Joe A Shaw PA-C - 2/17/2008

Question
I am a dancer. I dance 5 or 6 days a week for at total of about 17 hours a week. About 4 years ago I started to have knee pain in my left knee off and on but never enough to do anything about. Eventually it got really bad and I went to my regular doctor about it. He didn't x ray it or anything just said that it was probably strained and to stay off of it that day, Friday, and that I could dance at my competition that weekend but to stay off it for about a week after. I did the before but not the after. It didn't hurt as bad so I figured it was ok. But within a month or two it started hurting again. It has been going this for about four years. It is only off and on and is not usually too bad it is more annoying than anything. It mainly hurts when I do a lot of turns or jumps, it is my left knee and my left leg takes most of the stress from dance.Sometimes I say I am going to go to the doctor about it when it gets bad but then it will stop before I have time to do anything about it. I feel stupid going to the doctor and saying it hurt but it doesn't now plus I hate doctors and am afraid they will tell me not to dance. I was wondering if you had any ideas as to what could be wrong and how to treat it that would be great. When it hurts I usually take advil and use a brace, sometimes I will also put icy hot on it. Thanks so much!

Answer
Mel,
If you were my sister I would have you evaluated by a orthopedic provider..preferably one who treats a lot of knees. Its been 4 YEARS!! You need xrays but more importantly you need MRI. You may have a meniscus tear or some degenerative changes. This is the cartilage like shock absorber of the knee. If the pain keeps coming back in the same place over and over again then this needs to be checked out. These type of things can be scoped and cleaned up so that you don't have as much pain.

True It could be a chronic sprain or strain but after 4 yrs you need a more definitive diagnosis. Also if you find a ortho that treats sports related injuries, they are more willing to work with athletes rather than just say you need to stop the sports.