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Thread: Knee damage

  1. #1
    Member tomsdad's Avatar
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    Knee damage

    Having ran for 5 years on all surfaces and terrain, I was talked into taking part in a five aside football match.

    The upshot is That I have injured my left knee. have been to the doctors then physio, but was told The ligaments and muscles around the knee were fine.
    I have been referred to a specialist for possibly an MRI scan as they can not help.
    I would assume surgery may be on the cards, the question is have any of you out there been able resume full strength and mobility post op?
    I was advised that swimmimg or cycling may help however the last thing I need right now is to make matters worse.
    I appreciate I am looking at a worst case scenario, but as my legs in agony and can do nowt else but wait for the appointment.
    Anyone?
    Someone has to bring up the rear

  2. #2
    Senior Member RaceTheSweeper's Avatar
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    Re: Knee damage

    Post opperation rehab is much better with good fitness going in to the opp. If the pain is on impact only then cycling and swimming may be just the thing. My partner was out of running for 4mths due to a foot injury that was slow to respond to treatment and it's only the swimming and cycling that kept him sane, not a miserable sod and me from killing him!!! Is the problem front, inside, outside, back of knee? I really do hope that it can be fixed without the need for surgery. This is a great little link that I often use for research purposes http://www.runninginjuryoracle.com/.

  3. #3
    Senior Member zephr's Avatar
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    Re: Knee damage

    Um... if the ligaments and the muscles around the knee are "fine", why would you need an operation?
    Definitely get the MRI to see if there is anything crazy knocking around in there, but please don't go jumping into an op, once you take something out of the knee, you generally can't replace it...

    is it in agony as you sit still, as you move it a bit, as someone else moves it, or what? if the doctor and physio can't help, find someone who can.

  4. #4
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    Re: Knee damage

    My daughter really crocked her knee the year before last and could barely walk on it for a couple of weeks. She had an MRI but it came out all clear. The surgeon was really disappointed about it too and she was back playing rugby in no time

  5. #5
    Senior Member Tahr's Avatar
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    Re: Knee damage

    I had knee problems about 7/8 years ago, I had a very good Physio at the time she give me exercises to do, but she advised me that if I saw a Doctor and was referred to a surgeon he would want to operate and I was to avoid this at all costs, because in her view they can do more damage than good.

    I ended up taking 7 months out of running and did my exercises in the gym 3 times a week, the result was the knee is now fine and I descend better than I climb with no knee problems. If you haven’t already done so, see a good physio I am sure there must be some on here who can recommend one. Sorry if I am telling you how to suck eggs.


    ATB

    Tahr
    Last edited by Tahr; 22-03-2012 at 10:41 PM.

  6. #6
    Member tomsdad's Avatar
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    Re: Knee damage

    Thanks for all the replies,

    race the sweeper,
    its my left knee & if you place your left hand over it, the pain would be under your thumb & little finger, usually in the muscle, also there is a lot of pain if I bend my foot to my buttocks there is a great deal of pain behind the knee. Usually twice a day the joint seems to give way causing me to stumble with intense pain under the kneecap.

    Zephr,
    Sitting down it just aches, and its what wakes me up every morning,it seems to really swell up in the evening. it is very painfull when the joint ,locks out straight, all of this does,nt seem to be easing.

    I have an appointment tomorrow with the specialist, fingers crossed he may be able to shed some light. I am just guessing surgery may be onthe cards

    I allways look on the black side, that way your never dissapointed with the outcome.

    Tomsdad
    Last edited by tomsdad; 26-03-2012 at 12:28 AM. Reason: not finished,
    Someone has to bring up the rear

  7. #7
    Member silentrunner's Avatar
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    Re: Knee damage

    Quote Originally Posted by tomsdad View Post
    Thanks for all the replies,

    race the sweeper,
    its my left knee & if you place your left hand over it, the pain would be under your thumb & little finger, usually in the muscle, also there is a lot of pain if I bend my foot to my buttocks there is a great deal of pain behind the knee. Usually twice a day the joint seems to give way causing me to stumble with intense pain under the kneecap.

