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What the hell is wrong with my knee...

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ABalls
Posts: 2091 - Karma: 3,754
Hello everyone, as most of you can tell I have a knee problem that I need to fix as soon as possible. Here's the details:

Late last season I was at killington and must have fucked up my knee on something during the day. I skied for the rest of the day without noticing anything, it wasn't until I got out of the car 2 hours after leaving killi that my knee seriously tightend up. I couldn't extend my knee past 45 degrees without SEVERE pain. I hobbled around school that week but my knee eventually loosened up and I went to go ski. It was during this that I realize the pain that would keep me out for the rest of the season. To pinpoint the pain, it was on the left side of my left knee. It's like a very small muscle and whenever i would land hard on it I experienced severe pain and would usually fall. It ended up getting to the point where I couldn't click into my bindings. I stopped skiing for the rest of the season and over the summer it seemed like it went away, I could do leg exercises and run perfectly fine.

Fast forward to a couple weeks ago and I feel the same fucking pain come back again during skiing. My knee tightened right up and the muscle started to hurt again. I've been ankle to ski but it gets quite sore after a while, it is definelty weaker than my right knee. For picture reference:

It's on the outside part of my left knee like I said before. It feels like a little muscle on the left side of my knee on top of a bone. Basically here I'm wondering what the hell I can do to fix this, any good suggestions or advice get +K, thanks homies.

Sorry for any grammar mistakes or repetitive sentences. Dr. Ns, please fix my knee.
Dec 9 2014 9:49PM
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270on420out
Posts: 7508 - Karma: 51,054
I bruised my LCL a couple weeks ago. Sounds like might have torn yours. Only way to be sure is to see a specialist
Dec 9 2014 10:02PM
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shepux
Posts: 470 - Karma: 1,629
That sounds nasty. I'd go get it checked out if I were you
Dec 9 2014 10:39PM
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Mingg
Posts: 13977 - Karma: 49,314
Knee injuries are serious, especially in skiing. No one can really tell you whats wrong over NS. I'd seriously go to a doctor. Thats your best bet for finding out whats wrong and the best way to go about treating it.
Dec 9 2014 10:46PM
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Chubz.
Posts: 13918 - Karma: 25,661
I fucked my knee up in 2011 messing around in gym class. Since then it's always given me trouble. The past two season there's been time periods where i've barely been able to walk because of my knee issues. Last year was the worse after my ski got caught under a tube and twisted my whole leg around. I took it easy for the next couple weeks and the pain subsided.


So if i were you i would get it checked out. My knees feel fine right now but i know that all this is going to catch up to me sooner or later but i'm not getting surgery unless i cant ski anymore because of the pain
Dec 9 2014 10:52PM
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Nacho+
Posts: 3748 - Karma: 7,791
Your knee hurts. That's really too bad. Hope your throat heals up fast too! Vibes man
Dec 9 2014 10:52PM
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ModMommy
Posts: 10817 - Karma: 57,198
Sounds like it's causing you enough grief to have an impact on your normal, every day actions.
I'd go see a specialist, it's better to be safe than sorry- especially with knee injuries.
Dec 9 2014 10:56PM
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perryhunter
Posts: 721 - Karma: -185
ShepuxThat sounds nasty. I'd go get it checked out if I were you


Agree! Have it x-rayed right away.
Dec 9 2014 10:57PM
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AT-AT
Posts: 3281 - Karma: 3,256
I think I have the answer to your question. Look up IT Band syndrome. I get it really bad in my right knee if I do not stretch.

It comes on very similar to what you described and gets better with rest and stretching.

The problem can originate in your hips, which is the case for me.
Dec 9 2014 11:01PM
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JGWI
Posts: 2842 - Karma: 7,812
Id get it checked out soon before something serious comes about. Most of us here are going to end up with arthritis someday so it is important to do everything you can now to prevent problems later in life.

We should all have like a chicken dinner in like 50 years. I guarantee the parking lot will be full of walkers and electric scooters.
Dec 9 2014 11:09PM
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Mingg
Posts: 13977 - Karma: 49,314
JustGoWithItWe should all have like a chicken dinner in like 50 years. I guarantee the parking lot will be full of walkers and electric scooters.


