YADT: What's wrong with my knee?

[kefrank]

Originally Posted by abrg923

A couple of times, yeah. Mostly it's just every day activity, though...stepping off a step or just flat out walking. I just always assumed that since it was fine in a week or so, that it wasn't a big deal...but this time it's much different - more pain/stiffness/swelling, without any improvement.

The knee is a complex thing. When I originally injured it, the pain and swelling were extremely intense and I couldn't put any weight on it for a day or so. After a couple of weeks it was still stiff and it cracked a lot (like knuckle-cracking) but otherwise was completely functional for day to day activity. So six weeks after the injury I tried to play basketball on it and tweaked it again, even with a compression brace on. It didn't hurt as badly as the original injury and I was able to hobble out of the gym on my own, but it definitely wasn't right. I waited to play again for months, hoping it would get right on its own, but the first time I played basketball on it after that wait, I ended up crumpled on the court in extreme pain. Interestingly, I went the whole game without issue and it was only on a specific play where I was chasing after a loose ball in the last minute of the game that it buckled on me.

The moral of the story is - your knee is not going to heal on its own so get it checked out.

My house has stairs though, so that'll suck...it's already been tough navigating those the last couple of days. I've been able to do it, but VERY slowly/cautiously.

I basically set up shop on the ground floor of our house for the first couple of weeks of surgery recovery. You can do stairs if necessary, but it's just really difficult and is a danger zone for falling, which is bad news when the knee is really fragile immediately after surgery.

[argh923]

Stairs would be a necessity, since there's no bathroom on the ground level. That's the major negative...but ultimately it's gonna have to be something I look at obviously.

[kefrank]

Originally Posted by abrg923

Stairs would be a necessity, since there's no bathroom on the ground level. That's the major negative...but ultimately it's gonna have to be something I look at obviously.

Well it's possible there's something else entirely going on and you don't need surgery. That said, if you have surgery I'd recommend setting up shop on whatever floor you have a bathroom. You do not want to be regularly going up and down stairs at first.

[dvdjunkie32]

For what it's worth, I hurt my knee 12 years ago when I fell down some stairs. My knees felt really weak and I would get a crushing type pain whenever I was standing motionless. I was certain I had a torn cartlidge after reading all the shit on webmd.

The MRI revealed that my problem was the supporting knee muscles had become weak and deteriorated probably from lack of exercise after the injury. After a month of physical therapy and home exercises, I was back to normal.

[argh923]

And the verdict is...partially torn ACL. Doc says surgery isn't necessary, just therapy to strengthen the knee. Also have some fluid buildup that they may drain next week.

[Sdallnct]

Have you been shagging fly balls during batting practice?

[kefrank]

Originally Posted by abrg923

And the verdict is...partially torn ACL. Doc says surgery isn't necessary, just therapy to strengthen the knee. Also have some fluid buildup that they may drain next week.

Glad you don't need surgery! Let us know how the therapy goes.

[kuroiinu]

Originally Posted by abrg923

And the verdict is...partially torn ACL. Doc says surgery isn't necessary, just therapy to strengthen the knee. Also have some fluid buildup that they may drain next week.

A name change might help too.

[Thor Simpson]

I'm having issues with one knee too, but now that you posted this there's no way I can ask right now. Fortunately, it looks like I have at least 15 years before I should worry about it.

[argh923]