knee issue

Okay, I started a thread in the health section, and this is posted here for a bit more traffic quickly...

(original thread: http://www.wannabebig.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=130760)

I have an appointment next week with my doctor about my knee... the problem is the swelling is still there and the instable feeling, but at night it is just killing me, interupting sleep and feels almost as though it's come apart...

is there any tricks any one has to combat this... would wearing a neoprene sleeve to bed be effective?

thanks as always

darn... meant to put this in the powerlifting section

Use some Ibuprofen and wrap it with ice packs. Leave the ice on until the joint becomes so cold it aches. That will help take the swelling down and hopefully after a few days to a week it would stay down. Neoprene sleeves can help with instability and they help warm the tissues, which may increase blood flow and healing. I wouldn't use too tight of a sleeve to sleep in though as you wouldn't want to restrict blood flow.

Usually that 'loose' feeling is associated with ligament damage to some extent or another. Was there a particular injury that aggrivated this or was it just 'footballers' knee as they call it with the swelling and fluid.

If it is the fluid buildup that is causing the most problems you can ask your doctor to drain your knee before you get iin to see the specialist, its awesome for all these people to suggest MRI's and the like but I see you are Canadian... Generally speaking MRI 's for knee problems can take months - if not years- to be done, and to see a specialist can take up to that long as well. XRays are not very effective in seeing meniscus tears, though they can give a hint to something a little more severe. Best thing to do is RICE (as was said in the earlier thread) and take it easy from deep flexion exercises. Though I am actually the last person to ask about that, because I love squatting and the like, but if the knee pain is developing worse despite your attempts to stop it it might be time to think about backing off training until you know exactly what is going on or at least have an idea. Your doctor can do some very easy knee flexion tests that will determine the likelyhood of ligament damage and if there is a suggestion of it I would be very careful with what exercises you do. If you do anything by way of knee extensions stop, this instant, they have been proven to cause some pretty severe damage to knees!

As for the knee sleeves, use them for training but not for sleep - they wont do you very much then. Alternate heat and icing every day a couple times a day and use ibuprofin to manage pain. Though, unfortunately, it will do little for the fluid buildup as usually it is not actually 'swelling' per se, but rather just a buildup of fluid in the knee joint itself.

Have you seen a chiro or massage or anything? It might not hurt to get something to help with the draining of your lymph nodes.


Oh, and as for what Jay1 said... Dont leave ice on that long.... 15 minutes on 5 minutes off or you risk actually freezing your skin. Just do this rotation a couple of times and you will achieve far more then just leaving an ice pack on until your joint aches.

Foam roll your IT band and TFL before doing anything too serious.

Thanks alot for all the advice guys.. was hoping there might be something else in the in-term to help but just have to keep the icing going...

I already foam roll and use my lacrosse ball like a mad man, but massage and chiro need to be revisited again I think...

Totally true that the MRI and specialist will take forever up here, but at least I'll get the ball rolling now...

Much appreciated folks!!!!