L.B.
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New York
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Time to see another ortho
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Ok, so I posted a few weeks ago about a knee injury I had. I finally went to an ortho (twice, once for the first visit and then again with my MRI films) he said the first visit he didn't think I had popped my knee cap out and back in as originally thought with the urgent care doctor. he said that the Xray didn't show any trauma and i would have known had I popped it out. (I dont' remember injuring myself, just took a few days of pain building up and swelling for me to go in...assume I did it playing tag with kids) He told me it was 'a meniscus tear until proven otherwise' and that day wrote down a PT slip and told me to start and come back with the MRI films next week. I came back tuesday and he said i didn't pop it out and there was no trauma there that would warrant him thinking I did. he said that I had 'a meniscus tear until proven otherwise' AGAIN and that the MRI didn't show it didn't mean it wasn't there. I go to my first PT appt and she said he wrote down that I had dislocated my patella! (I am so frustrated...he tells me NO at two appointments and then writes it down for the PT and she tells me that is what it said but also agreed that I would have known had I done it if it was my first time dislocating) So here I am, going to PT with no real diagnosis, another appt with this ortho in 2 weeks and am in pain with a swollen knee for hte past 3 weeks. Why is he writing down that I dislocated it if he tells me I didn't and that the mri's prove I didn't! Ahhhhh!! Sorry had to vent. LOL
I didn't mention this in the posts, however I have been icing it every 2-3 hours (except at night when I sleep) keep it elevated, etc. I can't take anti-inflam. due to having a suspected peptic ulcer. I was diagnosed with the ulcer causing bacteria, on prev-pack for it twice before when i was a teenager and am having classic pains of ulcer, etc. I am tempted on getting a second opinion or maybe going back in to the same doctor sooner than the 3 weeks that he told me to but don't want to come off as being 'dramatic' to him. lol. PT said she suspects I tore / hurt my LCL but I'm not sure what to think. Tonight I was getting laundry from our dryer int eh garage and steped down too hard and felt a bad pain and it swelled up a little more and was even more painful to walk on afterwards. I notice pain usually when I walk on it with each step down, or bend it trying to work it out. The other night my leg spasmed when I was in a deep sleep and I was woken out if it almsot instantly crying from feeling like someone had taken a hammer to it. I am usually good with pain but this is getting annoying! LOL.. Also, called another doc for an appointment but earliest they coudl get me in was the 11th so I am on the hunt still trying to review and research online to see if I can find another in my area that is willing to give me the time of day to listen that somethign really is wrong :(
Time to see another ortho
I've been thinking about you. It bothered me that you were going to PT with a swollen knee and I didn't know if you even had any medication to help get the swelling down. It appears that he didn't even tell you to wear a brace or wrap to help with the swelling.
I was also hoping that you would get a second opinion. This doc is either not a good doc or he is overbooked.
Oh - and get your MRI forwarded to the new doc. You need another pair of eyes looking at it. (Preferably one who would take the time to look, tell you what is there, and write what he sees all at the same time so there aren't conflicting diagnoses!)
Dawn
I have had a crazy number of knee injuries. Honestly they don't know what is up until they go in.
Now my torn ACL that was obvious, the meniscus stuff, nah, I just made them go in and clean it out. Would it help to know you have a meniscus or cartilage behind your knee cap? I tore that one too. :(
to help with inflammation get a neoprene wrap to wear when ever you are being active. Take an OTC pain killer and anti-inflammatory morning and night. the pain should be under control in about 3-5 days. I have arthritis in both of my knees and this always helps. if it is a meniscus tear than it will more than likely heal on its own with time, but if not, than get in to see a new doctor.
i think he needs his license revoked! i hope that your PT is more helpful, and that they also help with some kind of consequence for him and his neglectful doctoring.
I don't know...
I went back and read your previous posts as well... I didn't notice anywhere where you mentioned what treatments you have been doing at home during all this waiting. (I might've missed it somewhere....)
Anyway, I fell ice-skating in December and whacked the snot out of my knee (landed right on my knee-cap, at a slight angle--I fell face down, and my right leg flew out and up, so my knee came down slightly on the inside of my kneecap with a bang). It wasn't that bad. I managed to get back on the ice for another half hour, taking it easy.
After we left, we had some errands to run (book store, Target, etc) and I was a passenger in my husband's car. By the time we got home (3 hours later?) it was pretty well swollen and painful. I made him stop at a Walgreens so I could buy a brace for it right then, it was so uncomfortable by that point.
I usually don't run to the doctor for stuff, but I was concerned I might have done some major damage. And it hurt and was swollen, I couldn't put much weight on it, and steps(the step down into the garage) were almost not possible. So I went in the next morning to our regular Dr. He did some pushing/pulling on it, etc... (no MRI or xrays) and said he was pretty confident that I had only bruised it, particularly since I was able to skate after it happened, and that the swelling/fluids were causing the problems I was having.
My prescription was 4 advil several times a day, ice, elevation, and wear the brace if I needed to be up on it, which I was to try to avoid while it was still that swollen. He also told me that after the first week or so, I should have dramatic improvement, but that use would cause return of swelling for a time. And he was right.
Within 3 weeks, I was able to begin the new running program I was wanting to do. (Decided the week before I hurt it, that I wanted to take up running for exercise).
Anyway... about 3 weeks into my running, I ran on the curve of the road, and injured a different aspect of the same knee, by running on a sloped curve. That was a different pain, thought it had a little swelling also. It also took longer to improve. I had to completely stop running for 2 1/2 weeks and it hurt every day. I didn't feel "weak" on steps, just discomfort any time I used it to be mobile. I iced. I advil-ed. I rested. I elevated. And then, one day after almost no noticeable improvements, it was "gone". So I tried a slow short jog. It went ok, but I had some awareness of discomfort in my knee. I made sure to run on as flat a surface as possible and really, haven't had problems since then.
Most of that is unrelated to what you seem to be going through, so I apologize for the length. But, I am just wondering what you are doing to care for it at home. Are you icing it? Taking anti-inflammatories? I was told that AN advil or two is NOT enough. (I am a take one advil for a screaming headache kinda girl--I rarely take more than one for anything). When do you notice it worsening, or can you tell?
I think I would want a 2nd opinion, if I were in your shoes. Given the confusing nature of your "diagnosis"... one for you, and a different one for your PT.
I'd go see another ortho to get a second opinion. They can easily transfer all of your records for them to see and hopefully give you a diagnosis.
