badly sprained knee

[broadway]

I am not really sure how it go this bad.
I think I sprained my right knee on the elliptical doing something too fast or something. That was two weeks ago.

It feels fine after a night of sleep, but then feels "bad" by mid-morning.

I have asked for a referral from my PCP for an orthopedic physician - I guess.
I was hoping that this would go away, but now I am wondering if I may have torn something.

Never had this sort of thing my entire life. I am not an athlete.

Thoughts?

 

[W2R]

Ow. I'm glad you are going to a doctor and have been referred to a specialist.

My advice is to stay off the knee, use ice packs if they seem to help, and hopefully the specialist will know what is going on with your knee.

 

[mystang52]

I'm an avid runner, and currently have my own case of Runner's Knee. Pending a doctor visit, consider taking Aleve (naprosyn), which I find is a big help for joint injuries/sprains. Athlete or not, you might want to consider seeing a sports orthopedist. FWIW:
A few years ago I partially tore my MCL. The sports ortho I selected is a team physician for 2 nearby school track teams, and previously was on the staff of a major Marathon. I selected him because I felt he would likely have a better handle on these types of injuries. I was glad I did as he got me back to running relatively quickly. I have a pending appointment with him due to my current injury.

 

[broadway]

Is a MRI the only way to tell a sprain from a partial tear?

I have been hoping that this will get well on its on.
It is not painful per se to require aspirin.
Since I am currently unemployed I don't have to do much, but I do have to get up and down the stairs in the house.

Sigh.

 

[Bamaman]

I had an attorney who held a bunch of American records for running for seniors--both sprints and distance.

He told me "show me a 50 year old runner and I'll show you a 50 year old cripple." What he was really saying is that when you run long term, there are just so many holes to step in and you're simply going to hurt.

I agree about getting to a sports medicine doctor that works closely with runners. It's an upcoming part of medicine--including more aggressive physical therapy protocols.

 

[Nemo2]

He told me "show me a 50 year old runner and I'll show you a 50 year old cripple."

Almost 50 years ago I had the good fortune to be checked out by a Team Canada doctor, who was also a marathon runner, and who wrote a column for a Canadian running magazine - at that time he said to me (because of the condition of my knees) "I suppose there's no point in me telling you NOT to run?" He then arranged for me to have custom orthotics, (a far cry from the ones available nowadays), and I ran, with varying levels of discomfort, wearing tensor bandages, until I quit for good, circa 1996.

I really can't remember a time when my knees didn't hurt, but I'm not quite ready for replacements yet.

(As a kid, my maternal grandmother used to say "No sense, no feeling" which became my life's aphorism...along with "Suck it up, Buttercup".)

 

[broadway]

Not an athlete. Not a runner. I bearly spend 10 minutes on the elliptical on the lowest setting.
Bad luck I guess.
I have an appointment on Monday with an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in sports medicine. His credentials are top-notch.

 

[LOL!]

I predict your top-notch orthopedic surgeon will give you the exact same advice as W2R did.

 

[RunningBum]

Is a MRI the only way to tell a sprain from a partial tear?

When I tore my ACL and MCL a few years ago, the doc suspected it but had to have an MRI to confirm it. I suppose had it been less serious he might have been able to eliminate it, and yours may be able to also. Two weeks is pretty long to still be feeling that much pain though, unless you haven't really been resting it very well.

I hurt mine skiing. A chiropractor friend who was with me did some of those tests like you see med staff at football games do for knee injuries and he thought I didn't tear mine, but said he couldn't tell for sure. He knows I run a lot and thought maybe my leg strength was keeping him from being able to tell. It wasn't giving way like those tears often do, but both were complete tears.

The MCL can repair itself. Most likely he will give you a brace to help the process along. I had to have surgery for the ACL, but he didn't touch the MCL.

 

[TNBound]

My story for what it's worth...
Tore my meniscus after playing a very slow paced game of tennis. Yep I was out of shape! Ortho surgeon at a respected sports medicine clinic after MRI confirmed and said based on tear, it would not heal and needed to schedule surgery. I asked to wait on surgery and let me do PT just to see. Did PT with some type of electrode therapy, took daily supplement of concentrated curcumin with black pepper and a high potency fish oil and after a month, my knee was back to 100%. I cancelled the surgery and have never looked back. Just wanted to share because any time you can avoid surgery it's a good thing in my book.

