Question
About 9 years ago I was in a dirt bike accident. I landed on my knees and ended up getting stitches on my left knee. My right knee at the time appeared to take no damage. Maybe about 3 years ago my right knee began giving me issues. I would some days be walking then my knee would begin to swell on the outside. The swelling would be as big as an olive. Really annoying pain. At times intolerable. So I ended up buying a knee brace to keep my knee supported and keep some pressure on that area. What do you think is going on? I can't afford any doctor visits so I'm hoping to get some answers any where I can get it.

Answer
Dear Cesar,

It is impossible for any physician to diagnose you from a simple statement of symptoms. That being said, I will give you an opinion, but remember that if you want to get to the end of what is going on, you will need to see a doctor, probably an orthopedist.

Swelling of the knee usually indicates an internal component injury. This could be a tear of the cartilage or a tear of one or more of the four major ligaments.  It is also possible that you sustained a tear to the joint capsule.

In other words, swelling and pain is simply a symptom, but it doesn't designate what tissues, if any were torn.

It is very possible that 9 years ago you caused some damage in the motor cycle accident that has caused some degenerative changes over time.  

The wearing of a knee brace is going to only give you some limited support, but if you have torn any of the internal knee components, the benefit of a simple over-the-counter knee brace is limited.  

Here are some additional thoughts:

A clicking, popping, or catching of the joint could indicate a torn cartilage or fragmented cartilage from years of wear and tear.

The feeling of the knee wanting to bend backward, or the upper leg bone sliding forward or backward on the lower leg bone could indicate an ACL or PCL ligament strain or tear.

If the knee feels like it is unstable when side bending forces are applied, this could indicate one or both of the collateral ligaments are strained or torn.

If pressure applied directly to the knee cap causes pain and if there is a clicking or grinding sound under the knee cap, this could be a patellar tracking problem, with wear and tear of the cartilage on the under side of the knee cap.  When this is happening, it is often painful to sit with the knee bent for an extended period of time.

It is also possible that you are experiencing a disease in the bones of the leg themselves. There are infections and carcinomas that can cause significant knee pain. These can be quite serious.

As you can see Cesar, the knee is complicated.  At times, even after the best of examinations, the only way to determine what is truly going on is by doing an MRI of the knee.  Try and get yourself in for an examination with an orthopedist so that you can put your mind at ease regarding what is truly going on with your knee.

I hope that this helps you some,

Keith Biggs, DC
http://www.eastmesachiropractor.com
http://www.biggschiropractic.blogspot.com