Dumb Stupid Dumb Knee!! (long)

[spyrosmom]

So my left knee is normally the bad knee, but its recently been just fine So Saturday morning I'm standing in the living room talking to DS and DH and the dog are playing behind me. Vlad gets a little excited and barrels into the back of my right knee causing it to jerk forward with a sharp OW and a loud POP! I didn't fall over, but it pushed my knee quite far forward and it took me about a minute for the pain to stop and stand up straight. Now, Vlad is still just a pup, but he weighs about 30 lbs, and knocked into me at full doggie force. We were going to the Renassaince (sp?) Faire that day so, of course we went anyway. My knee didn't really hurt all day, but I could feel it pop in and out with every step. And it was kinda achey after we had settled in for the night. Again this morning it was achey, but not painful, but I could still feel it pop in and out with every step. My dumb self decided to see how it felt this morn and I actually did about a 4 mile run, and it didn't hurt, nor could I feel it popping when I ran. But when I walk, it loudly pops and I can feel my knee cap move, but it doesn't hurt. And its a little achey tonight along with the outside bottom of my quad on that side. The back where Vlad hit me has nothing wrong. I think the front stopped all the force and I yanked something.

I don't want to go to the Dr as I currently don't have medical insurance because I switched jobs in June; I won't have insurance til the beginning of October. Ice doesn't do anything except make my leg cold, and heat makes it hot. Again, it doesn't really hurt. But I know if it keeps popping/sliding in and out with force (its almost catching and snapping) then it will eventually turn into a problem. I know I should lay off the more vigorous activities (running this morn was dumb) but I can't not walk. I wonder if I should wrap it up straight in an Ace bandage for a few days so it doesn't bend and things can settle back in? I also have a knee wrap for my other knee that goes all around with a hole in the middle for my kneecap, that still allows the knee to bend. I wonder if that is the better option, to allow it move so it doesn't stiffen up, but still keep things in their proper place?

I'm thinking its not my knee that is the actual problem, but the supporting structures, poss the tendon that ties my quad to my knee. Its popping out to the inside and then back over to the outside. The outside lower muscle is what hurts, so maybe its not holding my kneecap where it should be and allowing it to shift to the inside.

So whats the best course of fixing myself up w/out having to pay a huge Dr bill? And yes, with self treatment if it doesn't feel better shortly, I will suck it up and go to the Dr.

Nan

 

[Matiana]

Nan,
Sorry to hear about your knee troubles. To some degree I can relate. I usually have some success with a cold compress but clearly that did not work for you. If your knee is clicking in and out so drastically I think a doctor's appt would be your best bet. Perhaps if you just give your knee a beak for a little while you can wait until October to see the doctor. I know that will be a very difficult feat. I hope your poor little knee gets better soon.

 

[LaughingWater]

I have no idea if this will help, but it's worth a try: Pain Free by Pete Egoscue.

I just started working with this book last Wednesday, so it's too soon for a personal review from me. I'll be phasing in some lower body work by next week sometime, and I'm anxious to see if my knees and ankles will start complaining. The true test will come when I can do Imax 2 or DM without pain (hopefully soon!).

Feel better!

 

[nspire]

I second LaughingWater's recommendation on Pain Free by Pete Egoscue. I've been listening to him for years and he's helped me with my knee issue. If you can find out when he airs you can actually call into the station and pose your question and he'll tell you what to do and will send you a free book. I really like him; Uhm, I did't know anyone else here listened to him. Give him a try

 

[spyrosmom]

I have no idea if this will help, but it's worth a try: Pain Free by Pete Egoscue.

I just started working with this book last Wednesday, so it's too soon for a personal review from me. I'll be phasing in some lower body work by next week sometime, and I'm anxious to see if my knees and ankles will start complaining. The true test will come when I can do Imax 2 or DM without pain (hopefully soon!).

Feel better!

I have the book, I bought it for the other knee after my 2nd knee surgery and after I had finished up PT to keep working on it at home. It didn't seem to do anything. It didn't seem to make it better or worse. Of course, I think I may have given up too soon out of my impatience, and just worked thru what pain was left til it got better. I should try again with this side, it wouldn't hurt. The whole idea of what he speaks about makes good sense, I just wonder if I didn't stick with it long enough last time. I will have to go find it, I know its in the house somewhere

Nan

 

[Nadja Z]

I have no idea if this will help, but it's worth a try: Pain Free by Pete Egoscue.

