Knee Injury - What's the Verdict?

[roelof1]

So, I officially blew my knee out this past Thursday. Usually, if I get a knee injury I've healed up pretty nicely within 3-4 days. Well, I'm on day 5 and it's not getting better. I have an MRI scheduled for 3 weeks from now, but figured I could get some theories on what's wrong with me.

The "incident":
I was down doing the "spread eagle" after a mad scramble in front of the net. I'm not sure how it happened, but the right knee made a "pop" or "crack" sound, and hot pain shot up my leg, with the majority of the pain centralized around my knee. This happened in the 1st period of my first game. I then finished that game, and played the majority of the following game before pulling myself. I should have pulled myself immediately after the injury, but I'm a stubborn ass.

Symptoms:
The inside of my right knee is tender to the touch. It feels like a really fresh bruise, only there is no visible bruise. There's one spot in particular I can't full straighten my knee without pain. I can't fully bend the knee without pain. However, some bending is possible without help from my hands. Moving from the inside of my knee is very painful. For example, if I planted my right leg and attempted to pivot to the left or right, pain would burn through the inside of my right knee. I can not over extend the leg at all without pain. I'm walking with my knee slightly bent, which is comfortable, but can not walk with a straight leg.

The doctor thinks it might be my meniscus. My fiance had a similar problem, and he missed about 4 months total of hockey

What do you guys think? Is it more simple then that?

[hroark2112]

Say goodbye to either your meniscus or ACL/MCL. If you're lucky, it's just something strained, but the MRI will tell you the final outcome.

Sucks. I've torn my left ACL and my right MCL, as well as the TFCC in my left hand.

[Efe]

Does your knee lock occasionally? Like just get stuck, and you can't bend/extend your leg? Or did your knee ever give? That would be signs of a meniscus tear.

From your description it sounds like it might be a tear or bruising of your MCL.

[Rayzilla]

Sounds to me like it's your MCL, but I'm not a doctor by any means.

I got a Grade 1 MCL injury over a month ago. Maybe you should go see another doctor if the one that you already saw 'thinks' that it's your meniscus.

Good luck and get some rest, it's hard to do, and you are going to hear this over and over again.

Raymond

[pmgaff]

Originally Posted by Rayzilla

Sounds to me like it's your MCL, but I'm not a doctor by any means.

I got a Grade 1 MCL injury over a month ago...

+1 I had a Grade 2 injury in March and what you describe is painfully similar to what I experienced.

[Efe]

roelof1, just FYI:

Grade 1 mild
Grade 2 moderate
Grade 3 severe

although I've heard doctors refer to them as levels, with a few even saying the opposite (level 3-2-1, mild moderate severe)

[Rayzilla]

Originally Posted by pmgaff

+1 I had a Grade 2 injury in March and what you describe is painfully similar to what I experienced.

How is your injury coming along? Are you doing anything special? Have you ever heard of ultra-sound to speed up the healing process?

[Slapshot011]

If there is any way to get your MRI faster, do it. I got a grade 2 MCL sprain in January and I am still having some slight symptoms. The reason I was given from the Doc was that it should have been in a brace the first 6 weeks but since it went untreated for as long as it did it was still an issue. I didn't start the process of looking into it until about 8 weeks. By the time I got the MRI approved by the insurance company it was 14 weeks. too late to brace. Now I'm at the back end of having to just be patient. It's driving me nuts. 20 weeks!!! I've only had to wait longer for an injury to heal once and that was a freak nerve damage issue I had in college while in another sport.

I've learned my lesson the hard way. Get knees treated as soon as possible.

The pain your describing is very similar to what I had early. I got mine while skating out unfortunately. As I was clearing the puck the opposing player dove at it apparently ignoring the fact that my leg was in the way and he landed right across the outside of my knee that I had ironically just been cleared to play on after a minor strain/sprain 2 to 3 weeks earlier.

[roelof1]

Thanks guys. A physiotherapist on the team thought the symptoms seemed similar to someone with an MCL injury, but it was the family doctor that said meniscus. <sigh> I guess this pain isn't going to go away anytime soon

Originally Posted by Slapshot011

I've learned my lesson the hard way. Get knees treated as soon as possible.

