Unable to extend legs at knee

[lennyplus4]

Hello, My hands cant straighten as many of you experienced but I’m unable to straighten my leg, it’s like trying to straighten my fingers. I’ve researched & hadn’t found similar situation. Anyone?

[MissusTee]

You don't have calcinosis in your knee? Scleroderma is a form of inflammatory arthritis, so it could be that this is a symptom for you, or that you have some osteoarthritis too.

[tall-tim]

Hello, I haven't heard of this being an aspect of Scleroderma.

Sounds very distressing. Could be a form of myopathy, so worth asking your consultant.

[pallinurse]

When I ripped a knee meniscus and couldn't walk much and had to wait months for surgery, afterwards I had a problem with being able to fully extend my knee. It felt like a big rubber band was tight and I had to pull against it to extend. It was like the fascia had gotten really sticky and tight. Same thing still happens with my arms, especially my right.

I had to work with a physical therapist to loosen up the leg tissue. Lots of cycling, exercises and deep massage. In my arms it felt like bubble wrap inside. Water exercise in a pool helps me the most to maintain good range of motion.

[Melarky in reply to pallinurse]

My knees stick like they’re in cement when I sit and then try to stand I am weak and takes a while to straighten them. I have same problem when I have stood for a while they set in a straight position and difficult to flex! It’s so frustrating. Also get pain like bruised feeling around the knee cap. I’m struggling massively with stairs. What helped u the most and how long did this last? I hope you are improved. Xx

[pallinurse in reply to Melarky]

Hi! Has your health care provider assessed your knees yet?

Sometimes arthritis makes one's knees feel locked and stiff like that after sitting still for awhile. Imaging (x-rays, MRIs) may help rule out bony changes versus soft tissue changes.

My issue seems to be an overgrowth or sticky-locking-down of fascia--the slippery connective tissue that lies around muscles, etc. If I don't do pretty vigorous exercise or get deep massages, it's like vines are growing and wrapping around my joints--but it is not the joint itself--it is like the tissue above and below it is stuck.

In summer when I can swim every day my range of motion greatly improves. We closed up our pool 8 weeks ago and I am getting stiff and tight again. I am trying stretching bands when I am sitting in my office throughout the day and probably need to go get a deep massage. When I could afford to have a deep massage every two weeks, I was in heaven. It made my ability to move my joints and limbs their full range so much better.

When I don't work on it within a week I start getting bad again.

I read a research study that said results don't last if you stop exercising or working on it--you go right back to as bad as you were. But that there are good results during treatment. I am looking for more studies but dang we need so much more research!

[Melarky in reply to pallinurse]

Thank you for your reply. I see my consultant on 4th December so I will see what he says re MRI. I know a lot of it is my fear of it giving way or hurting so I change the way I move to compensate and I think this is probably only exacerbating the issue! When I go for long walks both knees really ache and swell up afterwards. My knees and calf’s are permanently swollen at present!

Anyway let’s see what my doc says. Wishing u well and I appreciate your reply. Can I just check what is your actual diagnosis and what meds are you on?

Take care. Xx