Tell me I'm ok...I tweaked my knee

[Telluride Ski Babe]

Weird, weird conditions today...DH and I were going up Chair 5 and despite the fact it was 10 degrees, there was heavy fog at the top of the lift...how you can have fog at 10 degrees in bone dry Colorado is beyond me...

Anyway, we decided not to go up further (5 is probably at about 11.5K feet), and started down in the pow. The snow was a little heavy given how cold it has been, and I fell making first tracks on one of the runs. I slightly hyper-extended my knee. I skied a bit more, but it hurts on the bottom right side of my knee. I can bend, stretch it, etc...but there are a few things I do (e.g., trying a squat thrust) that just make me go "boing!" Tell me it's not a problem...

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Ow. You could have just taken it to its "limits." Have been there/done that :(
Try the old R.I.C.E. for at least a day, you'll know more in a few days. Tomorrow will be the most painful.
Keep us posted, hope it's just a TWEAK!!

 

[Severine]

Take it easy. That's where I had pain after my fall in February that ended up being a partially torn ACL (and was not diagnosed until 1 month later; original diagnosis was sprained knee). Like MSL said, R.I.C.E. for now. If it's still bothering you in a few days, see an orthopedist. The sooner you get it figured out, the better.

Hope it's nothing serious!

 

[MaineSkiLady]

BUT.....DON'T panic! An ACL can go right to its limit and "talk" profusely. Usually, any tear involves specific pain and some swelling. I had a Level 1 some years ago, had it properly diagnosed, was laid off skiing for 2 weeks and went back (gingerly) - wore a light brace for another month or so but was basically good to go.

You will generally know within a few hours whether it is a genuine sprain. If just sore and icky, probably a "limits" tweak. HOPE HOPE.

 

[altagirl]

I'd love to agree with that... but I didn't really have any pain at all when I tore my ACL. The knee swelled drastically, but eventually it went down and I was able to run and do everything normally - EXCEPT it would totally collapse on me on occasion when I tried to pivot on it. (I went over a year with the first one torn). And of course there are people with the same injury who had a lot of pain. I don't think there is a standard amount of pain associated with ACL injuries, though partial tears may be more painful than full tears.

And then I've had torn meniscus injuries that were ridiculously painful from the moment they happened until I could have surgery a few days later.

I think all you can do is ice, elevate, rest, and if it's not feeling 100%, go see your ortho (or physical therapist) and have them check it out. Hopefully it's nothing serious - I know I've had plenty of tweaks that ended up being nothing. Fingers crossed for you!

 

[itri]

Obviously, it's very difficult to figure out what's going on over the internet. My first instinct says hamstring, especially if where it's sore is over the tendon (feels like a rope right under the skin). As everybody else says, RICE and take it easy. You can try some gentle stretching if it feels tight. And, as everyone else says, if it's not getting better over the next week or so, go to the doctor. Hopefully it's just a twinge!

 

[Telluride Ski Babe]

I'm thinking/hoping tweak...I woke up this morning, and it's barely swollen. I have pretty much full ROM although if I move it one specific way, it is painful. I would overall describe the feeling this morning more as tight than painful. But, I will monitor it over the next couple of days, and if necessary, go to my orthopedic. Although, I think he was hoping to never see me again. :D

 

[ski now work later]

That's good news TSB, hope you heal up soon!

 

[Telluride Ski Babe]

Well, if misery loves company, I guess I've got some company. From what I hear, a number of people tweaked their knees yesterday...the powder was just so wind packed, it threw a number of people.

I truly do believe I've only got a sprain...perhaps wishful thinking, but that's my story, and I'm sticking to it. :D

 

[Arlaquinn]

Knee problems

If the swelling went down...that is a very good sign!
unfortunately I have too much experience with torn/rebuilt ligaments!

 

[Telluride Ski Babe]

Well, I've gone back and forth about whether I think I did anything to my knee...all was going along well, then last week (Christmas Day) it really started to hurt. I thought for sure I'd be off to the orthopedic, but had to wait because of the holiday. Then, on Sunday, it stopped hurting...at least appreciably. Perhaps it's because all I did on Friday and Saturday was keep off my feet by knitting all day. I don't know.

Anyway, here it is Tuesday and I've got to say it feels pretty good...maybe even ready to test it by taking a few light turns today. I'm not happy I missed all the (record) powder we've gotten so far, but the season is long...and my knee is more important.

 

[ski now work later]

Glad to hear things may be resolving. Definately wear a knee brace to give yourself some extra support. I used a nylon one after I hurt my knee on a ski trip to Big Sky and it helped a lot. It took months before I was totally pain free and I never got any medical attention....

 

[michpc]

Glad to hear things may be resolving. Definately wear a knee brace to give yourself some extra support. I used a nylon one after I hurt my knee on a ski trip to Big Sky and it helped a lot. It took months before I was totally pain free and I never got any medical attention....

I agree...I always wear a knee brace after minor knee tweaks.

 

[Telluride Ski Babe]

So, I took a couple of turns (yes, I'm wearing a brace), and while the knee felt a little weak, it didn't hurt! Wahoo!!! I'm back on skis.

 

[Pequenita]

Nice!

I would caveat, though, that merely waiting until swelling goes down isn't a good indicator of the seriousness of an injury. True, it could be nothing, but even full blown ACL tears subside in swelling with ibuprofin and RICE. I will agree with altagirl, though, in that the times I tore my meniscus and ACL, I couldn't even put weight on my leg immediately afterwards.

 

[num]

Glad you were able to to take those turns without trouble!

I'm of the mind that a trip to the ortho for confirmation is generally worthwhile. I'd say follow your gut if it feels like there's something bigger going on.

Sending healing vibes your way.

 

[Jenny]

Have fun (but be careful)!

 

[Robyn]

So glad you got some turns in!!!

 

[hav2ski]

TSB - this happened to me last February at Solitude!! I hyperextended ..heard two pops... when I tried to get up the knee seemed ok, no pain, but it felt unstable. It swelled up a little and I had a hard time walking on it..I could ski better than I could walk because it was stuck in a bent position. I iced it, braced it and elevated it...and then finished my vacation.

I didn't seek help for a couple of months because I was afraid of what they might tell me and I wanted to finish out the ski season.

The only time it hurt was when I was squatting or kneeling ..it would pinch..in the beginning it sent me through the roof...slowly it got better, but was never quite right. The sports Doctor determined it was a sprained or torn Popliteus..very similar to a meniscus tear in symptoms.

Since then, I've been seeing a personal trainer to strengthen it...it's much better and I'm much stronger, but now my calves are frozen up and I can't get into a deep squat w/o putting my heals on a 2 inch board.

SO, I went to a chiropractor/osteopath for a consulation.

THIS IS FOR ALL YOU WOMEN - if you notice one or both of your feel are forming a bunion...excess bone build up on your big toe joint... GO TO THE DOCTOR..your arches are fallling and you need support. If you do not get the support you need you are setting yourself up for this type of injury.

My whole body is out of alignment because of it....

the good news is...it's totally fixable and quickly responds to therapy!!

You will feel brand new!!

I hope this helps!

T

 

[num]

Hav2ski, when you say it's totally fixable and quickly responds to therapy, are you talking about the bunion? What kind of treatment did you do for it?