NS Family reunion? hahaha
Dec 9 2014 11:25PM
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suup
Posts: 1485 - Karma: 4,367
Web MD: "you have cancer"
Dec 9 2014 11:53PM
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rtl32
Posts: 679 - Karma: 1,161
The guy above me nailed it^

Sounds to me like you have a partial LCL tear. Get it checked out before you put any more stress on it. Ice and advil will help with swelling and discomfort
Dec 10 2014 2:00AM
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sleepyhollow
Posts: 139 - Karma: 188
Look up ways to stretch out your IT Band with a foam roller and a bunch of crazy stretches this is pulling on that side of your knee, stretching this muscle may solve your problem if your knee is being pulled out of alignment by a tight ITband.
Dec 10 2014 3:13AM
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Whooooop
Posts: 114 - Karma: 18
go to doctor.

np
Dec 10 2014 5:18AM
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galardogod
Posts: 1698 - Karma: 5,209
sounds like an LCL tear or maybe meniscal tear. Only way to know for sure us to go to the doctor.
Dec 10 2014 7:03AM
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BungHole.
Posts: 698 - Karma: 1,422
Sounds like a bad meniscus tear.

Source: I have one now
Dec 10 2014 7:27AM
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ABalls
Posts: 2091 - Karma: 3,754
To add: I've been able to ski but after two or so consecutive days on the mountain it deteriorates my knee to the point where I kind of hobble around and can't ski. This takes about 4 days to get back to normal but it goes right back to the poor condition again after hard skiing. Thanks for the great responses!
Dec 10 2014 8:51AM
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smuggs
Posts: 6561 - Karma: 1,375
im guessing you are getting older and you need to maintain knee strength in the off season. the rubber joints go away
Dec 10 2014 12:11PM
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Backhaus
Posts: 68 - Karma: 89
My knee hurts, I'll just ask the internet people instead of seeing someone who does that shit for a living.

Just kidding man hah no one else said it yet so I had to. But for real it's hard to tell unless it's in front of you so go to a doctor if you haven't already
Dec 10 2014 12:30PM
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crotchvent
Posts: 1527 - Karma: 2,184
Sounds like you should have gone to the doctor a long time ago.
Dec 10 2014 12:32PM
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gnarballsianm
Posts: 621 - Karma: 703
Might be a slight mcl tear, my brother had that last season and it put him in slight pain every sinc, he is good now because he saw a doctor and did pt.
Dec 10 2014 1:09PM
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sleepyhollow
Posts: 139 - Karma: 188
Gomukhasana stretch will save your life
Dec 10 2014 3:07PM
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I_liketobutter
Posts: 2664 - Karma: 997
COOOOPSounds like you should have gone to the doctor a long time ago.


Seriously, why have you not gone to the doctor? It looks like you're in high school, and if you're able to afford skiing I'm guessing you probably live in a house, which I'm guessing your parents own, whom I'm guessing have health insurance, which definitely covers you.
Dec 10 2014 3:46PM
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cool_name
Posts: 4295 - Karma: 3,131
JustGoWithItId get it checked out soon before something serious comes about. Most of us here are going to end up with arthritis someday so it is important to do everything you can now to prevent problems later in life.

We should all have like a chicken dinner in like 50 years. I guarantee the parking lot will be full of walkers and electric scooters.


Meh, I already have arthritis, so no point stopping now
Dec 10 2014 6:22PM
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ABalls
Posts: 2091 - Karma: 3,754
Ya I'm an idiot for prolonging a doctors visit, I just was never really sure I had to go. I think I'll be heading in next week sometime.
Dec 10 2014 6:26PM
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Cheeko
Posts: 505 - Karma: 881
Vibes man, Hope you get it healed soon!
Dec 10 2014 8:25PM
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BrandenR
Posts: 87 - Karma: 150
Moon_ShoesI bruised my LCL a couple weeks ago. Sounds like might have torn yours. Only way to be sure is to see a specialist


forsure see a specialist. strained my LCL last weekend. hoping it doesn't get worse
Dec 10 2014 10:00PM
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JTTrembles
Posts: 1108 - Karma: 1,907
I've had a lot of experience with knee issues. Go to the doctors and get an MRI or something. You really gotta figure out exactly what it is so you can fix it and get back on the hill as soon as you can.
Dec 10 2014 10:11PM
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Hugh_Conway_jr
Posts: 746 - Karma: 467
You dont need an xray or an mri ... not yet. Xray will be of zero value.

What you need is for a competent person to preform and interpret the tests mentioned above.

You are likely going to have to stop skiing, and get on a rehab . exercise program for a bit.. Go see a physiotherapist, you will get a far better assessment and treatment plan than if you see a doctor.

