pop goes the left knee

[Dharmaboy]

well its official. I have now popped both my knees now. last night during league play my left knee (the good one) did a pop (when trying to squeeze knees for butterfly 5 hole save). I have had this happen to me a few times a year with the right knee but never ever to the left.

I am pretty bummed out now as I am closing in on playoffs with my summer team, had some shinney lined up for practice and I think this is all down the tubes until I rehab the knee.

How much time would you guys take off to rehab (workouts, yoga, stretching etc) before I even attempt to get on the horse again?

Remember I have been playing with a popped right knee for a few years now and its held up. This right knee has been aggrevated a few times over the years but I am devasted that it happend to the left knee as well.

I think my playing ball hockey the night before was the culprit.

Thanks for any input.

[PeteSmithStoppa]

After my latest knee injury I think here are my guidelines. If you are sore, and tender (with discoloration) after a few days, you probably did something bad, must see Dr.

If you can sort of get around and you sense that it is healing, give it some time. Doctors love to call things "sprains" and send you on your way. I think as a general rule, trust how you feel. I wouldn't go near a goal crease unless you have been pain free (I mean b-fly dropping on pillows / bouncing back up in the living room) for a week. At the end of the day, we don't do this for a living and shouldn't come back too fast, although missing ice wrecks me.

Pete

[Dharmaboy]

Well,
I have called off my shinney with 1 group and told my team rep that I should take this opportunity to take off the next 2 months so that I can prepare and heal for Winter season.

I have been playing 3 years straight with max 2 weeks off.

I need to let my body heal.

so far no discoloration. just a bit sore on the left knee. right knee is fine.

[blueice800]

I feel you Dharma, I have an appointment with an ortho tomorrow to look at my knee, which has not been right for about 6 weeks. I was poke checking someone, laying on my right side, when a backchecker came in and clipped my left skate, spinning me around and seriously jerking my left leg. Felt like my hip was going to dislocate. In the end I think it pulled my hammys. We'll see what the doc says. Haven't played in a couple of weeks and can't wait to get some news on when I can come back.

[blueice800]

I saw a sports medicine specialist this morning who took an x-ray and did some manipulation tests; he thinks I've got a laminar tear of my meniscus. I'm slated for 3 weeks of physical therapy and then a follow up appt. with the doc (I guess an MRI is the next step if things don't drastically improve).

Seems like everyone is busting their knees these days...

[Dharmaboy]

I saw a doctor and have the go-ahead of X-rays on both knees. This seems mandatory in AB,Canada before the Okay on an MRI.

So I will do that this week.

[scooter]

It's not just AB, I think it's Canada in general.

1. You make an appt to see the dr.
2. You get sent for x-rays.
3. You make an appt to get the result of the x-ray...not broken? Thanks doc.
4. You get sent to Physio
5. Physio doesn't work you make an appt to see the dr. again
6. You get referred to an ortho doc.
7. You wait 2 monthes till you get your appt date from the ortho dr.
8. 6 monthes later you get to see this "mythical" ortho dr.
9. You get sent for an mri
10. You wait 6-8 monthes then finally get your mri
11. You make an appt with ortho dr to get the results of your mri
12. He suggests arthoscopy surgery.
13. You enter the "wait list limbo"

You could get a surgery date anytime between now and a year and a half from now.

So good luck, perhaps AB is a little easier than B.C.

End rant.

[Vanilla Gorilla]

I am in the process of healing from shoulder surgery(i know not the knee) and when I am good to go, it will have taken one year. That is from the dislocation to full health.
Good Luck with your knee. Get them fixed right so you do not have to worry about them in the future.

[Zay1993]

Not to take the thread off track but I've got a question about my knees......

So 2 years ago, when I just started playing goal and had crappy (CRAPPY) gear. I had no kneepads and my pads were 30 inches with no thighrise. The pad didn't even reach the bottom of my knee. So I was just on the ice with my friends and one of my buddies came in from the blue line, took a slapshot and BAM right on my left knee. Direct hit with NO padding at all....... That hurt more than a nut shot (with a crappy jock) I couldn't walk for a few days, my knee swelled up like crazy. I couldn't see a doctor because I was living in a hicktown where the doctor probably didn't even know how to treat a flu......

