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Original poster

Anyone know anything about knees ?! I've buggered my ligaments. OWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

27 replies

NOMurDErousPLUME · 17/10/2006 09:43

We bought a trampoline for the kids about 6 weeks ago. Everything is fine with it and the kids love it.

I've been on it a few times and from the first time I went on it, I noticed a slight weakness in my right knee. I assumed it was just because it has been, ahem, a few years since I was last on a trampoline and I was using bits that I hadn't used for a while, IYSWIM. So I didn't worry about it and went back on the trampoline a few days later. Gradually my knee got more painful and so I knocked the bouncing on the head about a fortnight ago.

The pain in my knee is now excruciatings sometimes it is like a dull background throb, but I also get 'attacks' of agonising pain that makes me cry - v unlike me). The weakness/instability is making even small tasks like walking to the kitchen unaided like playing russian roulette. I walk DD to school (10 mins) and I've felt like I'm going to fall over almost every day for the last week, it feels like my knee is just going to collapse underneath me. Sometimes when I straighten it (when walking) it hyperextends (bends the wrong way) and feels like it would go all the way in the wrong direction, IYSWIM.

DH thinks it sounds like cruciate ligament injury, the main pain/point of weakness sems to be in a horizontal band around the bottom of my knee. I would like to point out that he has had no formal medical training, so I'm not relying on his diagnosis .

I've got an appt today at 12.15 with my GP, but what can they do for ligament injuries in the knee ? Physio ?

I did the ligaments in my foot about 18 months ago and there was nothing they could other than prescribe painkillers and rest. It took 6 weeks to recover .

OP posts:
Original poster
NOMurDErousPLUME · 17/10/2006 09:43

sorry, it is my left knee

OP posts:
BudaBeast · 17/10/2006 09:45

No idea I'm afraid but lots of sympathy. GP best bet IMV.

Good luck!

NotQuiteCockney · 17/10/2006 09:53

Physio! Please!

They might not be able to help, this sounds worse than any knee problem I've had (and I've had a few), but physios know a lot more about structural/muscular problems and are very good at fixing them without operations or injections.

You can get NHS physio, but availability varies (shocker).

(The physio might be able to help with your foot thing, too, if it's a recurring problem?)

In the interim (and for future reference), you want to be doing RICE - rest, ice, compression, elevation. Rest the knee, put ice on it sometimes, compress it (wear a support thingie), and keep it high. To which I'd add - maxdose the iboprofen, unless there's any reason for you to not take it.

bettys · 17/10/2006 09:55

I snapped my anterior cruciate ligament when skiing (you can hear a popping noise when it goes), but I didn't have the level of pain you describe. The muscles in the leg went into spasm so it was hard to walk though.
You may need to be referred for an arthroscopy (camera in the knee) to make sure. After that if it is a cruciate break there are 2 choices; either physio to re-educate the muscles to protect the knee, or reconstruction using a piece of muscle from elsewhere to replace the ligament.
It's a real pain, escuse the pun, so good job you're on to sorting it out.

bettys · 17/10/2006 09:57

Would also agree with everything NQC says about RICE

Original poster
NOMurDErousPLUME · 17/10/2006 09:58

My foot is fine now, although I do got the odd recurring bit of stiffness when the weather gets cold. It was an injury as a result of a ridiculous accident (I got my foor caught in the laundry bin - see ? Told you it was ridiculous!). I was told by the doc that ligament injuries never fully recover and there will always be some niggling recurring issues (fab).

We have private health cover through DH's work, so getting to see a physio (if I need one) shouldn't be too arduous.

Even driving is hard now.

OP posts:
Original poster
NOMurDErousPLUME · 17/10/2006 09:59

(foot, not foor)

OP posts:
NotQuiteCockney · 17/10/2006 09:59

Oh, and please, if you do X and find weakness in whatever (but particularly knees!) afterwards, come on here, and get some exercises to strengthen your knees (and stop doing X for a bit)!

Original poster
NOMurDErousPLUME · 17/10/2006 10:00

I had a bath last night and the pain was massive after I got out. The heat seems to antagonise it.

There is no swelling or discolouration.

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NotQuiteCockney · 17/10/2006 10:01

Can you find tender bits, if you poke it? (tempting idea, I know!)

