What could I have done to my knee while kneeling to be in this kind of pain?
Last summer, I tore my right MCL on the first day of college. I coughed up the cash to get a diagnosis, but didn't have the money or insurance for surgery. The ingury never really hurt; I just heard some popping noises, went to the ground out of instinct thinking something was wrong, and from there on out my knee was quite unstable, and still is today, often giving out on me making me clutch something to stay standing.
Well, I went to Uganda this past semester and while there,my knee was great minus one accident. I had to go over an elevated (5' or so) set of train tracks to get to town, and one side of the tracks is VERY steep (40 degrees or so). Long story short, my knee gave out on me once while heading down and in the process, apparently hit my knee on something, probably the ground, as I fell. THIS injury hurt, and I was bedridden for 2 weeks or so, but I eventually got over it as far as I knew.
Well, today I was in class and the woman sitting next to me spilled my drink. So, I get on my knees to clean it up (no hard impact or anything) and as I go to stand up, I realize my knee is in excruciating pain, the same pain that I felt when I landed on it in Uganda, except 3x worse. Bending it back isn't so bad, but I cannot extend it fully. 12 hours later, it's still killing me,
Since I'm obviously not going to the doctor to shell out $150 only to find out that I need surgery I'll never get, the best I figure I can do is get some advice on what kind of injury I might have so that I have an idea of the healing time. Any idea what the heck I did while simply kneeling to wipe up the floor??
*Unlike MCL tear, pain gets worse after I use knee
*Pain is 7/10. Since being home and resting, a few times it's been so bad that it brought me tears.
*While moving, pain stems from what feels like tissues below patella. While relaxed, it's centralized on the lower left side of my knee (right knee, btw)
*I feel confident that it doesn't relate to the patella itself. I can move that around with my hand a bit and don't feel any sudden pain.
Public Comments
1. Proliferative Injection Therapy, ice and a knee brace till you feel better which may be several months. MCL surgeries are not needed most of the time, but the pain is there until you at least rest it and get some type of suport like a brace.2. Sounds like you've had a meniscus tear or ACL - If there is fractured cartilage - a piece may be lodged in the joint - causing you to not be able to extend your leg -- The pain is probably from a nerve that is being pinched by the cartilage -
If possible - you may need to get on someone's insurance or apply for Medicare so they will cover the surgery - Because you will probably need Arthroscopic surgery before it is over --
3. Get some crutches or a cane. Ask a friend you know that has them or look off of craigslist under the free section.
Get a GOOD knee brace with metal support on the sides from walmart or a drug store and Ibuprofen. Bring down your swelling with ice, ibuprofen and putting your leg above your heart. that might help your pain for a while.
An MCL tear will heal within 4-6 months. However an ACL tear will never heal because of poor blood supply.
Wear your brace whenever you plan to walk all day or if you expect some uneven terrain.
