Collapsed Knee Pain

A collapsed knee, or dislocated knee, is one of the more painful experiences a person can have. When the knee dislocates, or "pops" out of place, the knee joint, which is the largest joint in the body, completely malfunctions. The pain is astonishing.

Significance

• The knee joint is the stabilizer between the upper and lower leg bones, and also serves as a fulcrum to provide more power and "torque" to the legs. It is responsible for a good deal of our mobility, and can bend, twist, rotate and straighten. Because it is a loose joint (i.e. not stabilized by bone) it is prone to injury.

Dislocation

• When the knee dislocates, the kneecap, which is secured by a network of muscles, tendons, ligaments and cartilage, is forced out of place and slides into the surrounding muscle and tissue. This forcibly stretches or tears the tissues holding it in place. It can either spontaneously go back into place (reduce), or it can remain dislocated.

Pain

• The pain with a dislocated or collapsed knee is immediate, intense and all consuming. The knee buckles as soon as the kneecap slides out of place, and no matter what you are doing or where you are, you will fall down. The pain is enough to take your breath away, and you may likely scream.

Back into Place

• Immediate medical attention is necessary. This is not an injury that can be iced away or ignored. If the kneecap has not popped back into place, it will need to be put back in by a medical professional. There will be damage to surrounding tissues, so expect tremendous swelling in short order.

Warning

• Do not attempt to put the kneecap back into place yourself--you can cause more harm than good. You must seek medical help as soon as possible, because time is of the essence in getting the knee diagnosed. The longer you wait, the more damage you risk.