Original poster
NOMurDErousPLUME · 17/10/2006 10:01

I know, NQC, but it started off as a tiny wobble and I've always had clicky, achy, hyperextending joints, so I put it down to that.

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zippitippitoes · 17/10/2006 10:02

dp injured his cruciate ligament in a fight trying to keep yobs off our property at the end of the world cup..he had physio but only went once (man) he had to rest up for 8 weeks before he could drive or give up crutches and it is still painful although he can straighten it and gone back to work

I am trying to persuade him to go back for medical help

I have read that you can get it back to better than before but may require surgery..

Hope yours gets better

NotQuiteCockney · 17/10/2006 10:02

Hmmm, to my mind, good tired muscle ache is fine to ignore, and motor on through. Anything else needs to be checked, or at least babied.

Original poster
NOMurDErousPLUME · 17/10/2006 10:03

No tenderness when prodded, but mobilising the joint is agony. I find it is more comfortable with my knee at a right angle, rather than out straight, IYSWIM.

OP posts:
Original poster
NOMurDErousPLUME · 17/10/2006 10:29

What would it mean if I had pain on prodding ?!

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NotQuiteCockney · 17/10/2006 10:31

Hmm, if it's regular ligament or cartiledge damage, there will be pain on prodding. But physios are always better at finding the bit that hurts.

NotQuiteCockney · 17/10/2006 10:35

The fact it hurts more to have it out straight, suggests to me it's something in the joint. Definately a GP/physio thing ... ask for physio referral if you can ... lots of GPs have no idea how much physio can do.

I went in to the GP with frozen shoulder, just so I could get some diclofenac (I'd already started physio for it, when I first hurt it), and was told I'd have to have an injection into the joint. She had no idea what I was on about when I said the physio was treating it with ultrasound and exercises. I came back a week later for follow up, and the GP was shocked at the improvement.

Original poster
NOMurDErousPLUME · 17/10/2006 10:37

Our GP surgery runs an 'appt on the day' service and so you rarely get the same GP twice. If he/she fobs me off I'll start getting pushy . I'm not known for being an unopinionated wallflower.....

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bettys · 17/10/2006 10:48

If it hurts to straighten it it sounds like the leg muscles are in spasm, so it could be a cruciate injury.
If the GP does try to fob you off wave the private health card as this kind of injury is surprisingly common and can be dealt with promptly.

Original poster
NOMurDErousPLUME · 17/10/2006 10:49

Thanks betty

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lizziemun · 17/10/2006 11:00

This happen to my mum last year (dd tripped her up) it took about 4 mths to mend. I think this was mainly due to the fact she did not listen to the doctor when he said rest.

Original poster
NOMurDErousPLUME · 17/10/2006 12:56

Been to the (very nice) GP. He had a feel (!) and declared that it seems to be a soft tissue injury. Prob the ligaments on the outside of my knee. I have been given Voltarol and exercises. If no improvement in a month then I'm to go back for a physio referral.

OP posts:
Socci · 17/10/2006 13:04

Message withdrawn

HenniPenni · 17/10/2006 14:46

hey ndp, I'm in the same boat! HAD repair done years ago to the acl and medial ligaments and have just sprained it, given heavy duty nsiads and told to put my old brace on (hmm,but doc it was repaired over 20 years ago, I don't have the brace anymore!!)also waiting for a phsio referral.

mistersmum · 17/10/2006 22:59

Hello I have just read your thread...and I was a phyio before I had DS and used to see mainly knee problems. See if voltarol and his ex help at all. But if you can get to see a physio, privatley if the GP won't refer for another month, I would. They will get a v good idea from taking a detailed history (eg exactly how you did it, what you felt at the time, is the instability due to pain and the knee goes wobbly or does it just feel unstable, does it click, lock, swell, daily pattern, aggravating movements, is sleep affected etc)and having a thorough examination of your knee as to the problem (assessment normally 30-40 mins) and can get you started on an appropriate ex programme to settle things down and rehab your knee. If you want to go NHS it might be worth finding out what the waiting list is at your local hospital because if you are going back to see the GP in a month and the waiting list is 6 weeks and he refers you then it will be a long time until you get seen. If he refers you now you can always cancel it if you feel better and don't need it! ANyway that is what I would do, knowing the system a litle. Hope that helps...