Knee issue. Mcl, acl, or am I a whiner?

[markstanco 12,627]

Whiner of course.

 

Going to Colorado with the fam in 5 weeks. Lots of rafting and hiking.

 

Anyhow I think I screwed my knee Saturday. Stepped in a hole.

 

So from my perspective it's my left knee. In particular about 2 inches down and to the right (inside) it is ridiculously tender.

 

Is that acl or ncl? My point is, get a knee brace and don't be a pussy until after vacation so I don't screw it up for my boys and wife? Pain is fine. I dealt with 5 torn ligs and torn cuff last year so I can deal with it.

 

Or, is the inside of the knee something serious. I believe the outside is the issue.

[maninblack 7,974]

Could be meniscus. Give it time or go get it checked out. 

[markstanco 12,627]

Yea giving time. If it was November and insurance was kicked in I would go get the mri tomorrow. I'll deal with the pain for a bit though.

[MNLonghornFUKM 8,822]

Rub some dirt on it and get back out there

[gyroprotagonist 2,595]

you have 5 weeks and are set on not getting any surgery.  if it's not better in 2-3 weeks no harm in getting MRI and maybe a cortisone shot prior to the trip.

[Nice Guy Eddie 13,528]

I would go to the doctor now. Do you want to wait 3 weeks and discover that earlier treatment may have helped you be active on this upcoming trip but you waited too long?

[Bevo 13,601]

Try sex. If the pain is enough to keep you from having it then go see a doctor. If not, you are probably fine. Put some ice on it and see if it improves after a few days.

[Updawg 2,286]

If you catch it go see a doctor and get rid of it

[Irish Wrist Watch 1,398]

FWIW, 9mo ago, one of our tennis players, computer geek, 38, average build, tore his acl on the court. For the last couple of months, he's been out there on the courts running around like a mad man. No brace, no neoprene, nothing. Absolutely ZERO signs that he ever hurt his knee. 

[maninblack 7,974]

I fucked up my knee about 3 months ago and have been letting it rest. Haven't gotten an MRI yet but thinking about it now. Not in pain but can't squat without making adjustments which is concerning to me after this amount of time. 

Keep us updated 

[Chewbacca 7,787]

FWIW, 9mo ago, one of our tennis players, computer geek, 38, average build, tore his acl on the court. For the last couple of months, he's been out there on the courts running around like a mad man. No brace, no neoprene, nothing. Absolutely ZERO signs that he ever hurt his knee. 

Job Elway played his whole career without an ACL.

[Knoxtnhorn 6,066]

23 hours ago, Irish Wrist Watch said:

FWIW, 9mo ago, one of our tennis players, computer geek, 38, average build, tore his acl on the court. For the last couple of months, he's been out there on the courts running around like a mad man. No brace, no neoprene, nothing. Absolutely ZERO signs that he ever hurt his knee. 

He have surgery?  One can play some sports / physical activities, but I'm not so sure tennis would be one w/o a reconstruction.

Edit: Even with surgery, 7 months seems awfully quick.

Edited May 15, 2021 by Knoxtnhorn

[Knoxtnhorn 6,066]

On 5/11/2021 at 10:09 PM, markstanco said:

 

Whiner of course.

 

Going to Colorado with the fam in 5 weeks. Lots of rafting and hiking.

 

Anyhow I think I screwed my knee Saturday. Stepped in a hole.

 

So from my perspective it's my left knee. In particular about 2 inches down and to the right (inside) it is ridiculously tender.

 

Is that acl or ncl? My point is, get a knee brace and don't be a pussy until after vacation so I don't screw it up for my boys and wife? Pain is fine. I dealt with 5 torn ligs and torn cuff last year so I can deal with it.

 

Or, is the inside of the knee something serious. I believe the outside is the issue.

 

There's really no way to diagnose this based on a description.  When I blew out my left knee, the doc said he thought I might have a torn ACL but wouldn't know for sure until he opened me up.  I only found out after waking up from surgery.  When I blew out my right knee, I was pretty sure it was a torn ACL based on what I felt the first time.  Again, the ortho didn't know for sure until surgery.  (Apparently, I asked the nurse at least 30 times if if was a reconstruction before coming out of the anesthetic fog.)  Note:  I did not have an MRI either time.  Docs just did some manipulation motions to check.  

[Knoxtnhorn 6,066]

My bad.  One more thing.  My injuries were in the 90's, so I'm sure things have improved since then re: identification w/o an MRI or surgery.

[Bevo 13,601]

7 hours ago, Knoxtnhorn said:

My bad.  One more thing.  My injuries were in the 90's, so I'm sure things have improved since then re: identification w/o an MRI or surgery.

Drawer test and imaging are still being used.

[Irish Wrist Watch 1,398]

On 5/15/2021 at 11:42 AM, Knoxtnhorn said:

He have surgery?  One can play some sports / physical activities, but I'm not so sure tennis would be one w/o a reconstruction.

Edit: Even with surgery, 7 months seems awfully quick.

