10/11/2024
Case sharing 🩻🤓:
A 39-year-old man has been dealing with right knee pain for almost two years, despite no history of knee injury or heavy activity. Interestingly, he shared that about nine years ago, he had a fall that caused severe lower back pain. Although the back pain eventually resolved after a couple of weeks of rest, the patient noticed that his body began to lean toward the right side when standing or walking.
At first, he didn't think much of it, but when we reviewed X-rays of his knee and spine, we discovered some surprising findings. His right knee showed significant deterioration—far more severe than expected for his age—indicating knee osteoarthritis (OA). The spinal X-ray also revealed a noticeable shift in the lower spine, though the patient had no current back pain.😢
What’s happening here?
It seems that the fall nine years ago caused some misalignment and restriction in his lower spine. This misalignment led his body to compensate by shifting his posture to the right, even after the back pain went away. Over time, this altered gait may have put extra stress on his right knee, eventually contributing to the severe knee OA we see today.
This case highlights how a past injury, even one that seems to have healed, can lead to long-term changes in posture and movement. In this case, the misalignment in the spine may have triggered ongoing strain on the knee, resulting in early degeneration.
Key takeaway: If you're dealing with chronic pain or altered posture, it’s important to investigate the underlying causes, as seemingly unrelated issues—like an old back injury—can have lasting effects on your body’s overall function.
