Do you suffer from joint mice knee pain? If you do there is one thing you never have to worry about. There are no mice running around in your knee. Joint Mice is a term for a free body in the synovial space in the knee. Joint mice are composed of fibrous tissue covered by cartilage.
Simply put, Joint mice is a light hearted term referring to the pesky feeling of a loose piece of bone that has fallen off in the knee.
Note – Joint mice is also known as joint mouse, joint body or loose body. This term can refer to objects found in other joints of the body. However, this site is specific to knee pain relief.
Causes
Here are the most common joint mice causes:
- Degenerative joint disease such as osteoarthritis.
- A chip fracture.
- A torn piece of cartilage.
- Knee trauma or overuse
- An object, such as a broken object from a previous surgery.
- Osteochondritis Dissecans.
Symptoms
There are many symptoms for joint mice. These four are the most common ones related to knee pain:
- Locking of the knee that comes and goes.
- Pain and swelling that comes and goes.
- The feeling of an object or lump in the knee when you touch it.
- Chronic stiffness that comes and goes.
Treatments
For small loose bodies, a doctor might relieve the symptoms directly. For example, if you feel pain and swelling, anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) may be prescribed. However, in most cases, any loose body that is causing symptoms should be removed.
For large loose bodies, a doctor may recommend arthroscopic surgery. This type of surgery is a minimally invasive procedure in which an examination and possible treatment of damage is performed using an arthroscope.
Rest is mandatory for bone healing and knee pain relief. However, it is always recommended to contact your medical healthcare professional if you feel something moving about in your knee. In addition, if you are experiencing severe knee pain and swelling call your doctor immediately.
Have you had joint mice knee pain? If so please comment below.
Hi, I think I might have this. I had a torn Meniscus, and I have arthritis. I had surgery a few months ago but now it feels as though a chunk is floating because it floats from side to side or even under the bottom of my knee. It’s very painful when that happens, I can’t bear weight. I move my knee around some and it will go away. Does this sound correct? Will it go away on its own or should I talk to my surgeon again?
Considering you’ve been having the problem for months there may be some underlying cause, so it’s best to talk with your doctor/surgeon.