is what is at the root of the spasms and perhaps even slight dislocation of my patella, what can be done to correct it now at sixty years old?