I fell on December 23rd and kind of over extended my left knee along with a major bruse on my left hip area. My knee has been very painful ever since the fall. It is especially painful when I am in bed with my leg fully extended. When I get out of bed it is so painful that I could use a walker to get moving. Once I move around for a while the pain is reduced. I can't bend my knee fully, if I did it feels like it would cause extreme pain. I take Platinum Robax which incorporates Ibuprofen + a Muscle Relaxant which seens to help a little otherwise I would have sleepless nights. During the day I could walk around and in fact at times there very little for pain for short periods but I still can't bend it fully and there is swelling and minor heat to the touch on the left side of this left knee. Should I go to the hospital? Here in Canada the wait periods can be very long in excess of 12 hours at times.
With what you put down, I'll would seek medical attention, go the er or contact your doctor, to get it looked at. For the time being, elevation & ice.
There are so many late developing problems that can occur with a fall it becomes almost imperrative to get it looked at by an orthopedic surgeon. Sometimes the protocol is rest and other times its a controlled activity such as physical therapy. I know your ER waits are long as the mother of a friend of ours was up there fishing a few years ago and fell and broke her arm. After a 4 hr drive to a clinic she spent another 5 hrs waiting to be seen. plus a couple more to be treated Then the 4 hr drive back to the lodge. But to save yourself a lot it long term grief it might be worth it. Just make sure you go somewhere with a decent ortho on staff.
Definitely need a doctors attention. I know it is a long wait but it really needs to be checked out. You will be thankful in the end. Let us know what happens and your progress.
You've just spent the last 17 days in pain so I think spending up to 12 waiting to be x-rayed and properly diagnosed isn't a bad idea.