 Poster: A snowHead
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Had fall and hurt my left knee. Could stand but noticed my left knee was not stable when moving inward. Had patrol take me down to the clinic. Doctor pulled twisted my knee and I slowly walked for her when I turned noticed my stability was weak.
She told me nothing broken. Gave me brace to protect side movement. I slowly walked out of clinic in my ski boots back to car. That day and night slow movement and pain. Day 3. Still swollen and moving slowly but I can walk more on it with a brace and sometimes no brace got on the rower today and did 1000 meters. Worked out upper body
Lying on my back I can bend my it back towards my thigh about 30-40% of the full movement. I can straighten it 100%
How long before I can bend knee full back? Anyone similar injuries or experience
She said if not better after 10 days follow up with orthopedic dr maybe for mri.
Wear a brace Sking in future green runs only?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@UtahSkis, sounds like you may have ruptured your ACL
Have a google of that to see more details. Many of us here have done this. I did in 2004 had it reconstructed then damaged the reconstruction a number of years back. So now managing with what I have left
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Yes, it could be a torn ACL, but no need to catastrophise at this point, quite likely just pulled it a bit, in which case you could be back skiing within that time. The brace will not make that any more or less likely, if the knee is still swollen and painful then you really should not ski.
You don't mention any medication, but you should be using anti-inflammatory drugs, preferably diclofenac (aka Voltarol) orally and/or topically, e.g. if you can't get Voltarol tablets then take Ibuprofen and use Voltarol gel locally around the area of swelling. It will take a lot longer to heal if you don't.
Everybody is different, and even a completely snapped ACL may also recovery to ski very quickly. I did this many years ago, saw local doctor in resort (Verbier) who didn't think I'd done any serious damage and advised me to avoid stairs, but said I was gone to ski, which I was the very next day. Only realised it was snapped some 13 years later, when seeking treatment for further damage which may or may not have been exacerbated by the missing ACL.
So even if the swelling reduces and you're feeling OK to ski, it might be worth getting a scan done, if you live in a country where this is readily available, i.e. not the UK.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I would advise getting a proper diagnosis from someone who actually understands knees and ideally understands skiers and then make your decision based on their assessment. When I first had a twisting fall while skiing the resort doctor did a series of specific tests and assessed no serious ligament damage. He gave me a prescription for a very good brace and said that I could continue carefully on greens with regular stops for icing.
I suspect that the reason you can’t close your leg is that the knee only needs some swelling in the wrong place to prevent full range of motion - at least that is what happens to me, and of itself it doesn’t stop me skiing.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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It could be a few things, but we are all just guessing here. You really need a proper diagnosis to make a sensible decision.
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You don't mention any medication, but you should be using anti-inflammatory drugs
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Should people be using anti-inflammatories is quite a nuanced and controversial topic. There is good evidence to show that swelling is part of the recovery process and limiting it may slow overall recovery time. I certainly wouldn't be suggesting someone "should" be using them.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Sure it’s not just MCL tear?
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| UtahSkis wrote: |
| Sure it’s not just MCL tear? |
I don't think anyone could know from a description on the internet. Go back to your doctor, or go to an injury clinic with imaging equipment, and get a proper diagnosis. Tell them you are a skier and you want to ski again next week, and hopefully they will understand that time is of the essence.
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| boarder2020 wrote: |
Should people be using anti-inflammatories is quite a nuanced and controversial topic. There is good evidence to show that swelling is part of the recovery process and limiting it may slow overall recovery time. |
Not really. There are a few studies that suggest that muscle regrowth in athletes may be slightly hindered, and that long-term use after a fracture may affect bone healing, but the medical world, afaiaa, is still overwhelmingly in favour of their use to reduce swelling after trauma, enabling earlier and greater movement and exercise to aid recovery.
Yes, using them to mask pain and allow heavy training too soon after injury can be an issue for athletes, allowing further injury in extreme cases, but for someone whose movement is being limited by swelling to the extent of the OP the negative effect of lack of use will be huge, and if he's wanting to get back skiing in ten days, assuming that the original diagnosis is correct, their short term use will be of significant benefit.
