Hello All!
For almost six years, I have had recurring problems with knee pain.  
Sometimes it's the left knee, sometimes the right one.  I am active duty 
Army, so we do a lot of physical stuff (exercise, field training, marching, 
running, etc).
I have had diagnoses which range from tendonitus to RPPS (retro patella pain 
syndrome).  In simple terms, knee pain.  Now that I am about to leave the 
Army, the pain is actually getting worse and the swelling in the left knee is 
much more noticeable.  I am on Naproxen (1000-1250mg day).
I have been through the Army's version of Physical Therapy FIVE TIMES in the 
last six years.   There is some grinding as I flex the knee.  The knee 
doesn't lock up or anything, but when it swells, it feels extremely weak.  
Physical Therapy suspects the kneecap isn't tracking correctly.
I went to an Orthopaedics appointment today and the doctor ordered a bunch of 
lab tests to determine what might cause the swelling.  There seems to be 
SEVEN different tests.  I will try to give you the shorthand on this 
intout:
1.  ESR . . . BLOOD (BLOOD)~LAV
2.  APR SCREEN. . . BLOOD (SERUM)~GOLD/SST
3.  ANA SCREEN . . . BLOOD (SERUM)~GOLD/SST
4.  URINALYSIS . . . URINE
5.  THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE . . . BLOOD (SERUM)~GOLD/SST
6.  RHEUMATOID FACTOR . . . BLOOD (SERUM)~GOLD/SST
7.  SK HLA-B27 AG ($17.30) BLOOD (BLOOD)~YELLOW/ACD
Now this doctor's exam was pretty thorough, in spite of the late hour. 
Knowing that he was working on his own time at that point, I didn't bog him 
down with a LOT of questions.  Well, now I have some questions.  :-)
This doc impressed me.  He's a Major in the Army, so he has been around for a 
couple of days  and he IS a doctor, not a PA.  He didn't cop an attitude 
like many military doctors seem to do.  Rather, he was really friendly and 
professional.  Bottom line?  I trust him.
I remember he told me that normally, RPPS does NOT cause this type of 
swelling.  He wanted to run the tests to possibly determine what IS causing 
it.  I can assume he wants to check for arthritis.  What else might he be 
looking for?  Are there some key questions I should ask him?  I'd like any 
input, if it gives me a little more to go on.
Thanks,
Michael McReary
mcreary@oz.net
... Labor Pain:  Getting hurt at work.
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