Pain in the knee while at altitude on commercial flights?

[kinoons]

Only other thing to add is the possibility of a DVT if seated in the same position for multiple hours.

This can express itself as pain behind the knee. Classicially the leg becomes swollen, reddens, and becomes hot. However not every clot reads the textbook.

Although I wouldn’t expect the pain to resolve once up and moving off the plane. This is more suggestive of arthritis in the knee. Classiclaly arthritis hurts when still, hurts more when you first get moving, then improves with additional movement.

A puzzle for your GP or possibly an ortho.

 

[Comm]

Do you notice any knee pain when there are drastic changes in the weather or temperature? I am recovering from knee surgery from earlier in the year and now notice pressure changes (whereas prior to the surgery i didnt). Although I have no issues diving (thankfully), I too experience stiffness with flying. I was told it was because its combination of the early stages of arthritis plus the effects of the injury.

 

[FishWatcher747]

If it is your right knee get an aisle seat such that you can stick your right leg into the aisle. If left knee get the opposite facing aisle seat. Get up and stretch frequently. I have had the flight attendants say well I didn't let another passenger stretch in the galley area so I can't let you. But then she didn't do anything when I kept stretching and ignored them.

Sitting in a cramped position for that many hours really can give people blood clots. It is a real thing.

 

[Mascottrepair]

Unlikely to be a diving-related bubble after this long, more likely altitude-related joint or circulation issue. Worth checking with a doctor, especially if it’s recurring.

 

[RedSeaDiver2]

Only other thing to add is the possibility of a DVT if seated in the same position for multiple hours.

This can express itself as pain behind the knee. Classicially the leg becomes swollen, reddens, and becomes hot. However not every clot reads the textbook.

Although I wouldn’t expect the pain to resolve once up and moving off the plane. This is more suggestive of arthritis in the knee. Classiclaly arthritis hurts when still, hurts more when you first get moving, then improves with additional movement.

A puzzle for your GP or possibly an ortho.

No signs of swelling, reddening or becoming hot - so hopefully not a DVT - but will keep an eye on it!

I might try an "experiment" on my next trip - by doing a lot more movement and walking around on the flight - except for the last couple of hours which are notorious for wild turbulance.

 

[RedSeaDiver2]

Do you notice any knee pain when there are drastic changes in the weather or temperature? I am recovering from knee surgery from earlier in the year and now notice pressure changes (whereas prior to the surgery i didnt). Although I have no issues diving (thankfully), I too experience stiffness with flying. I was told it was because its combination of the early stages of arthritis plus the effects of the injury.

No not at all - and I live in a place that puts the V in variable when it comes to weather. My father has been going through hell after a knee replacement that has left him in agony ever since so hopefully you don't reach that point!

 

[RedSeaDiver2]

If it is your right knee get an aisle seat such that you can stick your right leg into the aisle. If left knee get the opposite facing aisle seat. Get up and stretch frequently. I have had the flight attendants say well I didn't let another passenger stretch in the galley area so I can't let you. But then she didn't do anything when I kept stretching and ignored them.

Sitting in a cramped position for that many hours really can give people blood clots. It is a real thing.

Definitely a real thing - living in Australia where we are just about the world champions of long haul flying means that most people are aware of clots and DVT when flying. I'm up to just over 250,000 miles flown this calendar year so far.

 

[Altamira]

This is probably an unusual issue. In the last 8 months I have been doing a lot of long haul (8 hour +) flying - and I have been noticing that when at altitude I get pain in the left knee - that resolves when we land. Is likely to be a sign that I might have a bubble trapped in the knee or something totally unrelated to diving? If it is a bubble then I have been carrying it for a couple of years.

Retired pilot here with a history of osteoarthritis, and now the proud owner of five joint replacements. I put up with increased joint pain, associated with reduced air pressure, when flying until I retired. One of the artificial joints is still problematic, and there sure is a huge difference in that joint when flying as a passenger, particularly on long flights. The advice given by other posters to see an Orthopaedic Surgeon is spot on. Who knows, you too might become the owner of a new Titanium joint, enabling you to drop about .5 pounds of lead from your gear when diving.