@UtahSkis, Find your closest Sports Injury Clinic, book an appointment with them tomorrow or as soon as possible, take it from there.
Last edited by After all it is free  on Sun 4-12-22 16:36; edited 1 time in total
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@UtahSkis, does it hurt on the inside of the knee...I stretched my MCL years ago and it still hurts a bit. You'd know if it was the MCL. Get a proper diagnosis. I wouldn't say 'just' if it's MCL
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| UtahSkis wrote: |
| Sure it’s not just MCL tear? |
Nobody can be sure what it is. Don't just guess, get it properly looked at.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Chaletbeauroc wrote: |
| boarder2020 wrote: |
Should people be using anti-inflammatories is quite a nuanced and controversial topic. There is good evidence to show that swelling is part of the recovery process and limiting it may slow overall recovery time. |
Not really. There are a few studies that suggest that muscle regrowth in athletes may be slightly hindered, and that long-term use after a fracture may affect bone healing, but the medical world, afaiaa, is still overwhelmingly in favour of their use to reduce swelling after trauma, enabling earlier and greater movement and exercise to aid recovery.
Yes, using them to mask pain and allow heavy training too soon after injury can be an issue for athletes, allowing further injury in extreme cases, but for someone whose movement is being limited by swelling to the extent of the OP the negative effect of lack of use will be huge, and if he's wanting to get back skiing in ten days, assuming that the original diagnosis is correct, their short term use will be of significant benefit.
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Dr Mirkin who originated the RICE anacronym has said it's wrong to ice (in an attempt to reduce inflammation). British journal of sports medicine has replaced RICE with PEACE + LOVE - "while anti-inflammatories show benefits on pain and function, our acronyms flag their potentially harmful effects on optimal tissue repair. We suggest that they may not be included in the standard management of soft tissue injuries."
Like I say it's nuanced. You have to balance different things and goals. However, if OP has a serious injury probably the worst thing they can do is mask the pain and inflammation and do even more damage to it. Which is why I certainly wouldn't be advising anti-inflammatories.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Day 4. Woke up. Knee swollen slight more than other on inside more. Once out of bed walked around no brace for first time and took shower. Bending knee back all the way back to my thigh where calf touches thigh still not achievable. Pain stops it. Sore to hard touch on MCL inner side and LCL outside. Heading to gym to row and try the bike for a bit after. Will do upper body after that. I’m almost 50 years old and will let pain decide how much it can handle. Yesterday did well. Will use brace walking in gym. Plan to to rest it most of day after and just walk on it when needed.
How long does swelling usually last ?
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I think my reaction is  but do let us know how you get on - you know your body better than we do.
As has been mentioned, swelling is a consequence of the underlying injury and how long it takes to reduce may depend on how you treat your knee. My own experience is that progress is measured in months rather than days, but all the above is only partly informed opinion. Good luck
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You know it makes sense.
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@UtahSkis, my knee was still very swollen a couple of months after rupturjg ACL. I was sent to physio to help get swelling down and regain full ROM prior to the reconstruction. However that time had no further damage. I had it collapse on me after I had damaged the recon and that caused damage which needed surgery to allow me to become weight bearing again. Every person and injury are going to be sightly different and the physios know what they are doing
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@UtahSkis, you’re “almost 50”. The swelling will last for more than 10 days then.
But you can still ski with the swelling, as long as there’s no other hidden injuries besides a mildly torn ligament.
If it’s “just MCL”, you should know by now. The pain and swelling would be limited to the inside of the knee. If there’s pain and swelling in other part of the knee, it isn’t “just MCL”.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Seems like LCL and MCL both are sore. Walked around without brace all day around the house. Just walked upstairs for first time. Coming down little more painful than going up the stairs. Knee felt much more stable today. Elevated and had ice on knee few times. Did some exercises while lying down. The knee Is def bigger than my non injured knee but not that much bigger.
