Lunge/Knee injury

[AndreaUK]

Hi

Whilst performing a lunge today I felt a severe pain in my left knee (the one i was dragging) it made a huge cracking sound and then cracked back the other way. I find it difficult to weight bare and when Im walking it feels a little like it could pop back out however it isnt swollen and pain killers keep the pain away so I dont think that anything serious has happened.

What Im wondering is, is this a common injury during a lunge/drag and is there anything protective I can wear to help prevent this cracking when I go into a lunge/drag?

Andrea xx

[jenlyon60]

If you are having problems weight bearing, be very careful. Speaking as one who has dealt with problems with both knees over the years.

It would probably behoove you to follow the old "Rest/Ice/Compression/Elevation" (RICE) drill for awhile. Ice should be 20 minutes on, then minimum 20 minutes off. Compression helps provide some support and helps minimize swelling. Elevation also helps minimize the swelling.

If you are still suffering problems with weight bearing after a couple days (no more...) go to your GP and have them check the knee out and/or try to get an orthopod referral.

Knees are nothing to mess around with, injury-wise.

[Sessy]

Definately not a common injury. Common would be to over-stretch the groin area, not bust your knees.

[doubletoe]

That is very strange. I would definitely go see an orthopaedist.

[Mrs Redboots]

Take it to the doctor and get it checked out! Or to your nearest A&E, if you prefer.

[kiwibabe]

Hi AndreaUK I did the same thing.

I was doing a lunge and I hit a rut on the ice and I fell onto the stretched leg and I heard a cracking/crunching sound in my knee then heaps of pain. The sound kept doing it whenever I'd bend or straighten my knee (is actually still doing it 8 months later). I hobbled around for about a month before I could walk properly.

Anyway, the Doctor and physiotherapist both reckoned I'd torn my meniscus cartilage. Went to a specialist and found out I'd torn my cartilage (as we had thought) but also bruised the bone and bruised the cartilage in my knee, water on the knee (from to much skating and helping to organise an ice show). He won't do any surgery on the torn cartilage for six months until the bruised bone and cartilage heal (I still have another 3 month wait).

Any way my advice would be do the RICE drill as jennyon60 suggests and get yourself to a doctor asap. Also get yourself to a physiotherapist as well who can tape the knee, it will feel more comfortable. The only good news for me was I was allowed to skate afterwards as the doctor and specialist reckoned I couldn't do any more damage to the knee and I could skate as long as I stopped when it hurt.

[Team Arthritis]

you also may have dislocated the knee - try to use crutches - if its the meniscus, SOMETIMES the torn flap may drop back in if its not too bad. Sorry to hear about more wear and tear.
Lyle

[AndreaUK]

Hi

Looking up on the internet it does appear to be the meniscus on the inside of my knee. It was like a huge pop and hurt like hell. I can walk and as I said before pain relief helps but it is starting to swell now.

Tomorrow morning Ill get myself to A&E and see if they can sort me some physio or at least something. I have a pressure/support bandage on at the moment that is helping a little.

I can straighten the leg but it does hurt, its much happier to be slightly bent at the moment. As I do bend and flex there is no further cracking or popping but there is pain and the joint feels a little weak. Im hoping that this is a good sign and not a sign that it is a major tear or anything.

Dont think I will be skating for a week or two, however it isnt going to put me off. Since returning to skating after the face plant, im now more determined than ever.

Andrea xx

[jenlyon60]

If you heard a pop and had any twisting, it is possible it is more than meniscus. ACL tears can definitely be audible (been there, done that, got that T-shirt on the left side). And ACL tears will not heal on their own, because of the type of tissue that that the ACL is. Also, a fully torn ACL will leave instability, because the knee is essentially working on 3/4ths support at that point.

[Morgail]

It sounds like your kneecap may have dislocated. I did this exact same thing in August. I did a lunge, and I let my right leg get out too far to the side, the kneecap popped out of joint and then back in (with a loud cracking sound both times). Definitely go to an orthopedist, as you may have torn a ligament!!

Luckily, mine was not a meniscus tear or an ACL tear. Instead, the kneecap dislocation tore a smaller ligament (the one that connects the kneecap on the inside of the leg). It healed without surgery - just some physical therapy and lots of ice. I was off the ice for 6 weeks. Now I wear a knee brace with a stiff ridge along the outside of it to keep my kneecap in place. Knees are rather touchy joints. According to my ortho, knee dislocation is not uncommon for women athletes.

[SkatingOnClouds]

I have to be very careful of my right knee when I drag it in a lunge, it really hurts if I do a few, which I had to for a program recently. Have to say that I didn't get any popping, so mine obviously isn't as bad as yours.

I suspect my problem is that I do not have great turnout at the hip, so getting down low in the lunge puts pressure on my knee, twisting it sideways. How is your turnout?

And yes, I would definitely seek opinion from at least a physiotherapist.

[sk8_4fun]

good luck Andrea, sorry to hear your injured again. let us know how you get on at A&E

[AndreaUK]

Hi

Had it checked out and thankfully its nothing too serious. The doctor thinks that its just a really bad sprain caused with a twist and has told me to rest it as much as possible.

Ive kept off it now for a couple days and I think its starting to feel a tiny bit better. If I do put weight on it then it hurts like hell but hopefully it will get better pretty soon.

I got one of those sports leg braces/support today so I think in the future I will skate with that until its 100%.

Andrea xx

[DallasSkater]

Andrea: Good news that it is nothing too serious. My gosh you have had one thing after another. I am sending bubble plastic wrap to the UK for you to cover your entire body from here on out! giggle.

[AndreaUK]

hehehe it does seem to be one thing after the other and Ive always been one of those people to never do anything by halves it seems that includes injuring myself.

I am more determined than ever though to do this right and an extremely painful knee twist wont put me off. I just wish I could go back and skate tomorrow (but I dare not)

I think the bubble wrap will come in very handy. :P

Andrea

[Team Arthritis]

I think the bubble wrap will come in very handy. :P

Andrea

Bubble wrap would never help me -> I'm a lifesaver chewer, tootsie pop cruncher, popsicle nibbler and bubble wrap popper! Yeeeeee Hawwwww
Lyle http://www.cosgan.de/images/midi/sportlich/k020.gif

[sk8_4fun]

thats great news Andrea, hope it heals quickly :P

[Morgail]

I'm so glad it's not anything serious! Take care & use that brace when you get back on the ice:)