 

[Moemg]

Ice it a lot and keep it elevated plus take an anti inflammatory. Another idea is an ace bandage for compression.

 

[broadway]

I predict your top-notch orthopedic surgeon will give you the exact same advice as W2R did.

If you count sitting all day in front a computer "keeping off the knee", I would say that I pass.
The only time I go up/down the stairs is to go down to the kitchen to eat.

 

[broadway]

Just wanted to share because any time you can avoid surgery it's a good thing in my book.

I completely agree!

 

[Hermit]

I have something in my knee that can get pinched. When it happens, I can barley walk for a week or two. I went to an orthopedic surgeon and after x-rays he said the best thing to do was take Alive on a daily basis and stay off it when it flares up. It works for me. The ice would probably even be better.

 

[Lsbcal]

I had an attorney who held a bunch of American records for running for seniors--both sprints and distance.

He told me "show me a 50 year old runner and I'll show you a 50 year old cripple." What he was really saying is that when you run long term, there are just so many holes to step in and you're simply going to hurt.

I agree about getting to a sports medicine doctor that works closely with runners. It's an upcoming part of medicine--including more aggressive physical therapy protocols.

It is possible to be injury free doing a lot of exercise. It's very important to ramp up SLOWLY. One does not want an overuse injury.

Regarding that 50 year old cripple statement above ... sorry but that is just incorrect. I'm 68 and running around 15 to 20 miles per week. Yep, sometimes there is a minor injury but one just needs some common sense rules like maybe:
1) Don't ramp up exercise too fast.
2) Wear good shoes and change at least every 500 miles
3) Try a rest day or alternate exercise every other day
4) Try to run on trails rather then hard concrete or asphalt
5) Don't run when you are sick or injured
6) Try for decent temperatures and especially don't go out without some protection in really cold weather (more strains possible)
7) Stay away from races or run them at your level unless you are getting paid big time for the effort
8) Don't do extremes like marathons unless you really know what you are doing

 

[Lsbcal]

I'm an avid runner, and currently have my own case of Runner's Knee. Pending a doctor visit, consider taking Aleve (naprosyn), which I find is a big help for joint injuries/sprains. Athlete or not, you might want to consider seeing a sports orthopedist. FWIW:
A few years ago I partially tore my MCL. The sports ortho I selected is a team physician for 2 nearby school track teams, and previously was on the staff of a major Marathon. I selected him because I felt he would likely have a better handle on these types of injuries. I was glad I did as he got me back to running relatively quickly. I have a pending appointment with him due to my current injury.

I've taken Aleve for minor back pain and minor hip pain. Never have done it more then 24 to 48 hours straight (see label directions). It reduces inflammation which means that if one is experiencing a nerve issue the swelling around the nerve is reduced and symptoms can go away. At least that is my non-expert idea of this process.

I've run for the better parts of 50 years. Never (yet) had a knee problem. I did fall a few weeks ago in a muddy area and my elbow went into my rib area. That was a first for that experience. Painful for a few days and Aleve helped.

 

[broadway]

Scheduled for a MRI for Tuesday.

 

[Winemaker]

Usually a tear will show some bruising or venial bleeding,a sprain not so much. However, a sprain usually takes a long time to heal properly. Although I am not a doctor, I drink wine with one. The fact that you are pain free at night, there is no fluid buildup to cause swelling (pain) til mid morning, when you are upright. I would suspect strain/sprain.

 

[bclover]

Scheduled for a MRI for Tuesday.

excellent!! that's really the only way to know and as WR said, ice, elevate and rest.

 

[broadway]

Update:
5 cm cyst behind the kneecap possibly leaking causing edema (swelling).

Wow!

 

[braumeister]

Amy maternal grandmother used to say "No sense, no feeling"

I love it. That was my father's line, used on me quite a lot.

Like you, I was lucky enough that decent orthotics enabled me to keep running until nearly 70, when arthritis finally caught up with me. The knees are still OK, but the hips have just about given out.

 

[Winemaker]

That's good news, I think. No damage to repair or heal. Rarely needs surgery, but may require a needle to drain. Good luck with treatment.