Stop fucking around, if you saw a health care provider last year, you could have sorted this out over the summer.
Dec 11 2014 9:19AM
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ABalls
Posts: 2091 - Karma: 3,754
Welp, went to the docs today and I guess I got some good news. He thinks it's a partial meniscus tear with tendonitis and he also recommended that I use a foam roller on my IT band.

The good news is that he said I can still ski as long as I don't get fucked up. I just ordered a compression knee sleeve so hopefully that alleviates some pain when I ride. I start PT this week, he hopes that I can strengthen the muscles in my knee to the point where I won't need surgery to repair the meniscus. If that works out I'd be a happy camper.
Dec 16 2014 12:09AM
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trap_god_3
Posts: 90 - Karma: 200
It's probably your IT band tightening up, that happens because your hips are not aligned right, this can happen easily from skiing and spinning on and off rails, that would explain why it went away and came back, go to a physical therapist they can fix it in like 10 minutes and tell you how to prevent it from coming back. Rolling it and using kinesiotape on it will help alot.I know becuase I do this all the time, and your IT band is the muscle on the outside of your knee
Dec 16 2014 8:48AM
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AT-AT
Posts: 3281 - Karma: 3,256
trap_god_3It's probably your IT band tightening up, that happens because your hips are not aligned right, this can happen easily from skiing and spinning on and off rails, that would explain why it went away and came back, go to a physical therapist they can fix it in like 10 minutes and tell you how to prevent it from coming back. Rolling it and using kinesiotape on it will help alot.I know becuase I do this all the time, and your IT band is the muscle on the outside of your knee


This.
Dec 16 2014 9:14AM
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ABalls
Posts: 2091 - Karma: 3,754
trap_god_3It's probably your IT band tightening up, that happens because your hips are not aligned right, this can happen easily from skiing and spinning on and off rails, that would explain why it went away and came back, go to a physical therapist they can fix it in like 10 minutes and tell you how to prevent it from coming back. Rolling it and using kinesiotape on it will help alot.I know becuase I do this all the time, and your IT band is the muscle on the outside of your knee


Ya he told me to get a foam roller, do you think it's more IT band than anything else? Also At-At good call earlier in the thread.
Dec 16 2014 10:45AM
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trap_god_3
Posts: 90 - Karma: 200
Ya I personally think it probably all started from your IT band but you could have messed more stuff up from not fixing it in the first place, I agree with your doctor saying you can still ski though, roll it alot before you ski and do the exercises your pt gives you, also kinesiotape works wonders just ask your doctor about it and he will tell you how to use it.
Dec 16 2014 11:28AM
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AT-AT
Posts: 3281 - Karma: 3,256
ABallsYa he told me to get a foam roller, do you think it's more IT band than anything else? Also At-At good call earlier in the thread.


I had the same thing happen to me when I was marathon training. I would start a long run feeling perfect, around mile 10 it would start to ache, and as soon as I stopped it would lock up and be so painful to bend. The pain was concentrated down the outside of my right knee. The only thing that makes it better is ice, rest, and lots of stretching.
Dec 16 2014 11:32AM
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johnnyBuz
Posts: 1438 - Karma: 1,270
If you or your parents have good insurance just go straight for the MRI. X-ray isn't going to pick up anything.
Dec 16 2014 12:43PM
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ABalls
Posts: 2091 - Karma: 3,754
It's pretty acute on the left side of my knee and it hurts when I shake my lower leg from side to side but I'm sure the foam rolling will help, thanks guys. I didn't even know what an IT band was before this honestly, I'm glad I went to see someone. That knee tape seems promising too, I'll check it out.
Dec 16 2014 12:52PM
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GrahamGould
Posts: 713 - Karma: 2,439
I dont know why but my whole body hurst whenever I see a cross section of a knee
Dec 16 2014 1:04PM
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tacotom
Posts: 454 - Karma: 479
fucked my knee up a couple of years ago and now it just dislocates all the time, nbd, just wait 10 minutes and the pain is gone and I'm ready to shred again.
Dec 16 2014 1:45PM
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Peter.
Posts: 23796 - Karma: 13,014
if you have to get surgery, meniscus surgery is really simple, and you'll only be stuck on the couch for a day or two
Dec 16 2014 2:10PM
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Nikolaus
Posts: 863 - Karma: 995
i had the exact same thing except on the inside of both of my knees. My guess is osteochondritis dissecans (what i have) where repeated impact causes pain and a piece of cartilage to eventually detach from the knee joint and float around. this might be what you feel. If this is the case, it's in stage 4 and is considered severe. I have it severe on my right knee and moderate on my left. Surgery is necessary and crutches are for 12 weeks. Depending on age, full recovery is anywhere from 4 to 10 months, during which you cant ski. However, I would definetly get it diagnosed by a doctor.
Dec 16 2014 2:45PM
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eheath
Posts: 61603 - Karma: 123,089
You probably should go to a doctor.


