My stupid knee-vent

[monkey68]

I'm just annoyed with my knee at the moment. A few years ago, I tore my PCL. Never had surgery (they're not commonly repaired), just did PT, everything was fine. No problems since, I still do PT exercises at home fairly regularly. Again, everything was fine, I was able to do pretty much everything I did before I hurt it. Occasionally, I would feel a little twinge, or if I knew I would be doing a lot of walking or something with a lot of pressure on my knee, I would wear a little knee brace or sleeve for some extra support. That is, up until 3 days ago.

What happened 3 days ago? I'm walking down the stairs, when my knee just gave out. Poof, all of a sudden, just gave out. I put ice on it right away, wrapped it, elevated it, the whole thing. The next day, it still didn't feel that great, and I was worried I might have torn the rest of my PCL, but I had to go to the hospital for my rotation, so I dragged out the heavy duty knee brace that I wore a few years ago, and off I went. I took elevators whenever I could, tried to sit down as often as possible, but I do need to be on my feet quite a bit anyway. And now, it's Thursday night, and it's still painful. Not quite as swollen, but I can't straighten it or flex it all the way either. Only now I'm not sure if it's because I had it fairly immobile the past few days, and it's muscle deconditioning, or if it's because I actually did something to my knee. I'm trying to do some gentle exercises, not sure if it's the best idea, but I don't even know what else to do at this point.

One of the residents did offer to look at it today when I went down to the ER to do an admission with another resident, since the ER was fairly quiet at that time, and I would be able to get x-rays right away, but they wouldn't have been able to waive my $100 ER copay, and if they did any x-rays, the hospital I guess needs my info on file, and then it would have just been a whole mess. Didn't exactly think it was worth it, since I'm pretty sure the x-rays would have just been negative anyway. I'm just annoyed, frustrated. I don't like having to limp around everywhere. I'm trying not to, because it's starting to put pressure on my other leg, but my knee hurts too much not to

Anyway, I know I just complained. I know I'm not asking for anything, just had to get it off my chest. That's all.

 

[mamacatnv]

I had a meniscus tear fixed and my ACL removed 4 weeks ago - I stepped on it wrong getting onto an airplane.

Make an appt. with a good Ortho, xrays don't tell them squat. The MRI gave them a pretty good idea but they really didn't know how bad my ACL was until they got in there and that is when they decided to remove it. I have another month of PT and then we shall see. Having the ACL fixed is not on my list of things to do if I can avoid it

Lots of ice and advil - good luck

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I agree that you should go to an orthopedic and see what he/she says. Most likely they will order an MRI which will show if you did something to it. I have had one knee scope but three (yes three) ACL reconstructions. The only way you will know for sure is if you go to an orthopod.

Good news is that your quad muscle may just need some strengthening. That happened to me a few weeks ago. I couldn't go up steps correctly because my knee was giving out. It went away and I think I just had to work on my quad.

Best of luck with whatever the outcome may be!

 

[QVCshopper]

You may have hurt/torn your ACL. From my experience, the ACL is what stabilizes your knee. Go to a good ortho doc and get an MRI. And wear your brace.

Here's my story: A man hit into my knee in a work volleyball game. I went to a quack doc who told me to hop on said knee. I did, he said it was fine after X-rays. Flash forward 18 months of it bothering me: I drop down a 5' fence. When I fall, my knee gives out and my arm takes the whole force. I break my elbow (worst pain ever) -- completely out of the joint with fratures. Awful. I go to a good ortho for my elbow. He immediately asks to see my knee, drains the fluid, orders MRI. Turns out my ACL is gone and I have bad meniscus tears. So, after going through PT for the ebow, I then had to get knee surgery for ACL and meniscus, and more PT for the knee. Oh and did I mention that my kids were 1 and 2 at the time?

What a year! Good luck to OP and all others... Knees are a bummer. So are elbows.

 

[pyrxtc]

sounds like it hasn't healed yet. I tore my ACL and stretched my PCL and did my PT but it still didn't feel right and I was still having probelms walking too much and couldn't even get up froma squat position without help. It was almsot 3 yrs after and I was used to dealing with the pain when my kids made me go roller skating. Boy, did it hurt ! It hurt the most when my DS5 took me out and I landed on that knee and balled up in pain on the floor. I didn't want to move for anything but it was move or they clear the floor and call for help. A miracle happened then..... I got up and let it rest for about 20 minutes an when I went to walk on it, I had no pain ! I could squat and get up and turn it and all normal things wiht no pain. I joke that my DS fixed it but I guess it's kind of true. Ever since that day it hasn't hurt again. I am looking forward to learning to ski this winter.

Whatever it was that hurting, my ortho never saw it and my PT never noticed either. My knee was pretty bad but ortho said it would heal them same wiht or wihtout surgery so we went wihtout. Thank goodness that DS5 didn't know how to skate very well and knocked me over or else I'd still be hurting while walking around Disney this weekend. I also never would ahve thought about doing a 5k ever !

 

[monkey68]

pyrtxc, can I borrow your son? I'll go rollerskating with him and let him knock me down if it will make my knee stop hurting. I'll gladly deal with 20 minutes of intense pain and then not have any problems with it. Could be a new cure.