Hurt my knee - Bone Bruise

[tensters]

About a month ago I was wheeling an air conditioner around in a cart. It started to tip over and I tried to use my leg/knee to push it back. I hit it pretty hard and the air conditioner basically didn't budge. I hit it on the inside of my right knee. There was no pain or swelling at the time, and I wasn't that concerned, though I did think it was a hard hit. Around the same time, I also tweaked my back slightly by going into extension when someone fell on me in the subway. My back ached a few days but then seemed to be mostly okay.

So about a week and a half later after this air conditioner (and back) event, my knee started bothering me on walks. It would ache at the inside spot where I hit it with the a/c. My quads where also getting very fatigued and the whole leg would not feel good and I started limping near the end of these walks. This got progressively worse as the days went by to the point that walking was very painful and it felt like just standing was difficult requiring a lot of muscular effort from everywhere. And my back was getting stiffer.

I went to a doctor and he did the standard knee ligament movement tests and he thought my knee was fine - no instability and not much pain in the area of the meniscus. I could also fully extend my leg. There was minor swelling on the inside where the a/c hit. He took xrays and the bones looked fine - no fractures. He recommended that I see an orthopedist to rule out soft tissue injury and suggested RICE and ibuprofen.

I found rice helpful in relieving swelling but it would also stiffen the area making it even harder to walk sometimes. I also tried heat but found heat totally unhelpful. Advil is amazing and makes it feel like I don't have a knee injury. I don't take it daily though just occasionally as I want to avoid adverse effects.

It's been over a month now and it hasn't worsened any but still hurts on weight bearing and I've been limping around on very short walks. I see orthopedist next week. One frustration is that I sleep on my side and this hurts the knee no matter what i do.. pillow between knees etc. It's interfering with my sleep.

I'm thinking maybe I have a mild bone bruise or mild MCL sprain? I have no instability that I can see. And I injured the meniscus in my other knee a long time ago (fully recovered) and this is nothing like that.

It almost feels like I have a funny bone in my knee and someone gave it a good wack. I do keep walking on it taking very short walks with some limping to keep up the muscles and to get movement. I'm hoping maybe some physical therapy - maybe the bike will get it better. Often times it seems like if only that pain ache in inside part of knee would let up a little the quad could take care of business and my leg knee would be fine.

[tensters]

Is it uncommon for a minor sprain to still be hard to walk on a month later?

[vickster]

Depends what you've strained. You mention a bone bruise, if those are severe they can take a year or even longer to fully resolve and can be painful during that time

See what the specialist says, they may do an MRI to confirm the diagnosis

Keep icing and perhaps use a good quality neoprene sports support while you wait to see the ortho

You could also try some of the standard knee strengthening exercises like quad sets, leg raises, clamshells, glute bridges. See a physio once you have seen the specialist

Good luck

[tensters]

Thank you Vickster.

Can you tell me what the purpose of the neoprene support is? When I went to the doc, he put an ace bandage on and it did seem to make walking easier as it kept the knee flexed and out of the extended position which with full body weight bearing hurts and causes a limp etc. With the knee a little bent there is not much pain but it does make for a strange looking gait.

Is it to keep it out of the extension position or is there more? I ultimately found the ace bandage uncomfortable so basically i don't use it or any brace. I think he mentioned something about compression on it to draw swelling away - is that the sole reason?

[vickster]

Provides compression and support in my experience. I used one after a meniscus tear with lots of swelling and locking (I couldn't extend my knee), plus a cartilage defect and big bone bruise in my femur. Seemed to make walking more comfortable. Was suggested by Physio

[tensters]

Great, thanks - I'm going to order one.

[tensters]

I ordered this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005BINV84/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

That's the kind of support I'm looking for right?

[vickster]

Hmm I don't know, those are more for knee cap issues

I had one of these as recommended by physio

https://www.completecareshop.co.uk/physiotherapy-aids/vulkan-knee-supports/vulkan-neoprene-knee-support-view-large?gclid=CKjTntzT4c4CFUY8GwodRLcEQg

Get advice from the physio or specialist before spending any money, the wrong type could do more harm than good. Although that one is probably fine, but it's best to have a firm diagnosis and treatment plan

[tensters]

okay I cancelled that for now - thanks

for today if I want to go outside and walk (ive been home last few days), do you think an ace bandage could help support the knee a little?

[vickster]

I'm sure it'll be fine if that's what the doctor gave you

[tensters]

Yeah just tried didn't help much. I guess must avoid walks for now.

[vickster]

When do you see the specialist?

Go have a swim, stick to freestyle flutter kick, avoid breastbone kick if it hurts

If not taking an oral NSAID, could try a gel like Voltaren, massaged locally a couple of times a day

[tensters]

thursday.... i took 400 mg ibuprofen just now and it works great.. don't have easy access to pool..think ill stay off chair today and really rest it

[vickster]

Try a gentle walk. I walked around on all those injuries I described above for 5 months

Or try some heel slides, straight leg lifts, quad sets if they don't hurt, keep the muscles activated

I assume you are always eating with the NSAIDs?

[tensters]

I walk around the apartment a lot. Don't always eat with nsaids - did now - but don't take em often.
The push back of knee to bed and contract quad exercise seems like a helpful one.

This injury is strange. I hurt my PCL and tore the meniscus in other knee (and it hurt a lot during injury event) and walked around for 10 years before finally getting it scoped and treated. Its great now. This knee hurts way worse than that - when its irritated - yet the leg/knee doesn't seem like it has that severe of an injury. No instability or bruising and not much swelling either. Seem like there is a weak quad component that is not improving.