Hi all ,first time poster.
11 days ago I had what looks like a common experience. Footy game, 2 players going for the same ball, both hit it at the same. I hit it with my right foot side on and the knee gave way. Rolled around in pain for a while, somehow drove home and it wasn't until the next morning that I went to A&E after a very uncomfortable night.
First thought was of course knee ligaments, all A&E could do was x-ray it (which was clear), give me crutches and refer me to Orthapedics.
It swelled up but I was only really in pain when I knocked it the wrong way or attempted stairs. I could hobble around ok but it wasn't comfortable. GP signed me off for a few weeks tellng me to keep it rested, iced, elevate etc. So I'm going stir crazy at home and keen to return to work.
I've not heard back with an appointment yet but I'm expecting a long wait for an initial outpatient appointment. I assume they will want an MRI scan done but meanwhile I really want to know when I can expect to see any improvement and be sure of what I can safely do without inflicting more damage.
The main issue is the lack of ability to bend the knee beyond a very small distance before it becomes painful. Pain confined principally to the lower left side where the swelling is/was. It's also painful to try to fully straighten it. Lifting the leg of the ground and moving the lower leg gently from side to side results in a knocking where the pain is coming from.
So, am I doing any harm by being up and about, will it improve a little of its own accord and is getting back behind the desk in the office going to be of no harm ? (oh and of course please speculate on the likely cause 
)
I done the same thing in march this year except I went to turn and my left knee made a popping noise twice I then got up tried to run it off and basically fell again. I drove home and woke up the next morning with me knee swollen. I went to A&E same thing X ray was clear and referred to orthopedic clinch. The reason your knee won't bend is because of the swelling it will go down mine was about 7 weeks before I was better on it. Without an MRI they won't know but they won't give you one until the swelling goes away. I had torn my meniscus and my ACL. I got my meniscus repaired 5 weeks ago and I am going to get an ACL repair on Friday. The reason the swelling takes time is something to do with the consistency of the fluid which makes it slower to drain away from the knee. If your knee was warm at the time of injury it could be the ligaments. Only thing I would do just now is elevate your leg on pillows and ice your knee regularly. You will need to keep your quads active. It's easy enough just lie on the floor straighten your leg out as much as is comfortable and lift your leg until your heel is 6 inches or so of the floor then back down do this slowly and as much as you can. To straighten your leg out I was advised to sit on the floor and rest the heel of my foot on a standard football this will help straighten your leg although it is painful and your leg might feel stiff. I would only do this once you have seen a specialist and they okay it as you may be different from me. Although the elevation and ice will be on to do.
Thanks Jamie.
Having got lucky with a cancellation I was seen today. He was fairly certain it was MCL as opposed to ACL Got to wait on a scan now to confirm and see what other damage may have been done.
The swelling is mostly gone now but it's not bending much. He advised me to keep working on that in the meantime.
If you have torn the ligament it may require surgery so you may have to wait awhile for that to happen. Hope the inflammation goes down soon. Don't overdo things.
Richard