Pretty sure. He had to be helped off the court at the time. Didn't see him for months. I think it was a complete tear too. I'm afraid to bring it up again because I don't want to jinx him. He doesn't appear to be worried about it. He'll run full speed and stop on a dime. If I get a chance, I'll get more details.

[markstanco 12,627]

On 5/11/2021 at 10:12 PM, maninblack said:

Could be meniscus. Give it time or go get it checked out. 

A week has gone by, and it feels a lot better.  I am thinking your diagnosis is correct, Dr. MIB.  

[washparkhorn 9,939]

If it is meniscus and it locks occasionally, don't panic.

The wave of pain passes quickly.

Just reverse the motion that caused the locking to unlock it. Do it once you can breathe normally and relax. The unlocking is mostly painless.

Mostly . . . 

 

Good luck with it. Hopefully it just was bruise (not a bone bruise, though). 

 

 

 

Edited May 17, 2021 by washparkhorn

[Droopy 2,626]

Just found this thread...

I'm 44, in decent shape and active. I had a torn meniscus in January. Left knee was swelling and felt like it was loose or unstable. Got the MRI and x-rays and it showed a torn meniscus. Bit the bullet and had surgery. I went back 8 weeks later and had a check up. Doc says everything looks good and since I was walking normally but still a little sore I could go back to my regular activity, which was tennis twice a week and golf occasionally. 

In April, the knee started to swell again and now it feels the same as before the surgery. It swells and fucking hurts to walk around. The swelling goes down for a few days but the pain/instability remains. If I use it for any activity, say mowing the lawn, it swells back up. I went back to the doc and they tell me there is a little arthritis and to give it a little rest, do some physical therapy, take some anti-inflammatory meds for a while, but nothing has helped. It feels like the entire knee is in pain. I feels like I can do everything with it except really turn to the inside (go hard right), but the pain is really debilitating. I don't run anymore and really only play tennis. 

 

I'm kicking myself for not getting a second opinion, but maybe I've torn the other side of the knee's meniscus? I don't know, but being an active person, this shit is killing me. Anyone else deal with something like this? The doc said I could go back to normal activity, but should I have just stayed off it for 6 months?

[Bigpoppapump 532]

Just found this thread...
I'm 44, in decent shape and active. I had a torn meniscus in January. Left knee was swelling and felt like it was loose or unstable. Got the MRI and x-rays and it showed a torn meniscus. Bit the bullet and had surgery. I went back 8 weeks later and had a check up. Doc says everything looks good and since I was walking normally but still a little sore I could go back to my regular activity, which was tennis twice a week and golf occasionally. 
In April, the knee started to swell again and now it feels the same as before the surgery. It swells and fucking hurts to walk around. The swelling goes down for a few days but the pain/instability remains. If I use it for any activity, say mowing the lawn, it swells back up. I went back to the doc and they tell me there is a little arthritis and to give it a little rest, do some physical therapy, take some anti-inflammatory meds for a while, but nothing has helped. It feels like the entire knee is in pain. I feels like I can do everything with it except really turn to the inside (go hard right), but the pain is really debilitating. I don't run anymore and really only play tennis. 
 
I'm kicking myself for not getting a second opinion, but maybe I've torn the other side of the knee's meniscus? I don't know, but being an active person, this shit is killing me. Anyone else deal with something like this? The doc said I could go back to normal activity, but should I have just stayed off it for 6 months?

I couldn’t kneel on my repaired knee for about a year after the surgery, but could run 3-5 weeks or something after. Honestly don’t remember if I had swelling persist since I stopped doing a lot of knee strenuous activities and really only doing extended rehab stuff. Maybe it’s too soon for tennis? Not sure.

[South Austin 52,629]

I am a doctor (of jurisprudence), so I can say based on my extensive years of experience that it is mostly likely knee cancer. 

[Dbeasy 15,095]

Public service announcement of high importance for stubborn men) i.e. all men.

if you injure your knee, at a minimum don’t do anything at all on it for 4-8 weeks. Preferably, go get it checked by a doctor. 

Playing intramural football at UT I hyperextended it. Trying to shake it off, I went back into the game and properly effed it up good.

My knee surgeon said half the time guys only partially tear the knee but insist on continuing anyway, tearing it completely. A partial tear can often heal on its own. But once it’s fully torn, it’s major surgery. 

 

[markstanco 12,627]

Preferably, go get it checked by a doctor. 

 

So, getting it checked out by a teacher or salesman or a carpenter is a bad idea?

[Both Tacos 1,806]

So, getting it checked out by a teacher or salesman or a carpenter is a bad idea?

Nope, getting it checked out by your gynecologist is good.

[markstanco 12,627]

She is a smoke show. So maybe.

[Droopy 2,626]

6 hours ago, South Austin said:

I am a doctor (of jurisprudence), so I can say based on my extensive years of experience that it is mostly likely knee cancer. 

Oh thank God! I was scared it was Knee AIDS. 

Edited May 28, 2021 by Droopy
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