I just started working with this book last Wednesday, so it's too soon for a personal review from me. I'll be phasing in some lower body work by next week sometime, and I'm anxious to see if my knees and ankles will start complaining. The true test will come when I can do Imax 2 or DM without pain (hopefully soon!).

Feel better!

I'm not trying to eke out free info lol, but can anyone tell what the book really teaches? I already do a lot of hip, glute, and quad strengthening, and I stretch like a maniac (to help with knee problems). Actually I strengthen everything else in my body too; not sure what more I could do that would have an impact. I've done all the exercises and stretches my orthopedic surgeons and physical therapist have told me to and then some. I'm just wondering if the book would have anything 'new' for me.

 

[SirenSongWoman]

I've never read Pain Free (I'm going to, that's for sure) but it sounds like it could help. Meanwhile, I think you're right to try and hang on until October unless it gets much worse. Meanwhile, aside from light lower-body resistance work geared toward making the problem less of a problem, I'd cut out all exercise that could negatively impact your knee. I certainly wouldn't run! The thing that kills me about knee issues is the pain can be excruciating and you can feel completely debilitated but then a GOOD orthopedic surgeon will look at it and go "Oh yea, that's real common" like your excruciating pain is no big deal. Then they'll send you to physical therapy and you'll make an effort to do the exercises at home until it starts to feel better and you forget about it. Then you feel just fine for 3 months, 6 months, or a year (unless the other knee starts acting up in the meantime...) and the cycle starts all over again. I've been through the knee thing so many times (knee cap off center... it IS real common in women) I can tell you it probably feels worse than it is, though I certainly have no medical training. I just know what it's like to have to watch the money and these things get expensive so I'm just saying it's probably nothing to freak out about and probably can wait until your insurance kicks in. Just don't do anything out of the ordinary (walking) to aggravate it. Ibuprofen will help with the pain and any swelling. I feel for you because I've been there and will probably be there again in the near future.

 

[LaughingWater]

Egoscue feels that most of our chronic ailments are rooted in imbalance, something that happens over time as we hunch over our computers, sit in our cars, and/or exercise in specific, set patterns...patterns that don't vary enough (like the golfer or the tennis player with one bad shoulder).

He's a big fan of high impact exercise and feels that most of us should be able to do this without pain. He is of the opinion that we don't need braces, wraps or special shoes (he even goes as far as to say that these things restrict needed motion and weaken area muscles, eventually making the problem worse). His exercises and stretches are aimed to put us back into proper alignment, thus allowing all muscles to work properly, not just the compensating ones we've accidentally trained over the years.

His exercises are pretty simple (and some are actually relaxing), though the Supine Groin Stretch can take some time ~ anywhere from 10 to 45 minutes depending on the person. I've read that the time in this particular stretch decreases as the groin muscles learn to relax more, so you aren't doomed to 45 minutes forever. I love my knees, but who has time for that?! I currently sit in that relaxing stretch for 10-15 minutes each side.

Once you get to know the exercises, running through the entire series for a particular body part (like the knees) could take anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes. I work with the exercises for the ankles, knees and hips, so I spend about 45 minutes doing everything right now. I'm still a little slow because I'm learning to blend all 3 body-part exercises together, so I expect to shave some time off in the future.

So far, I'm doing well. I was in a decent amount of pain last Tuesday, and now I feel pretty good. But as stated earlier, the real test will be in a few weeks when I attempt some high impact cardio. I wouldn't mind doing this routine daily if it meant I could play as hard as I like in my workouts.

 

[horseshowmom]

Nan,
I don't have anything of importance to add, but I just wanted to express my sympathy on your injury! I'm coming off 4 months of sciatic nerve issues and I can relate to the frustration at being unable to work out.
My only input would be to look at this as a chance to focus on your core strength and upper body and give your lower body a break from strenuous activity.
I also agree with the others that as long as you continue to be self-aware and cautious, a wait and see attitude until October should be fine (believe it or not it's only about 6 weeks away!)
Not to be a pessimist, but if something needs to be repaired surgically, 6 weeks shouldn't make a huge difference except to save you potentially tens of thousands of dollars for a pre-existing condition!
Good luck!
Becky