I don't live in the DMV anymore but I hyperextended my knee several months ago and my health care friends said it would take ages to see a specialist.

A nice person on the phone at the hospital said things might get expedited if I went to urgent care. I did, and had a sports medicine appointment just a few days later. Turned out I partially tore my ACL, so it was very good that I had an MRI, PT, and an excellent brace before I hurt it worse.

So maybe go to an urgent care that is part of a big org that also has sports med and/or orthopedics.

Good luck.

Are you sick? Mine does this when I have a virus (due to inflammation).

Call around and see if you can get a faster appointment, or go to urgent care, they may be able to refer you to a PT faster.

Likely your meniscus. I recommend Dr. Novak with Ortho VA

You can try OrthoVirginia Ortho On Call. Some have Saturday hours.

Anonymous wrote:Also sounds like a meniscus tear to me. If you need surgery it can be a tough recovery and PT now could help with the recovery.

Surgery to remove torn meniscus is a nothingburger. On the other hand, surgery to repair torn meniscus can result in a protracted and uncomfortable recovery.

To the OP, is the snapping sensation inside the joint, or on the outside of your knee? If on the lateral side and you can actually feel it snapping it could be iliotibial band syndrome.

When I had that catching feeling in my knee it was a torn meniscus.

If you are in Virginia we have "direct access" where we can see a PT over a 60-day window until the doctor referral comes through.

Anonymous wrote:Honestly it sounds like a torn meniscus…you need to go to the doc either way

+1
Ligaments pop once and then suddenly pain and lots of swelling, then the swelling subsides and the knee slides out of place sometimes. Meniscus can pop, crunch, or snap. Luckily it's an easy fix with a key hold surgery and a week recovery (at worse) and steroid shot and exercise (at best). Easy Pease lemon squeeze. Go to the doc; you need the rec to get into physio either way.

Gee, I don't know, wouldn't you want to contact a doctor than a rando internet board?

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I made an appt but they can’t see me for weeks!

If you’re in MD you might be able to get into a physical therapist while you wait. The exercises they give you could help with the pain and possibly even eliminate the need for surgery.

Also sounds like a meniscus tear to me. If you need surgery it can be a tough recovery and PT now could help with the recovery.

Yes, I made an appt but they can’t see me for weeks!

Honestly it sounds like a torn meniscus…you need to go to the doc either way

Well, obviously…you need a doctor.

It feels like something is snapping and it is painful. I can feel when it “catches” and know it’s going to hurt when I move my knee and it “snaps.” This has been going on for days now.

I described it to my husband and he looked at me like I was crazy. I looked online, I see lots about popping but it isn’t a pop — it’s a snapping feeling, there is no sound.

Is this a tendon? Ligament? What can be done?

I literally am scared to move my leg for fear of getting whatever it is “caught” knowing that it will painfully snap back.