Knee pain no success from A and E

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Hi All,

I am a 25 year old male that has suffered a knee injury yesterday whilst playing sport.

I imediateley attened a minors injury center which refered me to hospital to have a xray and then to be seen in a and e. 

The doctors that looked at me did the few normal tests such as tendons in tact and something called a grind test (that was the most painful experience of my life)

One muttered that I had just a slight bruised tendon and walked off.

So off from hospital I went with cruches and told to use ice to rest it.

From the initial incident yesterday I have not been able to straighten my leg or put any weight on it what so ever. 

The doctor tried to straigthen it and rudely told me to relax whilst trying to force it (possible grind test) It didnt straighten and that was the excruitiating pain I had.

The doctors did test for the main ligament damages and also checked the xray.

Now, my issue is  I feel I have been completed fobbed off and wrongly diagnosed (I will be shocked if someone agrees with the doctors diagnosis!)

I STILL cannot straighten my leg and when I do move it, I feel intense pain.

I swung my right leg as you would swing to kick a football and thats when the pain happened. It initially felt like I had dislocated my leg from its hinge joint!

From more poking around I have a suspect that its my Tibialis anterior muscle due to how sore it is when pressing on it. 

Any advice is welcome, I don't feel like going back to the hospital as I was made to feel I was wasting their time yesterday!

I am self employed and work in a phsyical enviroment. So theres certainly no work for the foreseeable future!.

Happy to post pictures/videos and do some tests if need be!!

Thank you.

 

2

X rays only show bone damage. You need an MRI to diagnose soft tissue damage. For the immediate, rest elevate and ice. Anti inflammatory meds such as aleve, Motrin etc can help with pain. Most likely you will need an orthopedic surgeon to make a proper diagnosis. Emergency rooms are pretty adequate when it comes to heart attacks, sinuis infections, kidney stones etc but when it comes to joint injuries a specialist is the way to go. Hope you get to the right Dr soon

3

Thank you Oldfatguy1 (I feel bad calling you that!)

That is pretty much what I though aswell, I just feel like how I was treated was poor and that I was made to feel there is nothing wrong with me.

I will see my GP tomorrow and ask for a immediate referall. 

4

I fully understand. Nothing worse than needing a little help and compassion and running into a complete A**hole doctor in the emergency room. I sometimes think some of those guys choose that field because they don't want to deal with ongoing problems.

5

I agree with oldfatguy.  If it was me, I would go to an orthopedic doctor asap (no waiting for some future appointment and insist it is an emergency) and see if a keener eye might find what is really going on.  Meanwhile, I agree with their assessment to keep icing it.  I would not give up until you get satisfactory answers!

6

Hi Tom i initially hurt my knee when i was 27..playing sports as well...it was never the same after I allowed some witch doctor to muck around with it ( and describing him as a witch doctor is giving witch doctors a bad name)..make sure you see a proper ortho surgeon who knows what's what...probably would have saved me from a knee replacement 25 years laterm..you end up compensating for the injury and doing even more damage to the good one. ..take care and good luck!

7

I would keep trying to see other Doctors until you get one that will actually get something done. I injured my left knee about 5 or so years ago I got an X-ray right away in emergency and then went to my Dr. He couldn't find anything wrong. After two other sets of X-rays and lots of pain I finally had another Dr replacing him because he was away. She finally sent me to a specialist and it turns out that both of my knees are now bone on bone and I have to have them both replaced. Please go to see other Doctors until you get one that will refer you to a specialist

8

Hi Tom, I think you were treated pretty poorly yesterday. Some good advice already here. My only addition is that here in the UK (which I believe you are?) Over the counter anti-inflammatory meds are ibuprofen or neurofen. Topical is voltorol or ibuleve. Another good one I have found is Biofreze, but I have only been able to source this via the physiotherapist. I hope your GP is more helpful. Let us know how you get on.

9

Hi All,

Thanks for the kind messages. Still unable to move the knee and in alot of pain.

Ibruprofen is working I think!

Saw GP today and visiting a specialist knee surgeon tomorrow. Will update!

 

10

hi tom07570 also had sports injury when young and after 40 years had tkr 7 months ago and 2nd one next january, had to batlle to get refered as it was seen as a bruise and i rendered me imobile after 40 years I for one dont understand the diagnoses and the lets be quick lots of patients waiting feeling you get when seeing the doc. My osteo spes. is a fab person and walked  lol no pun with me to recovery so go all the way and get this fixed or it will haunt you when the old age creeps in regards daniel61 south africa

 

11

Hi all,

Saw a knee surgeon today at the hosptial. He is confident I have snapped cartilage and its stopping the knee from bending, booked in for a MRI and a 'urgent' appointment back with him within two weeks.

I am so angry with the initial doctors and how I was treated.

Thanks again to everyone. Will update.

12

Good news that things are progressing. I tore my cartilage in January, unfortunately for me things were too far gone for it to heal as the arthritis was so bad. I now have knee replacements. You are young enough that your cartilage should/could heal. Let us know how you get on.

13

So glad you got a proper look at it...you're young and this will be fixed properly. ..and hopefully be the end of your troubles....be gentle with it...knees are a precious commodity. Best of luck

14

Good and don't let them put it off.  I'm one who even when I got an MRI (or bloodwork or anything) I demand (well nicely request actually) to have my own copy of any reports, any writeups, etc. so that I have my own personal record whereas typically they just send it on to the doctors.  You have a right to a copy too.  Just an FYI.  Hope it all goes well!

15

Hi all ,

mri was completed last Thursday had results today. Being operated on tomorrow as a 'emergency'

cartilage is snapped in my knee.

will update!