Balance problems when walking - knee, back or brain? (Sheryl and others)

[MrHammer]

I'd really like some of your perspectives. Please read everything before commenting.

Basically, I have now for over 2 weeks had pretty bad feelings of losing balance, 'bouncing' around when I walk and only when I walk. It feels like walking on a trampoline almost, where when I take a step the ground feels like it gives in and then 'bounces back'. I can keep my balance, I don't sway much doing the closed eyes, feet together test and I can walk a straight line one feet in front of the other.

What happened:

Around the 4th of November I noticed having this bouncy, unstable, feet through ground feeling when walking, particularly right step. I had played a lot of sports in the weeks coming up to that, including basketball. I already have a degenerative disc (not slipped - at that point), which has given me quite a lot of back pain.

Then at the 4th of November, I hit my head in the temple on a street sign, didn't pass out, no major headache or anything, no broken bone or even swelling. Still a pretty hard hit, but the sign gave in some.

At this time, I also noticed knee pain in my right leg and later in my left. It is quite noticeable pain, but not very painful, but there is definitely still some pain in my right knee and also left. I've had bursitis of the knee before, but that doesn't feel like this exactly.

I went to see an ortopedist some days after thinking it was related to my back. He didn't think that and wanted to send me to check out my brain, when I told him I had knee pain. He did some manipulation of the knee and then seemed very certain that I had a meniscus and/or ACL tear and that this was the cause of my walking problems, including the inbalance and unstability.

Things got worse though and so since then I've had a CT scan and a MR scan of the brain, both seemingly normal, not showing signs of bleeding or brain inury. Only showed some sinusitis which I am being treated for with antibiotics. I also had a full blood panel, which I didn't see the results but was told was normal.

What to do?

These balance problems are very uncomfortable and while I don't fall over or anything, it feels very unpleasent to have that feeling all the time. I want to ask if this kind of feeling can be attributed to knee problems (ACL, Meniscus) or even in combination with bad back or post concussion syndrome?

To make things more annoying, my insurance agency is acting up, which means I have so far paid out of pocket which is quite expensive with the testing and the people at Bumrungrad (will not keep going there because of now bad experience, but that is another story).

I have a referral for a knee MR scan, but should I be worried about other things? I have even considered booking a flight home, because if my insurance can't be counted on right now, I don't want to be here with neurological issues.

What do you think about the whole thing? I appreciate your comments very much.

[Riley'sLife]

Most likely to be an inner ear infection, especially as you already have sinus infection.

[FBN]

Meniscus problems cause pain and the knee "locking up" at times but no instability.

Back problems associated with the existing disc problem need to be excluded. The sports activities may have contributed to precipitate a disc "bulging" with pressure on the columns in the spinal cord at the rear and central which is responsible for balance and "proprioception"..

Good physical neurological examination should be able to identify this before having more special investigations.

[MrHammer]

Meniscus problems cause pain and the knee "locking up" at times but no instability.

Back problems associated with the existing disc problem need to be excluded. The sports activities may have contributed to precipitate a disc "bulging" with pressure on the columns in the spinal cord at the rear and central which is responsible for balance and "proprioception"..

Good physical neurological examination should be able to identify this before having more special investigations.

Ok, so who should I talk to, an orthopedist, neurologist, general doctor? What should I tell them?

Thanks, but what about an ACL injury, will that give those symptoms?

[NeverSure]

There are many tests that aren't invasive that can be done by an ear, nose and throat doctor or a neurologist or both working together. There is the three part balance test which can tell if it's brain or inner ear. There is the quick and easy Dix-Hallpike test which can tell if it's inner ear, and if so, which ear. Then there is the Epley maneuver which is used to treat problems in the ear in the semicircular canal if the Dix-Hallpike test is positive.

Maybe simple x-rays of the inner ears would see an infection?

I'm no doctor and I'm sure there's much, much more, but these are things I've been through over the past 3 years or so, so I just happen to know about them.

If you go home, see if you can get a copy of your brain MRI on DVD to give to a radiologist and a neurologist for review. It might speed things up for you?

I wish you the best.

Edited November 20, 2013 by NeverSure

[FBN]

Meniscus problems cause pain and the knee "locking up" at times but no instability.

Back problems associated with the existing disc problem need to be excluded. The sports activities may have contributed to precipitate a disc "bulging" with pressure on the columns in the spinal cord at the rear and central which is responsible for balance and "proprioception"..

Good physical neurological examination should be able to identify this before having more special investigations.

Ok, so who should I talk to, an orthopedist, neurologist, general doctor? What should I tell them?

Thanks, but what about an ACL injury, will that give those symptoms?

ACL will make the knee "give way" under weight bearing but not affect balance the way you describe.

Inner ear problems could very well be the culprit as a previous poster suggested and should be excluded.

[White Christmas13]

Now I am not a doctor either but I am just reading a little booklet about balance

which I got of my wife who is a nurse in a aged care home

quote

factors that may affect your balance are:

loss of muscle strength

reduced joint movement and stability

the side effects of some medicine

ear problems(including wax build up)

sudden movements, especially rising quickly from a sitting or kneeling position

the effect of a hip or knee replacement in the short term

I don't know if that is any help to you

but just like to mention it

all the best

[MrHammer]

TTT