Despite the relaxation of vacation, I was looking forward to returning home, as I had a hockey game on Monday evening against a team we don't like all that much (they're a beginner team that somehow has folks who've played before). Anyways, 1st shift, I end up taking one of their defenders into the boards behind the net. It was an ugly pile. Nothing exciting to report. 2nd shift, I end up falling, right skate first, towards the wall after a puck. Ouchy Wouchy goes the knee.
I could barely get around on tuesday, and went to see a friend of mine who is an AT. She did her bending, pushing, pulling, etc., and said its probably something with the MCL or a meniscus. Spent half of my birthday waiting in the doctors office the next day, and he told me the same thing. Then spent most of today getting an MRI and waiting in the doc's office again.
The verdict: MCL sprain. Phew. So its crutches, brace and PT for a few weeks. No surgery. No massive braces. September off for sports.
So here's where you come in... Anyone had some knee ligament issues in the past? Any advice, at least as it pertains to PT and then getting back in the pool? Stud - looks like you'll be smoking me in breaststroke this year...
Parents
Former Member
I hyperextended / dislocated my knee also playing soccer. It completely ruptured the ACL, PCL, LCL, and partial tear of the MCL (another doc quipped that I tore the "L" out of my knee). Nerve damage so I had foot drop for 3+ months, happily that resolved. The repairs didn't work, had to have it reconstructed 6 months later putting in a synthetic graft and repurposing hamstrings.
I have heeded the doc's advice and gave up the weight-bearing sports I was active in (soccer, softball, volleyball, skiing, racketball). It even killed my rec bowling game and ability for social dancing, but at least after a year I didn't have to wear a big titanium knee brace 24/7. Rehab was 5 months doing it diligently and I started swimming as soon as I was off crutches (wearing my sports brace).
PT was fun, I went to a place specializing in sports med and lots of motivated patients and nice people running the place. About 15 hours a week plus doing stuff at home with an ankle weight.
Back to the MCL: while I can swim a crappy breaststroke, it hurts the inner knee. I like swimming the IM so I always practice it with a dolphin kick instead of frog kick, and use weights to work the glutes and hip adductors/abductors etc instead. The only actual breaststroke kick is when I race, which hasn't been for a long while.
Well, good luck!
I hyperextended / dislocated my knee also playing soccer. It completely ruptured the ACL, PCL, LCL, and partial tear of the MCL (another doc quipped that I tore the "L" out of my knee). Nerve damage so I had foot drop for 3+ months, happily that resolved. The repairs didn't work, had to have it reconstructed 6 months later putting in a synthetic graft and repurposing hamstrings.
I have heeded the doc's advice and gave up the weight-bearing sports I was active in (soccer, softball, volleyball, skiing, racketball). It even killed my rec bowling game and ability for social dancing, but at least after a year I didn't have to wear a big titanium knee brace 24/7. Rehab was 5 months doing it diligently and I started swimming as soon as I was off crutches (wearing my sports brace).
PT was fun, I went to a place specializing in sports med and lots of motivated patients and nice people running the place. About 15 hours a week plus doing stuff at home with an ankle weight.
Back to the MCL: while I can swim a crappy breaststroke, it hurts the inner knee. I like swimming the IM so I always practice it with a dolphin kick instead of frog kick, and use weights to work the glutes and hip adductors/abductors etc instead. The only actual breaststroke kick is when I race, which hasn't been for a long while.
Well, good luck!