    Zephr,
    Sitting down it just aches, and its what wakes me up every morning,it seems to really swell up in the evening. it is very painfull when the joint ,locks out straight, all of this does,nt seem to be easing.

    I have an appointment tomorrow with the specialist, fingers crossed he may be able to shed some light. I am just guessing surgery may be onthe cards

    I allways look on the black side, that way your never dissapointed with the outcome.

    Tomsdad
    Pain along the joint line on the inner half with some swelling most likely due to a medial meniscal tear, pain behind the knee cap in extremes of flexion and a grinding sensation could be caused by damage to knee cap (patella) joint surface cartilage (chondromalacia patellae). Pain below the knee cap is usually patellar tendonitis.

    You can look these all up.

    Pain behid the knee in the muscle is usually just that, a muscle strain.

    Your 'giving way' sounds like it is due to the pain and not likely to be because of an ACL tear if someone has already examined it correctly and found the ligament to be competent.

    An MRI is the way to go as things are not resolving. Keep an open mind, see what it shows, may not be as bad as you think.
    Last edited by silentrunner; 05-04-2012 at 11:40 PM.
    If you're not running fast enough, walk instead!!

  8. #8
    Senior Member zephr's Avatar
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    Re: Knee damage

    Yup- I'd go with silent runner on that one.
    Get an MRI if you can.

    It may take a while to get one, but its better waiting x months for an MRI, and the results in order to find that its something that can be rehabbed, rather than going the whole hog, getting something taken out of your knee that can't be put back and stops you running as well as you could for the rest of your life.

    I know a couple of people who have had meniscus tears in the past, and haven't gone for surgery- they are now running better than ever. (that being said, every situation, and every body is different) Get several opinions before committing to anything.

  9. #9
    Member tomsdad's Avatar
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    Re: Knee damage

    Cheers for the replies,
    I had a couple of x-rays, these showed (from the front view), the two nuckles meeting with the usuall gap but thinner on the inside of the joint (towards the other leg)
    I was advised that it was one of two things - arthritis I,m only 43! or cartillage damage but, I dont think the sudden onset can be down to arthritis as I can jog but its most painfull to walk on.
    I m on the waiting list for an MRI, if It is cartillage, would excercise help the healing process or would I have to visit a sports injury specialist for guidance

    Td
    Someone has to bring up the rear

  10. #10
    Senior Member drmorris's Avatar
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    Re: Knee damage

    completely agree with zephyr and silentrunner re taking a conservative approach

    But do as much exercise as you can - change your exercise, don't stop it.

    See a decent physio; do whatever doesn't hurt too much: swim, walk(in good shoes, on the flat) or cycle(low resistance and a long way, not stomping up hills)
    Same principles if you use machines to exercise; knees need good muscles, and your head and heart need the exercise

    google / sportsinjuryclinic.net or youtube 'static quads exercises', and if you can(pain permitting) try 'lunges' or 'dips' on one knee to strength your medial(inner) quads muscle and re-balance the patella(kneecap) tracking around the femur(thighbone) - caution - this may hurt - if so - physio first

    'joint space narrowing' implies that the x-ray-invisible cartilage is worn; this is technically the first stage of 'arthitis' but it is inevitable in all of us and NOT necessarily likely to lead to destructive joint problems.
    If your leg and thigh muscles are sound, your technique reasonable, and your training sensible you can be optimistic in the longer term.

    a word of caution re MRI - you may end up a VOMIT - 'Victim Of Medical Imaging Technology" - just because you can see something on the picture doesn't mean it is the cause of the problem, or that cutting it out would be a solution...

    CoI I'm a slightly cynical GP , and 'carry on regardless' runner
    Best Wishes

    David
    Cheshire Hash House Harriers http://www.cheshirehash.co.uk/cheshire/

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