Hyperextension of the knee
 

One of the many joys I've been experiencing is the "snap-back" of the knee as my drop foot gets weaker and weaker. It is pretty severe and quite painful now, so I'm looking into a positive-stop brace sometimes called a "Swedish Cage". Anyone out there have some opinion of its efficacy?

I never heard of it Cindy. Jim had a full cast leg and foot brace made by the prosthetics department at the VA. It helped him greatly. The only downfall was when he went to sit down he had to flip a switch to get it to bend. That dern thing scared me many nights standing in the corner! lol

Let us know what you find out. You always seem to find the good stuff around here.

I don't know anything about it, but just wanted to ask if they have MRI'd the knee?

I have the same issue, Cindy, and I think it was my very first clear symptom (my knee's buckled and I went down regularly). There hasn't been any pain YET, but I can imagine that after a while of doing this a person could cause additional damage.

Perhaps it is just a MS-strength issue at this point, but it might be worth checking if there is something "fixable" going on too. :confused:

Cherie

Ooooooo, baby, that looks super neat. I like it and it's lightweight too.

I don't know anyone who has it, but they are on sale here:
http://www.braceshop.com/productcart...92.htm#details

:hug:

does it come in red plaid maybe????? :D

all kidding aside cindy. i'm sorry you're needing this but hope it helps.

It's just the years of constant, unintentional stretching of the same muscles, a little farther, a little farther, a little farther... Like any muscle, every time it snaps back, it stretches a bit more. Since my leg is essentially dead weight now, I can't control it and it's to the point where it's practically bending backwards. The PT recognized it right away, he suggested the cage to me. I just wondered if anyone has tried one and whether it helps.

Sal, if we decide to go with one, they'll custom make it per a prescription. I think I'd be too chicken to just put anything on there without some guidance. :o

Yeah, that's what I thought. :( Just wishful thinking on my part, since I have the same issue to a lesser degree still. :(

Let us know how it goes. :hug:

Cherie

A Swedish Cage? Sounds sexy..Or like a new form of torture..Saw the picture (thanks Sally!), and it looks like it could work, though I hate metal parts.
When I was first dx'd with MS, I had asked my Dr about that very problem. Loved to go for walks, but the distances were getting shorter & shorter as my knee would snap back & I had trouble taking any more steps forward (couldn't lift my right leg). I thought is was hyperextension, but found out it was MS.
I hope if you decide to go with this brace that it works wonders for you..It's a frustrating thing to deal with! :hug:

Cindy if you get one i will be interested in knowing how well it supports, from what I have heard they work, last visit to Jim and Sandy's, Jim and I talked about these, my knee and leg keeps doing the hippie dippie dance, and next visit am going to talk to Nero the Neuro about this, hope you get one and it helps

can you custom order it in yellow plaid :D :D

Fetching! :icon_mrgreen:

Cindy, do your legs hyperflex like the picture that was in that link that was posted?:

http://www.braceshop.com/productcart...92.htm#details

And if they do, have they for a long time?

Mine don't, I just have the buckling knee.

Cherie

Just the dead-weight left leg. The muscles won't hold it at parade-rest, it just keeps bending backwards like a banana going the wrong way.

The pain is from the stretching muscle in back, not in the bone joint, but I can only imagine the pain if it goes much farther.

:(

For the longest time I couldn't figure out why I would go down, with no pain or any other "apparent" mechanical problem. Just walking along one minute, and down the next. :cool:

I finally figured out that it has something to do with my knee not providing the right connection between the thigh and shin bones of my leg, and to be honest I don't even know if my leg stays too bent, or bends too much the wrong way or ? . . . I just go down. :confused:

Sounds like your situation is different . . .

Is there any other exercises you can do, or ANYTHING that might help strengthen/straighten the leg?

Good luck with the brace.

Cherie

i hope you can get this apparatus asap so you don't do anymore damage.

good luck with this cindy. blue plaid?

Plaid?
 

I always featured Cin as more of a paisley type of gal. ;)

Ohhhhh, I just looked at that link. :Doh: Jim had one of those, custom made too. He had this on one leg and the full brace on the other. He loved it and it definitely keeps the knee from going backward. He said it helped big time and thinks you'll be happy. He said make sure you get a real soft cloth to go under it so it doesn't chafe your leg. The company should have some for you to try.

thats what I thought Jim had said, but when you mention the full leg one I wasnt sure, if maybe my brain was a bit more whacked out than it normally is. I need to remember this so I can talk to Nero the Neuro cause some scripts my insurance actual picks up

For some reason, bending backwards is not a good idea. Sounds like it hurts...lots. Good idea on getting the custom-made job. We must do what we must to keep on.

Stupid MS...

Hugs to you Naps!

(can I smack her instead?)

I had this issue and I even went to an orthopedist to make sure the knee wasn't about to buckle. He said that my knee was mechanically fine and recommended a pull on neoprene knee brace from a drug store and it worked great.

i have something simmilar to your cage thingie. my knee problems stem from injuries back in my days of youth and immortallity though,before MS. when i was young i used to race motocross. i was just never all that good at it and i wrecked alot. and as a result i trashed my knees. now, when they 'go out' on me they wont lock, as it were. and when i walk i cant control when the knee bends for the next step. it just bends when ever it feels like. and yes it does hurt,horrendously to have it bend the wrong way. the first time it did it to me i thought i had broken something.
the brace i have seems to be a different design of the same thingyoure looking at. i got it from a sports medicine place in alexandria,va. the way mine is designed the hinges are supposed to help distribute my weight around my knee while preventing it from snapping back.

http://www.braceshop.com/productcart...ce-152p474.htm

thats the one i got

cindy,

making any progress on this?
thinking of you.

So, will it bring in radio stations better, include wifi??

Inquiring minds want to know.

How's it going, Cindy? I do hope this contraption will help you get around a bit better..:hug:

I had to get a knee braces that has hinges on it to stop the hyper extension of the ligaments. Ill snap a pic of it today

Knee hyperextending
 

I have the same great new symtom. I have had MS for 20 years. This is the first pain I have had with it and the most debilitating. I did purchase and wear the swedish knee brace. I use it for extending walking. It has seemed to stop the irritation happening on my knee cap. Along with lots of Advil. Mostly if I have to go to the grocery store or do alot of errands. It cost me around $300.00 at an orthodics place. What I am most curious about is if this is a RR thing or am I stuck with it? Seems to be the latter as it has been going on for about 6 months. A physical therapist told me it was mostly because my quad muscle and hamstring are getting weaker? I hate this condition. It has taken me from super active to being happy to make a short trip to the mall. Feel free to contact me Cindi if you need more info.
Gina

Tysabri and knee hyperextension
 

I've been on tysabri for about 3 and 1/2 years. About 9 months ago my right knee would hperextend while trying to walk. I also deal with slight drop foot on my right foot. I really think that there is some connection between tysabri and the hyperextension. I am wondering if others have experienced this as well.

Be well....