Knee pain of unexplained origin - any theories?

[jakelyods58]

I am 52 and am in good health but have been an Irish dancer/dance teacher for 40 years. I have this new odd issue that only plagues me when I'm sitting up in bed or putting my legs out straight if I'm on my couch (which has always been a favorite position of mine). Suddenly my knees hurt on top of the kneecaps if they're completely straight. I had to experiment with getting a very flattish tubular pillow to put under them and that helps for a while but then it begins to make the top of my knees ache again, so I have to take the pillow away, and I keep repeating and repeating pillow under, pillow out.. and I can't figure it out. I have no known injuries to my knees so this is just weird, and it's on both knees. I have, however, been plagued with osteoarthritis (at least that's what I think it was) and had to have a back fusion on L4 L5/s1 about ten years ago (made a complete recovery and even returned to dance) and now I have hallux rigidus (my big toes are basically going...also due to arthritis). Does anyone know if I could be having some sort of arthritic issue with my knees? It seems strange that they only bother me when straight out. I also was diagnosed with fibromyalgia but this doesn't seem like nerve pain to me, more like achy.10.0.0.0.1 192.168.1.254

[VoxClamantis]

Sounds like it could be patellar tendonitis, caused by the repeated jumps in Irish dancing.

[Melkite]

Did you recently get the Moderna vaccine?

[J Michael]

I am 52 and am in good health but have been an Irish dancer/dance teacher for 40 years. I have this new odd issue that only plagues me when I'm sitting up in bed or putting my legs out straight if I'm on my couch (which has always been a favorite position of mine). Suddenly my knees hurt on top of the kneecaps if they're completely straight. I had to experiment with getting a very flattish tubular pillow to put under them and that helps for a while but then it begins to make the top of my knees ache again, so I have to take the pillow away, and I keep repeating and repeating pillow under, pillow out.. and I can't figure it out. I have no known injuries to my knees so this is just weird, and it's on both knees. I have, however, been plagued with osteoarthritis (at least that's what I think it was) and had to have a back fusion on L4 L5/s1 about ten years ago (made a complete recovery and even returned to dance) and now I have hallux rigidus (my big toes are basically going...also due to arthritis). Does anyone know if I could be having some sort of arthritic issue with my knees? It seems strange that they only bother me when straight out. I also was diagnosed with fibromyalgia but this doesn't seem like nerve pain to me, more like achy.10.0.0.0.1 192.168.1.254

It could be arthritis.  Getting old is a bitch!  

Fibromyalgia isn't just "nerve pain", so it could also be that but I think it somewhat less likely than arthritis.

You know the best person to ask?  Your doctor!  Or a physical therapist.  Or an orthopedist.  But look out for orthopedists--they love to perform surgery even if it might not be necessary.

[Catherine]

Could be arthritis or an inflammatory reaction. Considering you're a dance teacher with lots of wear on your knees, and the pain is positional, might be a meniscus or tendon issue too. Most of us here are just "Google" doctors- seeing a specialist and getting a MRI will help you more.