Beginning in July, almost daily, my left knee began weakening suddenly. At night, the left leg frequently ached, grew stiff and wooden, and that foot would spasm. Other than the frequency, there was nothing unusual about this. My version of MS has been marked by manifestations that come and go. This time was different. By mid August, the knee suddenly became constantly painful causing me to contact the MS Neurology clinic, then when there was no immediate response, my PCP. She saw me immediately, said my knee was inflamed, ordered a blood draw checking for rheumatoid arthritis and sent me for an xray. The ray showed only mild arthritis and wear, perfectly normal for someone my age. Then, overnight, the pain went away as if it had never occurred. The occasional sudden weakness, spasticity and spasms also ceased. Usually, I am the last of the stoics: I don't complain, I don't expect to live without pain, I don't have a medicine cabinet stocked with pain relievers. I try to focus outside myself. But one night with this pain, I curled around that pain and whimpered. I didn't imagine it or exaggerate it.
Okay. It went away, leaving behind only a lingering question...what happened, what caused it? I don't want this to happen again so I asked for a referral to a very good, local physical therapist. I saw him yesterday. He agrees with me that there is nothing arthritic wrong with my knee: it has full range of motion, is very strong. He found that my left leg is slightly longer than my right, the foot drop is worse on the left than the right, and applauds my decision not to get a cortisone injection.
The treatment he suggests: water exercise, long walks on paths or sidewalks (both of which are available only at a 20 mile distance), and some balance exercises. We are starting with exercises to retrain my eye brain connection. After having me move my eyes without moving my head, he asked me to describe any feeling that occurred. Just a slight dizziness and a feeling when seated as if I might fall off a chair, and a slight change in my standing posture. So we start with eye exercises, and will add others next week. Despite being told the problem was arthritis (which is obvious in my gnarled and stiff fingers, but not painful) I've thought all along that this was neurological, now I have confirmation that there is a body brain miscommunication going on here. Sorry for the lengthy post, but as I complained about the knee, wanted to share how it is resolving.
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goatgal
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Totally interesting post. I have eye coordination issues. And have always had knee issues. They always get weak and buckle under me.
It sounds like u have an awesome PT guy. I wud hang on to him! I love my OT guy. Even if its a PT issue i will text him and ask questions and he helps me out
Midgey_Midge06 You are absolutely right about the PT fellow here. He's a jewel! He is interested in treating more than the symptom but in problem solving to understand the source. He has figured out what I have intuitively understood that I use my eyes to orient myself and not the signals sent from my legs/body through the muscles to the brain. In other words, I am overly dependent on my eyes and need to somewhat mute that channel so messages from the muscles get through. I feel very lucky to have discovered him!
Yes my OT guy is the same. He wud rather find the root of the problem and set a person up to overcome the over all problem. He notices things and takes note of it.
So happy for u to have gotten to the root of the issue!
That's awesome goatgal that you have someone that took the time to figure it out! Not alot do that anymore. You and erash will have to compare the eye exercises. I think it was erash.🤔
I am so happy that you have some resolution to what is going, and are proactively working to make it better! Keep up with those brain exercises. The brain is very adaptive. What once doesn't work, there's another way. Reprogramming/rewiring is possible.
Next time I see my pt for an ongoing back issue I'll have to ask her about the eye brain coordination. I've noticed that if I'm standing and have to close my eyes I can't keep balance and start to fall. For whatever reason I don't have the same issue while sitting or laying down. Thanks for sharing. It gave me something to think about.
Peruzzot Your observation is familiar to me. During another observation the PT made, he had me stand inches away from a wall (he stood in front of me so he could stop me if I fell), had me close my eyes and try to stand still (it was difficult; I feel like a tree in the wind when I do that), then he brought a squishy pad and repeated the observation. Then, still standing on the squishy pad, he had me open my eyes and try to balance as I tracked his pen...all of this, oddly enough, required constant concentration and attention to the feeling of being very unstable. It was after that that he demonstrated the eye exercises I need to repeat at home.
goatgal I'm so very happy to hear that you have found out what the problem is and that you will be starting PT to get it all straightened out! Keep us updated on how that goes for you!
Hi Goatgal, sorry that you have been in pain with your knee. I must have missed your previous post about it., anyway i am so pleased that you have resolved the issue. Your pt guy is certainly worth hanging onto. I wish we had people like that in the U.K. keep us updated, it was a very good informative post, thank you, it taught me a lot, blessings Jimeka 🦋 🍫 🤗
jimeka In my limited experience with PTs, this one is unique. Usually, I have been treated with heat wraps and then given a box of objects to pick up or put together or pull apart. In the class I took (sponsored by the National MS Society, an organization like MSAA), participants worked with student PTs who were interested in working with chronically neurologically impaired populations. That was very helpful in improving balance and teaching stretches (mostly from Tai Chi and Yoga) but it wasn't really individually tailored to specific needs. I'll ask this PT if he can be cloned!
So glad you are resolving your situation. I have been worried about you. How are you with this storm, far enough inland to just get rain? In the light I hold you dear friend. Love, Kelly xx
What a blessing that you have such a dedicated PT. I’m guessing that he specializes in neuro PT. In my experience they understand the relationship of the brain to the way our bodies react and not just the orthopedic approach. I wish you the best and hope that the protocol will prevent the knee pain from coming again.
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Update on So sick and tired.
Update with no diagnosis 
Life Update
Unfortunately, he left this morning, 
