Please help me! Hurt my knee

[Irishsportshorse]

Hope it’s ok to post here! I’ve never actually hurt my knee before so I’m a bit clueless but I really need help!

I fell off my horse last week in a bit of a freak accident. I still don’t know quite how it happened but my leg caught caught in something (I think in the stirrup leather) and I ended up dangling from my horse from my knee whilst getting dragged as he bolted. Eventually my leg become untangled and I fell off which was actually a relief not to be dragged anymore.

i somehow avoided any serious injuries but I was left with a bit of a sore knee. It’s the knee I was hanging from and then when I landed I think it was twisted too. It was very sore to walk on the next day but not sore enough that I’d worry it’s broken or dislocated and not enough to go to hospital IYSWIM. Just sore enough that it’s uncomfortable! It’s eased off slightly since then but it’s still not right. Weirdly it doesn’t hurt at all to walk and weight bear anymore but it hurts to lift and bend it. It also really hurts to lean on it.

The pain is on the kneecap and also down the outside edge of my lower leg. The knee itself feels really tight, it’s as if it’s painful and all sort of tight and locked. I’ve tried not to let it seize up and I’ve done RICE and also tried to do exercises to keep it moving but not hurt it. It’s not bruised at all weirdly but it’s been swollen just to the outside edge of the kneecap

does this sound like a pulled muscle?? Has anyone had similar and have any advice or experience? Thanks so much in advance x

Was you the poster with the bad hand after falling from a horse???

Noone can really give you advice here.
Best to talk to your doctor

no- I tried to contact the gp yesterday and today but couldn't get an appointment. it feels weird and tight but I can walk fine and its not excruciating so doesn't warrant a+e. I think ive maybe twisted it so just thought someone on here might have experienced similar and have advice/something that helped them 😣

No one here can give you sound advice on this. Keep trying to get a GP appointment, otherwise call 101 or go to a walk in centre. Possibly even a chemist could give you some advice.

OP you could have nerve damage and/or a torn ligament. Best ring gp.

We can access physio direct at our GP surgery without going through the GP.

Soft tissue damage can be "worse" than a fracture - harder to heal, with long term consequences.

Call your GP, or go to minor injuries, or see a pharmacist at least. Random strangers on the internet won't be able to help.

I know nobody on here can help specifically but I only posted because I thought others might have had a similar experience or know more than me. I’ve been to the pharmacy who advised the gp bye unfortunately it’s a nightmare getting an appointment! I’ll of course keep trying and I’m not using this as a substitute to getting help, I just posted in case anyone had any experience or advice on the meantime :) I’ve never hurt my knee before (thankfully!) so this is all a bit new to me!

Sounds like it was a really nasty fall. Twisting your knee could have potentially damaged any of the structures inside it - e.g. ligaments or cartilage.
I've done my cartilage before and needed keyhole surgery to remove the torn piece. Before having the surgery I tried physio but it was a waste of time as cartilage damage like I had (bucket handle meniscus tear) rarely heals on its own. I also have friends who have torn or ruptured ligaments - mostly the ACL in the centre of the knee. In all cases, we could still walk but the knee either felt 'locked' or as if it was about to give way at times.
A physio would be able to make a good guess as to what you've done to it, but an MRI is the best way to know for sure.
As it's only been a week you could wait a bit and see how much it improves, but if the joint doesn't feel right then you are probably best to try and see someone about it.

A minor injury unit would probably be better than your GP. And it's less drastic than A&E.

I was going to say Minor Injuries. You definitely need it looked at.

I know I sound like I’m making excuses but there isn’t even any minor injuries or urgent care around here unfortunately- it’s either A&E or an out of hours GP if it’s something that can’t wait overnight. I agree though minor injuries would be ideal for this! I think there used to be one in the nearest city but it was closed down and it’s just a+e now. Very frustrating!

Oh I’m so sorry you hurt your knee as well, that sounds agony! Hope it’s better now since having the surgery.

yeah, that’s what I was thinking RE it’s only been a week. I don’t know if I’m expecting too much too soon and I need to give it more time. It’s a bit swollen but not massively and it’s not bruised in the slightest. It doesn’t hurt to weight bear but it feels extremely tight and uncomfortable inside the knee when I lift/bend it and I can’t kneel or lean on it without it hurting.

Mine wasn't particularly swollen or bruised either and I was able to walk on it, so I don't think that necessarily tells you anything (sorry). I am sure the general pain and stiffness will get better over time - but some of the structures in the knee don't heal very well on their own, so if you have damaged something then ideally you will need to get it checked out.

I'd go to a private physio - they should be able to give you a very good idea of what you've done, and will be much more clued up than your GP on this sort of thing.

I was going to suggest exactly that, @ChristmasFluff .

A private physio diagnosed a meniscal tear and osteoarthritis in my knee, and was spot on. (Then I had to spend a year being pissed about by the NHS physio service before they referred me to a consultant.)

I’ll add my own experience based on a skiing accident. I fell on soft snow and twisted my knee - the feeling was much like you describe of stiffness and I also felt that my knee might give way. I would go up and downstairs one step at a time for several weeks as I didn’t trust my knee not to give way. After six weeks or so I spoke to the GP who suggested I’d probably damaged a ligament in my knee. I was told that RICE was perhaps unhelpful in this instance- I forget why exactly. Anyway I was prescribed Naproxen as a stronger pain relief and to reduce inflammation. My knee felt much better for the two weeks I was on Naproxen and continued to slowly improve. GP said allow around 4 months to recover and sure enough I felt pretty much back to normal after that sort of time period.

Obviously I cannot say if your injury is the same but certainly there are strong similarities. Hope you feel better soon.

Likely stretched the ligaments and tendons around the joint which can be painful. No major swelling and bruising I'd say not torn, but difficult to say. Strapping may help to stabilise it but I'd see a physio to see what's the best.

Yeah I reckon ligament stretching could be it. It’s still uncomfortable today, it’s fine to weight bear but as soon as I lift it or bend it it feels so tight around the knee and all the way down my lower leg (on the back side of it)

couldn’t get an appointment today either to get it looked at, I’ll try again tomorrow

You need to go to AE.
It needs an x-ray and possibly a scan.
I injured my knee before Christmas, I just stepped out of the door and it popped. The pain was unbearable.
I also had the tight feeling you describe. My eas caused by a Bakers Cyst which forms when the torn tissues and ligaments have leaked the synovial fluid.
You need to get some help op.

I'd just go up a&e and I never go but in this situation risking a permanent injury because your GP can't fit you in isn't worth it. I'd probably go asap as well.

Ah to be honest I think I’m going to have to go to a&e with it. The only thing putting me off was the fact I can easily weight bear and walk on it. It’s only bending and lifting it that’s the issue. I did speak to a pharmacist today who said a&e didn’t seem necessary because it wasn’t sore to put weight on so I think that put me off a bit. It’s started to bruise now (yellowish) and is still a little swollen. It’s not even sore as in painful, it’s sore as in really tight and extremely uncomfortable if that makes sense!

It probably needs xraying so go wherever you need to go to in order to arrange that.

Private physio would be my call if not a&e worthy, if you look up your local sports clinic they may well have a physio on their books.