Hi everyone,

new here, but I've been browsing the forums for a while. I did look up "bursitis" and found some posts but wanted to post about my specific situation, hoping someone can offer some tips from experience!

So, here's my story: I had a tibial plateau fracture with meniscus tear 3 years ago. Bike accident. Usual 3 months non-weight bearing then recovery wasn't actually so bad. Of course I am a candidate for osteoarthritis and I get regular problems in the injured knee - pain, a little inflammation, but so far, no swelling.

Except! a couple of weeks ago, more like almost 3 weeks now, I overdid it with a combination of excessive strain on the knee, and an unlucky moment where I bumped it against a hard surface, right where the metal implants are (they're still in and I've been advised to keep them in because NORMALLy - before this happened - they have been well tolerated).

Now, I've been to the doctor, my orthopedic surgeon of reference, we tried ipubrofen and ice and elevation already, also a few days later I went back and he syringed off the synovial liquid, almost 3 syringes full of that horrible yellow stuff. He told me to keep doing the ibuprofen and ice thing and then come back if liquid reformed, and he could give me a cortisone shot. He did warn me this is a bit riskier than just taking out the liquid, because cortisone raises the risk of infections from the puncture. I would prefer to avoid it for now, and maybe get another puncture just to take the remaining liquid out, again. The swollen bits are smaller, but it hurts like hell walking, they really get inflamed quickly because it's right around the kneecap (above and then below on one side where the implant is).

So, I don't know what to do now! It's been weeks and it's taking its toll, mucle in the thigh is also slightly atrophying again. I know it'll get stronger once I resume exercise. But the irony is, I'd just started another course of physiotherapy and was going to do lots of training - and cycling and swiming - and now I can't, at the physiotherapy centre they told me I can't really train until the bursitis is healed.

HOW LONG can it take to heal? really? on its own, or with just drugs and a bit of rest and ice?

Also, how much "rest" exactly should I give my knee? everyone always contradicts themselves, they tell me to rest and not strain it, but also to do some light exercise. Except I've noticed even just with the bike, even though it's much more comfortable than walking with the swollen knee, it still does bother me later, I can feel the effect of the strain.

Should I just keep the knee completely non-weight bearing for a while??

Should I go for another puncture now, or give it a few more days? (I wasn't taking ibuprofen regularly until a few days ago, and this does seem to improve things now)

Should I go for puncture AND cortisone shot?

I have a decent enough orthopedic surgeon but ah he's always super busy and I find I don't get enough of the extensive answers I need, also, he's more like "you have to assess the situation yourself" in terms of how much activity to do and which kind (of course except the obvious no-nos that I've been told about from day of surgery post-accident) - which is a bit maddening because sometimes even the stupidest things create problems, which I don't notice at the time and then emerge later - I can go do the shopping on my bike, park the bike, walk around the supermarket, get back on the bike, do my annoying 3 flights of stairs, even with the bursitis, it hurts but I can do it - and it seems to me this is NOT high impact activity, not even exercise, just normal needs of daily life! and then bam, evening or next day, knee is more painful and inflamed.

So..I would be VERY grateful for any tips, stories, experiences you can share with me... also from an emotional point of view, this is taking its toll - I will go to court next week for the damages trial against the person who caused the accident, he's already been found unequivocally guilty in penal court so it's a given he'll be sentenced to pay damages, so I'm fine and confident it'll all be ok, but obviously, I'm not too excited at the idea of seeing him again and reliving the memories of the accident and all that. ESPECIALLY while I'm suffering from this bursitis. GRRR.

Ok that's all I think, sorry for going on so long, basically I'd just love to get tips and advice AND just hear your stories too, anything you can share thta could be helpful will be immensely appreciated.

Thank you!! and best of luck to everyone with a dodgy knee