That being said, you don't have "little muscles" in your knee. You have cartilage, bone and tendons.
Dec 16 2014 2:49PM
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Charles_Grant
Posts: 428 - Karma: 206
id cut it off now.
Dec 16 2014 4:19PM
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Toaster-Tony
Posts: 3531 - Karma: 5,850
Any injury that persists for long periods of time need to checked out, especially knees. Best of luck with the recovery.
Dec 16 2014 4:26PM
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WeathermanPetro
Posts: 239 - Karma: 228
Hope it gets better. Knee injures are the worst.
Dec 16 2014 7:55PM
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panojibber.
Posts: 1041 - Karma: 683
ABallsWelp, went to the docs today and I guess I got some good news. He thinks it's a partial meniscus tear with tendonitis and he also recommended that I use a foam roller on my IT band.

The good news is that he said I can still ski as long as I don't get fucked up. I just ordered a compression knee sleeve so hopefully that alleviates some pain when I ride. I start PT this week, he hopes that I can strengthen the muscles in my knee to the point where I won't need surgery to repair the meniscus. If that works out I'd be a happy camper.


I have like... Literally exactly the same thing. Two things that have made a huge difference for me have been stationary biking for like 15 minutes before I go up to the hill (or at least doing some kind of warmup - really key), and stretching out as soon as I get home after skiing. Icing my knees has helped quite a bit too.

Just curious, what compression sleeve are you getting? This one by any chance? http://www.bauerfeindusa.com/en/products/supports-orthoses/knee-hip-thigh/genutrain.html
Dec 17 2014 12:07AM
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ABalls
Posts: 2091 - Karma: 3,754
panojibber.I have like... Literally exactly the same thing. Two things that have made a huge difference for me have been stationary biking for like 15 minutes before I go up to the hill (or at least doing some kind of warmup - really key), and stretching out as soon as I get home after skiing. Icing my knees has helped quite a bit too.

Just curious, what compression sleeve are you getting? This one by any chance? http://www.bauerfeindusa.com/en/products/supports-orthoses/knee-hip-thigh/genutrain.html


Oh man I wish I wouldve gotten that knee sleeve, I just picked up a Tommie copper recovery sleeve to increase blood flow when I ride. I plan on skiing this weekend, not sure if I'll be riding park but I'll be icing and stretching regardless.
Dec 17 2014 9:16AM
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panojibber.
Posts: 1041 - Karma: 683
ABallsOh man I wish I wouldve gotten that knee sleeve, I just picked up a Tommie copper recovery sleeve to increase blood flow when I ride. I plan on skiing this weekend, not sure if I'll be riding park but I'll be icing and stretching regardless.


Yeah I've been thinking about getting that one, its like $143 in canada though which is a little pricey... I would be really interested in hearing how the sleeve you ordered works out, I want to get some kind of compression brace but I'm not sure how high end I need to go.
Dec 17 2014 12:50PM
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Hugh_Conway_jr
Posts: 746 - Karma: 467
johnnyBuzIf you or your parents have good insurance just go straight for the MRI. X-ray isn't going to pick up anything.


All of his differential diagnosis can be ruled in / out with good quality physical exams, conducted by a competent professional.

An MRI is not required at this stage. If OP has good insurance, his time would be better spent visiting a physiotherapist.

Although you have seen a physician, you will likely still benefit from a visit to a physio. They can give you specific instructions and exercise that is more specific to your case.

No to flame your Dr (he/she may be very good), but most physicians suck at this kind of thing.

Best of luck,
Dec 17 2014 1:02PM
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Dragonslayer101
Posts: 283 - Karma: 857
Sounds similar to my last year. Opening day I tore my ACL (unknown to me), skied on it the rest of the year, didn't have any problems taking it easy but some landings would just set it off, this summer was good but would randomly lock up and then hurt for the next week or so. Sounds a lot like you.

Eventually got it checked out, got the MRI, was a fully torn ACL and a wee bit of meniscus (ACL's are for pussies anyways). Just had surgery on it about a week ago. Recovery has been shitty, currently in bed on NS right now.

OP, Get it checked out, its worth it.
Dec 17 2014 1:47PM
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