 Poster: A snowHead
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Hiya,
I crashed my knee on the slopes in January (5 weeks ago) and wondered if anyone had any advice. I've read the specific post about ACL which is very useful and has good links.
At the moment I'm still trying to get a full range of movement. I've got an MRI appointment on the NHS but not for another 3 weeks, then 2 weeks to get the results. I'm trying to get a quicker appointment somewhere private at the moment. So I have no real idea of the damage done. X-rays abroad showed no bone damage so it's down to cartilage and/or ligaments.
I've been seeing a private physio weekly since the accident and doing the exercises she gives me. I've also started seeing a personal trainer who Ive seen in the past and know she's good with rehab to work on mobilisation and overall strengthening of my legs and keeping my upper body good too. When I last saw the consultant he said I had to get my leg straight, whatever it takes. On top of the exercises my physio has given me, this week I've also started hanging weights off either side off my knee (in an oven glove, lol!) whilst my leg is elevated. This was suggested by my physio.
But it doesn't seem to matter what I do I can't get it fully straight. Any ideas?
Thanks
Deb
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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debbiem, you're obviously pretty determined because what you describe with the weights is, I suspect, painful.
If it still won't go straight it implies that something is mechanically blocking joint movement - and the most likely suspect would be a torn cartilage (meniscus).
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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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Freddie Paellahead, didn't genepi get her dog to sit on hers? 
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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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debbiem, do the private MRI scan as per the ACL thread in London, that's of course if you can get there without incurring to much in the way of travel expenses. Then worth paying for a private consultation to see what the actual issue is you're dealing with for "them" to assess the scan, the two have to be done in tandem as it were, again I think I spelt the strategy out in the ACL thread, but my all means "shout" if you have further questions.
If you're down South, then I know this guy http://www.mrjameslewis.co.uk can see people pretty quickly, though think he might be away for another week or two.
I'm really not too sure about hanging weights off is the best, but each to their own....
One of the critical things after any knee reconstruction is to get the leg fully extended, so scar tissue does not build up and calcify and subsequently restrict any range of movement, but must admit to not having come across the weights, but can see the logic after having had my knee pressed down by physio's and the like afterwards, but you're still dealing with post injury trauma = swelling etc so best to carry on with ice / anti inflammatories etc
To test your leg extension, or how far off you are, after a bath ( I always find this the best place) having let the water out, sit there and extend your legs flexing your quads etc and see how far your heel lifts off the bottom of the bath compared to your good leg, should be two to three cms, you'd think that fully extended a result would be that the heel is on the bath, but you should be able to lift it up - what a gem of information the interweb is
You sound like the sort of impatient sports junkie like me, so best of luck !
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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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Weathercam, debbiem, the cheapest place (in the S of England at least) to get a private MR scan is Cheltenham here http://www.cobalthealth.co.uk/
(PS I have no financial interest in the above organisation)
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Freddie Paellahead, "MRI Scans from £218 for a one part scan, including Consultant Radiologist report. "
That's on a par with what I paid - if you can be really flexible I know you can get it for £175 - but that place (Cheltenham) looks good*, do you still need a GP referral though, if not even better !
*Still need a good knee surgeon / consultant that knows what he's doing though - not worth trying to do it cheapo cheapo when it matters!
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Hey thanks folks, lots of useful info. Would love to borrow the dog Genepi, they're always happy to help aren't they!
I'm going to phone the place in Cheltenham tomorrow, I'm a couple of hours away but that's ok. My physio told me about a place in Milton Keynes which is only half hour from me, their website says scans within 48 hours and reports in 48 hours, but they've had my consultants referral since Wednesday and on Friday still couldn't tell me a price or give me a date as 'they had a list of urgent patients to deal with first'. They were very unhelpful and didn't care, just what I expect from the NHS but not what I expect if I'm a paying customer.
Maybe I'm being impatient, but its been 5 weeks and seems like a long time to me!
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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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Weathercam, I know that they accept osteopath/chiropracter referrals - so I suspect that they would also accept a physio referral (and possibly a self referral) but don't know for sure.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Thanks for all the info folks. I got an MRI yesterday at a private place in Milton Keynes (£300) and am booked in to get the results with the NHS next Tuesday, so not long before I know what's going on, fingers crossed!
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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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| debbiem wrote: |
| Thanks for all the info folks. I got an MRI yesterday at a private place in Milton Keynes (£300) and am booked in to get the results with the NHS next Tuesday, so not long before I know what's going on, fingers crossed! |
debbiem
You might need to relax it. I had the same symptoms (not being able to straighten the knee) after an injury which I don't even remember doing - didn't twist or fall - but Dr said was arthritis but turned out to be due to overextension. 3 weeks relaxing it (keeping off it) and then quad- strengthening exercises and stretching as well as acupunture from my physio seemed to sort it out, but the underlying cause is stiff ankles and tight calves which means that my knees take more of a beating when I ski. Maybe you are trying to do too much, too soon? Try Yoga? You may also like to get a knee brace for skiing - try www.firstaid4sport.co.uk for a good selection and great service (I am a satisfied customer)
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debbiem,? How did it go 
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You know it makes sense.
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Get it checked out by an expert. There is a mad keen skier / top knee surgeon called Charles Willis-Owen in london who is highly regarded
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FAQ
Good luck with your knee, joking apart - mine is beginning to feel as if it belongs to me now, following my injury on Xmas Day. Its still rather unstable tough.
