Update after seeing OS yesterday:
Was able to see my OS yesterday, as the right medial knee pain seemed worse, not better, despite my improvements in gait. Got a 25 minute pool walk in before going, but the knee even hurt in the water, which was new.
My OS does lots of hands on examination, as well as observation of me walking, sitting down, getting up from chairs, and more. Today was no exception, but he did begin by looking at the knee and saying it was inflamed.
Lots of specific “how does it feel when you ...” questions this time also, about both pain and stiffness. Even these questions: “how long does it take for the pain/stiffness to subside after you do x, y, z?”
He said my sinovial membranes were inflamed, probably aggravated by the ligament sprain, which is now healed. Sinovitis.
For my first time ever, though, there was fluid accumulation, which he extracted after thoroughly numbing the knee. Still felt it a bit. Shouldn’t have watched. The needle was small, but the vial to extract the fluid looked cartoonishly big (aaargh!). No visible sign of infection.
This was followed by a cortisone injection.
And a wonderful new quad stretch. I added that the stiffness and pain often goes below the knee in the front. I explained that I’d added quad and periformis stretches lying down. He was a bit surprised I was able to lie on my stomach (given the shoulder) and demonstrated this better, standing quad stretch. He demonstrated this 2x, then helped me do it:
Standing in front of a standard, knee height, padded office chair, holding on to the doorknob of the closed door on my left, my right leg bends, and I place the lower leg (front down of course) atop the chair (90 degree angle), then, most important, stand up with good posture. He had to help me put the leg up and said to start with only 10 seconds. Eventually, will be able to do longer and can then add a bit of a back arch to stretch the lower back. I could feel a much better quad stretch doing it this way!
My beloved experimented with me at home this morning to find the correct chair to use. Ended up in the great room with an upright burnt bamboo chair behind me, with its cushion removed, and me holding onto the firm back of the sectional sofa in front. Perfect 90 degree angle. I could get the leg up and off without help and could hold longer. Beloved also adheres to the “Who’s at Risk” practice, so we agreed I would do these when he is home. Can always revise a plan later.
So I’m icing and resting until Thursday or Friday, when I should be able to be back in the pool.
Feels better already and the knee let me sleep last night (AHI of 3! Five is normal, so 3 for me is nirvana).
@luvcats
@Izabel
You gave shared great exercises and stretches with me, so perhaps this quad stretch will benefit you, now or in the future.
PS Search for Sinovitis on BS shows lots of people diagnosed with it in knees and hips,
before and after surgery, and before and after both total and partial knee replacements.
Just confirms my theory about the soft tissue issues being central to recovery.