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What Does This MRI Report Of Knee Indicate?
Question: Hello, I have been suffering severe pain in both knees for the last 6 months and have had MRIs on both knees.
My right knee shows moderate chondromalacia patella, and my left knee shows a small subcortical cyst in the proximal tibia, at the level of the medial patellafemerol joint. I'm wondering what this Means and how this can be treated? I am 34 years old and used to perform professional latin dancing. I am really struggling with my immobility and just want to get back to dancing- or atleast walking without pain to begin with!! I have been seeing a physio for the past 5 months, but I just dont feel that i am improving a great deal and I am in constant pain. I look forward to your response. Thank you :) XXXXX
My right knee shows moderate chondromalacia patella, and my left knee shows a small subcortical cyst in the proximal tibia, at the level of the medial patellafemerol joint. I'm wondering what this Means and how this can be treated? I am 34 years old and used to perform professional latin dancing. I am really struggling with my immobility and just want to get back to dancing- or atleast walking without pain to begin with!! I have been seeing a physio for the past 5 months, but I just dont feel that i am improving a great deal and I am in constant pain. I look forward to your response. Thank you :) XXXXX
Brief Answer:
Details below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
Chondromalacia patella is the condition that arises when the tendon and the tissues that surround it, become inflamed and irritated. This is usually due to overuse , repetitive or prolonged activities placing strain on the tendons. This is usually associated with pain during motion. Since you are a dancer, sudden and frequent movement can precipitate pain in your knee joints. The best way is to avoid the painful activities. The cause of your suffering is because of excessive physical exercises and may be not supplemented by proper diet.
There is mild effusion in the right knee joint that is suggestive of an inflammation. The small subcortical cyst is a benign cyst and is not worrisome.
Stretching and strengthening the quadriceps and hamstring muscle groups is critical for proper treatment. Quad sets are done by contraction the thigh muscles while the legs are straight and holding the contraction for a count of 10. Sets of 10 contractions are done between 15-20 times per day.You can do the required exercises under the care of an expert physiotherapist after the acute pain subsides.
Get your running shoes examined for proper biomechanical fit.
Heat application and use of knee brace is advised for proper knee support at the time of exercise.
Avoid such activities as squatting, kneeling, heavy lifting, climbing, etc.
Adding glucosamine sulfate as supplement and oral muscle relaxants after consulting your orthopedician may help in relieving your symptoms.
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
Details below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
Chondromalacia patella is the condition that arises when the tendon and the tissues that surround it, become inflamed and irritated. This is usually due to overuse , repetitive or prolonged activities placing strain on the tendons. This is usually associated with pain during motion. Since you are a dancer, sudden and frequent movement can precipitate pain in your knee joints. The best way is to avoid the painful activities. The cause of your suffering is because of excessive physical exercises and may be not supplemented by proper diet.
There is mild effusion in the right knee joint that is suggestive of an inflammation. The small subcortical cyst is a benign cyst and is not worrisome.
Stretching and strengthening the quadriceps and hamstring muscle groups is critical for proper treatment. Quad sets are done by contraction the thigh muscles while the legs are straight and holding the contraction for a count of 10. Sets of 10 contractions are done between 15-20 times per day.You can do the required exercises under the care of an expert physiotherapist after the acute pain subsides.
Get your running shoes examined for proper biomechanical fit.
Heat application and use of knee brace is advised for proper knee support at the time of exercise.
Avoid such activities as squatting, kneeling, heavy lifting, climbing, etc.
Adding glucosamine sulfate as supplement and oral muscle relaxants after consulting your orthopedician may help in relieving your symptoms.
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
Thanks very much for getting back to me Dr XXXXXXX
I appreciate your advice.
I am doing most of the things you mentioned.
I have been doing quad strenghtening exercises and it seems to have helped a little. I still struggle to walk without pain in both knees though. What can I do to strengthen my hamstrings?
So the cyst in my left knee is not much to worry about? will it go away with rest?
It has been so painful and I really have not been aggravating it at all. Only swimming. This cyst seems to cause a lot of pain. After 6 months I was hoping I could get back to dancing- its taking so long to heal!! Some people have told me that I have the onset of osteoarthritis. Is this true?
The right knee has improved over the past 5 months, but there is still a horrible grinding sound everytime I bend it and I have been told it is loose cartilage.
Would i benefit at all from surgery? I do see this as a last resort and would rather avoid it, but I am just getting so impatient with my slow recovery and want to make sure that I am on the right track. I am usually a really active person, so it is really killing me not being very mobile!!
I have been going to pilates and doing what exercises I can. I will start to wear a brace. Would you recommend anything in particular? My physio once recommended a patella tracking brace (with a whole in the middle), to keep my right patella from moving too much. What do you think?
Sorry for all of the questions!!!
Thank you :)
I appreciate your advice.
I am doing most of the things you mentioned.
I have been doing quad strenghtening exercises and it seems to have helped a little. I still struggle to walk without pain in both knees though. What can I do to strengthen my hamstrings?
So the cyst in my left knee is not much to worry about? will it go away with rest?
It has been so painful and I really have not been aggravating it at all. Only swimming. This cyst seems to cause a lot of pain. After 6 months I was hoping I could get back to dancing- its taking so long to heal!! Some people have told me that I have the onset of osteoarthritis. Is this true?
The right knee has improved over the past 5 months, but there is still a horrible grinding sound everytime I bend it and I have been told it is loose cartilage.
Would i benefit at all from surgery? I do see this as a last resort and would rather avoid it, but I am just getting so impatient with my slow recovery and want to make sure that I am on the right track. I am usually a really active person, so it is really killing me not being very mobile!!
I have been going to pilates and doing what exercises I can. I will start to wear a brace. Would you recommend anything in particular? My physio once recommended a patella tracking brace (with a whole in the middle), to keep my right patella from moving too much. What do you think?
Sorry for all of the questions!!!
Thank you :)
Brief Answer:
Details below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
To strengthen the hamstrings specific exercises can be learnt from your physiotherapist. Subcortical cyst is a benign cyst and it can remain as it is without any symptoms for years. The cyst will not regress but will not cause you any symptoms either.
All this inflammation can cause an early osteoarthritis. Do take calcium and vitamin D 3 supplements also to help the healing.
The grinding sound is due to a decrease in joint lubricants. Taking glucosamine supplements will help.
Surgery can help you to some extent but it cannot revert all the degenerative changes. Patella tracking brace will help you but be sure to use the one with right fitting.
Hope my answer is helpful.
Do accept my answer in case there are no further queries.
Regards.
Details below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
To strengthen the hamstrings specific exercises can be learnt from your physiotherapist. Subcortical cyst is a benign cyst and it can remain as it is without any symptoms for years. The cyst will not regress but will not cause you any symptoms either.
All this inflammation can cause an early osteoarthritis. Do take calcium and vitamin D 3 supplements also to help the healing.
The grinding sound is due to a decrease in joint lubricants. Taking glucosamine supplements will help.
Surgery can help you to some extent but it cannot revert all the degenerative changes. Patella tracking brace will help you but be sure to use the one with right fitting.
Hope my answer is helpful.
Do accept my answer in case there are no further queries.
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
Answered by
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