The pain your describing is very similar to what I had early. I got mine while skating out unfortunately. As I was clearing the puck the opposing player dove at it apparently ignoring the fact that my leg was in the way and he landed right across the outside of my knee that I had ironically just been cleared to play on after a minor strain/sprain 2 to 3 weeks earlier.

20 weeks really sucks man. I feel your pain. I, seriously, can't wait that long. I'm getting married in September and need to be able to walk down the aisle (in freakin' high heels) without looking like a gimp. Unfortunately, because this isn't considered "serious" I have to wait 3 weeks or so. I already had an X-Ray but, obviously, that didn't show anything. It's focus is more on bone matter rather than muscle and tissue.

I'm only 25 years old (next Sunday). Talk about crappy

[Slapshot011]

Don't worry, walking shouldn't be an issue by then. I had most if not all of my range of motion back by week 4-6 maybe. I could walk fine. I could skate out a little at 10 weeks but I couldn't cut well or get any contact to the outside of my knee without feeling a lot of pain. Plus kicking a couch or table leg in the middle of the night wasn't very pleasant.

Unfortunately even at about 12 weeks I'd still get very specific pain on the mcl when the sports doc would check it so I couldn't be cleared to play net. At 14-15 weeks he told me I could pretty much do most things (jog, weight training etc) just avoid quick pivots, anything that could twist it and direct contact to the outside of the knee.

Depending on the severity of an MCL injury, I've heard of time frames as early as 4-6 weeks to heal. Mine seems to be an exception not the rule.

Good luck. Keep us posted.

[Slapshot011]

Originally Posted by roelof1

I'm getting married in September.

Oh, and Congratulations!

[habs-fan]

20 weeks is not unusual, depending on severity.

I suffered a level 2 tear to my right MCL a few years back. Happened just before the Xmas break. I managed to avoid surgery, but that shut down my season. Chiro/physio, TENS treatment 3 times a week for 6 months. I was cleared to resume baseball with a brace by late June, and cleared for goaltending in September.

[Benny33]

Your symptoms also sound similar to my knee problems from college. I had a kneecap that liked to dislocate on occasion. First time, incredible pain and then each subsequent time was a little more tolerable(8-10 times maximum). This eventually led to an acl/meniscus injury. What happened to me was this: doing rebound drills in practice, through the course of the drill i found myself down in butterfly(old school butterfly), puck goes off chest to my right, make a move to cover, pad sticks to ice. We used to practice for an hour, resurface and go for another hour. Wet pads(I was using a set of cooper gp pro pads at the time. nylon for most of the front of the pad) and fresh ice don't mix too well. I feel pain like my kneecap is out, but it isn't. Turns out my kneecap did a quick out and then back in and in the process tore my acl and a chunk of my meniscus was then lodged under my kneecap. The result: nonstop pain which basically felt like my kneecap was out all the time and the inability to straighten my leg all the way. This required Arthroscopic surgery and some good recovery time. This happened the last practice before our first game and the next time I dressed and felt 100% was our last practice of the season. Sucked.

Sorry for the long description.

Hope you have better luck. Also hope staying in net after the initial injury didn't cause anymore damage.

Good luck with your MRI. Stuck in a tube for an hour with loud banging is always a good time.

[Slapshot011]

Originally Posted by Benny33

Stuck in a tube for an hour with loud banging is always a good time.

The place I went to gave me headphones with music. I fell asleep both times

[Tim Allen27]

Sounds like a partial tear of the meniscus....Coming from the meniscus tearing king 4 surgeries in 6 years. I would put some money on the fact that you damamged your lateral mensicus. Good news for you is if its minor you should only be out a couple months to a couple weeks. If its worse I would say 6 months- a year if they need to repair the damage. My most recent tear 3 months ago they said *uck it since my knee looks like its been cheese graded in the inside and they removed about 75% of whats left of the mensicus in my knee. Just make sure you stick with the rehab and build the muscles up around that knee to protect it from future injuries. Knee injuries, especially to goalies, are like concussions. Once you've had one, your very suseptable to more