Hoping for a better day tomorrow!!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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If you've sprained any knee ligament then skiing so soon afterwards could have really bad outcomes.
Those ligaments are at best week and your knee unstable.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@UtahSkis, have you consulted a professionally qualified person to seek an informed diagnosis?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I have visited ortho in states when I hurt my knee few days ago. No scans done.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Day 5. Work today. Office type work. Wore brace today. Went to gym took off brace and rowed and did two different types of exercise bikes. Pain would only occur in back of knee and mainly when my knee would bend more back. Still because of being swollen won’t go all the way back.
Walked around gym around machines making me have to change directions. Walked side steps lateral in both directions. Felt good. Knee still swollen compared to the other knee.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Day 6
Going to go to my physio dr tomorrow. Knee still swollen and tough to bend back. Going to try to go today with no brace all day and see how my gait is?
How long does the swelling take to go down?
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| UtahSkis wrote: |
How long does the swelling take to go down? |
About as long as this piece of string.
Three issues with your question. First you don't have a diagnosis then the people you're asking aren't qualified to give a prognosis and finally without the first, what you're doing could be making it better or worse.
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Day 7. Went to the ortho doctor today he drained 30 cc out of knee fluid was clear so ruled out any major tears or injury. No need for MRI Knee feels a lot more mobile now that 30 cc were taking out and they normally has 3 cc of fluid in it
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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This is like an Advent Calendar 
OP don't forget to tell your insurance company about the injury - although such things may work differently in the USA
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| Quote: |
OP don't forget to tell your insurance company about the injury - although such things may work differently in the USA
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Americans don’t buy “winter sport insurance”. So there’s no company to “tell”
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Do others not realize this is a pisstake thread
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@peanuthead, what makes you think that? An American seeking Internet advice and self treating is not unusual is it?
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| peanuthead wrote: |
| Do others not realize this is a pisstake thread |
Pisstake, troll, idiot, whatever. Yeah, it was obvious some time ago.
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You know it makes sense.
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| red 27 wrote: |
| This is like an Advent Calendar |
I had thought it was a Craig David tribute act, but you are right, more like an advent calendar of bullshittery !
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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I’m sorry to hear and to be slow to respond.
You need someone who knows what they are doing to examine your knee. That is far more important than getting a scan at this stage as scans can under or over estimate the problem. Until you have clarity on the diagnosis and severity of the injury I’d be cautious about accepting treatment advice no doubt how well meaning it is. One exception to that is to try and get the swelling down and to get the knee moving.
Jonathan Bell
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Poster: A snowHead
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| holidayloverxx wrote: |
| An American seeking Internet advice and self treating is not unusual is it? |
That’s not unusual. But doing so on a UK forum is.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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No idea what your problem is, but it sounds a lot like my knee. My problem is my knee is worn out and weak. If I ski a lot it aggregates it and my body decides it’s had enough, and tries to protect itself. It does this my flooding the knee with fluid. This makes it difficult to move, walk, and you lose your range of motion. This is the bodies defence mechanism to MAKE YOU REST IT !!
Ok. Now you’ve rested it a bit. Problem is the fluid won’t go away. This is the medical problem “fluid on the knee”. Note the fluid is not the problem, that is its defence. The problem is getting it to go away again, as it hangs around. !!
Here are the solutions that worked FOR ME (note I’m not a dr, this is just me).
First rest and elevate as much as you can. Also use compression.
The best exercise for me is very light spinning on a bike. No intensity, no speed. Just light spinning. This will make the body naturally remove the fluid. Do not run, jump, skip, walk or anything else. To much impact.
Next tip is max dose of ibuprofen.
Final golden tip for me…. Lots of ibuprofen gel on the knee at night, then add a tight compression on top. In the morning mine is noticeably better.
Note I have had multiple appointments with Dr’s, specialists and surgeons. (Bupa). I have definitely no ligament damage. I am also over 50.
Remember this just works for me.
Good luck.
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