I took a few weeks off hockey then started playing again. It still hurt when I butterflied but I thought that was normal because my pads didn't have any landing gear. I kept playing and eventually took a hard wrist shot to my right knee. Wasn't nearly as bad as my left knee but still hurt like a bitch.

To this day my left knee hurts after playing a game of hockey, or even after being on my feet for to long. It hurts BADLY if I ride a bike for 2 hours. (I used to ride all day with no problems) My right knee hurts every now and then but nothing serious. I've gone to see a doctor twice about my knees, the first one told me it was nothing, and the second one told me it was just from growing pains. Hmm growing pains after playing a game of hockey EVERYTIME? Coincidince? I don't think so......Any thoughts?

[Dharmaboy]

I saw a physio therapist at the Glen Sather sports clinic today. The therapist did some test on the left knee and said I have no ligament damage as I was able to be manipulated without any discomfort.

He does feel that I grinded my miniscus and the pain was due to that. I am probably out for 3 weeks and not as bad as I feared. I still will take it easy and not rush back to playing meaning my playoff run is over.


So far so good. I will still go with the MRI schedule just to make sure.

[Vanilla Gorilla]

I had my physio there today as well!

[GoalieCrzY]

Originally Posted by Zay1993

Not to take the thread off track but I've got a question about my knees......

So 2 years ago, when I just started playing goal and had crappy (CRAPPY) gear. I had no kneepads and my pads were 30 inches with no thighrise. The pad didn't even reach the bottom of my knee. So I was just on the ice with my friends and one of my buddies came in from the blue line, took a slapshot and BAM right on my left knee. Direct hit with NO padding at all....... That hurt more than a nut shot (with a crappy jock) I couldn't walk for a few days, my knee swelled up like crazy. I couldn't see a doctor because I was living in a hicktown where the doctor probably didn't even know how to treat a flu......

I took a few weeks off hockey then started playing again. It still hurt when I butterflied but I thought that was normal because my pads didn't have any landing gear. I kept playing and eventually took a hard wrist shot to my right knee. Wasn't nearly as bad as my left knee but still hurt like a bitch.

To this day my left knee hurts after playing a game of hockey, or even after being on my feet for to long. It hurts BADLY if I ride a bike for 2 hours. (I used to ride all day with no problems) My right knee hurts every now and then but nothing serious. I've gone to see a doctor twice about my knees, the first one told me it was nothing, and the second one told me it was just from growing pains. Hmm growing pains after playing a game of hockey EVERYTIME? Coincidince? I don't think so......Any thoughts?

hey Zay, i had something smiler to this but not as long as severe. i had originally injured my knee in karate and after many doctors that the blood(of fluid i cant remember) sack under my knee cap was swollen. it eventually went away but i did get hit there again with a slapshot and no knee padding YIKES. same thing as the last time i injured it.

my knee does hurt sometimes when i do to many butterfly drills. i kinda feels like it gets stuck and i get a sharp pain.

i dont know if that helps but it sounds kinda smiler.

[Dharmaboy]

Originally Posted by GoalieCrzY

hey Zay, i had something smiler to this but not as long as severe. i had originally injured my knee in karate and after many doctors that the blood(of fluid i cant remember) sack under my knee cap was swollen. it eventually went away but i did get hit there again with a slapshot and no knee padding YIKES. same thing as the last time i injured it.

my knee does hurt sometimes when i do to many butterfly drills. i kinda feels like it gets stuck and i get a sharp pain.

i dont know if that helps but it sounds kinda smiler.

I think the sharp pain is your femur rubbing against the miniscus cartilage, almost bruising it. Thats what happend to me. Feels like you cant extend you leg because of the pain.

this has been an issue for both knees. time to play stand up.

[GoalieCrzY]

ouch, hearing that explanation made me cringe

can i do anything about it? i have a hockey camp coming up that once weekly and the instructor LOVES to do bfly and bfly slides up and down the rink- i know this will definatly make it hurt.

would a knee brace help?

[Dharmaboy]

Well the best would be heavy knee braces with the metal hinges on both sides for stability.

It gives lateral support and stops you from over flexion (spelling?) of the knee.

so far its been great.

it will take time to adapt but think of it as you only have 2 knees hurt or not you got them for life and ...........................Kolzig wears one.