I have been living with off and on periods of intense knee pain. It started a few years ago when I had injured one knee at the YMCA. I was confined to the couch for a few weeks with ice packs and Motrin. Then it seemed to heal. I had gone to the doctor then and she said it was probably a pulled muscle and sent me along my way. The frequent use of stairs seemed to bring the pain back and after a few days it would subside but then a couple of years ago it started coming with flares and I could not stand never mind walk. I did not think the doctors could do much because it is just flares but I asked for an x ray last year and they said there was some changes to the bone, but they never called me in to discuss it. The knee pain would disappear for a few months and pop up again. It was lasting for 2 weeks when it did appear. Finally, I decided to find a doctor who treats arthritis and fibromyalgia and after one meeting he tells me it doesn't seem like arthritis because I am too young. But it does not seem that far fetched because my friend, who is the same age, has it. He gets an MRI on my left knee and there is a complex tear of the meniscus. I asked him about the pain in my right knee and he just tells me that he is referring me to an orthopedist. He is in Boston and I am near Providence, RI. He accepts both of my medical insurance and I have looked at other doctors nearby and none seem to have half his experience. I beginning to think -just trust my gut- it is just flare related and I will be taking up his time when there are people with broken bones waiting to be seen. Any one have any similar experiences or thoughts on this? Does anyone have flares that heavily involve the knees?
I often have knee pain and weakness, but that is often related to my hypermobility and connective tissue problems instead of fibromyalgia. I have a lot of pain and difficulty walking sometimes, and it is worse sometimes than others.
I have been to several orthopedics, and honestly don't worry about the people with broken bones being more important than you. It is their job to treat you as well as them. I've seen a lot of doctors about stuff like that. If there's a bone irregularity it is probably best that you go to see someone and bring up your concerns.
Hi dozer. If your MRI shows that you have a complex tear on your miniscus in your knee I do agree in seeing an orthopedist. Some things are not fibromalgia but of course can be aggravated by other things. A complex tear in your muniscius should be attended to . my husband had problems with his knee and had to have surgery. It would flare up and subside but after a long while he ended up having to have surgery. Get a copy of your MRI when you go to any doctors and ask for their opinions and recommendations. Things happen to young people as well.
HUGGGGGGGS
Suzie
Okay, well his knee flaring up and subsiding answers one question. The doctor I would be seeing is at the same hospital so they can access my MRI. I don't like being in suspense about the right knee. I have an appointment for late July. I am scared because that seems to be all he does -surgeries. I also have the number for an orthopedist at a sports center so I will what she has to say as well. Thank you Suzie
suzie said:
Hi dozer. If your MRI shows that you have a complex tear on your miniscus in your knee I do agree in seeing an orthopedist. Some things are not fibromalgia but of course can be aggravated by other things. A complex tear in your muniscius should be attended to . my husband had problems with his knee and had to have surgery. It would flare up and subside but after a long while he ended up having to have surgery. Get a copy of your MRI when you go to any doctors and ask for their opinions and recommendations. Things happen to young people as well.
HUGGGGGGGS
Suzie
What I did not do with the first doctor is go in with my records for the pain over the past year and this time I will because I noticed that I have back pain appear within the same time period. I hope he will take that into consideration. That is one reason why I had shrugged it off as fibromyalgia. The back pain and knee pain seem to come in a pair. I am sorry to hear about your connective tissue problems my sister has twins and she just discovered that both of them do. She has been doing a lot of research on it (Ehlers- Danlos syndrome). Thank you for your support
ButYou'reSoYoung said:
I often have knee pain and weakness, but that is often related to my hypermobility and connective tissue problems instead of fibromyalgia. I have a lot of pain and difficulty walking sometimes, and it is worse sometimes than others.
I have been to several orthopedics, and honestly don't worry about the people with broken bones being more important than you. It is their job to treat you as well as them. I've seen a lot of doctors about stuff like that. If there's a bone irregularity it is probably best that you go to see someone and bring up your concerns.
Dozer,
I have similar pain issues as well. However, i was a competitive gymnast into my teens and then switched to competition dance. But the time I was 20 I’d had 3 surgeries on my right knee. My ACL is held together with a titanium screen. The pain from FMS in my lower back and hips very rarely goes away and I periodically get extreme pain in my knee, just the previously injured knee 80% of the time. I also thought that the pain was due to the FMS mostly because of how it felt. When I told my PCP she checked it. First thing she said was my knee cap was not in line where it should be, so she ordered tests and said shes call if there was an issue. On the 19th I’ll be seeing a orthopedic surgeon. So, if you hurt and you have any doubts, just get checked. If it’s nothing, Great. But if not, then you caught, hopefully it can be fixed and you have 1 less place on you both the hurts. 
Better to do than to not! Hope all goes well for you.
Hi Nickole,
I noticed over the past year that if I keep exercising daily the pain seems to be less. I do have an appointment with the orthopedist the rheumatologist referred me to at the end of July. Until then I am going to try this daily exercise with notes. I discovered these past two weeks if I rest during the walk when the pain comes on if only for 5 minutes I can continue the walk without much pain. I have been able to do 40 minutes and work up to an hour. My son has a new app on his I-phone where you walk around town looking for pokemon. I have much difficulty getting him out so finally! We can both lose weight. He is in good shape for the most part but is always tipping the scales. The doctors have helped me get it down but I want it to stay there. Back to the knees. I would like to find out what is going on with the both of the knee caps. Thank you for your encouragement