Knee Injury: I don't have Time for This!

phoenixx · #1 11-14-2006, 12:47 PM

OK, so I feel about an hour ago running out to the car for a folder. I landed HARD, full body weight right on my right knee. It hurts like a sonufabitch. Minor swelling and redness. I wrapped it as best I could at a slighht angle so I can sit and work ( and not well, they were out of ace bandages at this client so I'm using this weird flex roll bandage) as I'm here all day and I'll ice it when I get home tonight. It seems to have all the parts in the correct place (meaning it feels the same as the other knee when I gingerly touch it - knee cap here, lumpy thing there, etc). It does a slight click when I bend the knee, which hurts anyway, so - duh, trying not to do that.

Is there anything I should be doing? I will not be going to a doctor for this - no time. This client has been waiting for me for a month - I'm here every day this week. I have stairs at home, so that's an issue for later - office up and kitchen down.

Anyway - advice??

**theworm**[$] · #2 11-14-2006, 12:49 PM

Ice for 15 minutes on and 15 mintues off.
Advil.
Rest.

It must really hurt! I'm so sorry.

phoenixx · #3 11-14-2006, 12:52 PM

I hurts enough that I actually did that silent dontcry-breatheinrealfastandchoppy thing like a little kid when it happened, and I am not a cryer. Abating somewhat now to a dull burning throb

**mtomm**[$] · #4 11-14-2006, 12:52 PM

Start icing it right away.
Advil.
Rest.

I'm so sorry, it must really hurt.

And it doesn't need to be ice but even something really cold. Like rotating a 6 pack out of the fridge.

phoenixx · #5 11-14-2006, 12:54 PM

ok, as long as it isn't a thing most people GO to the doctor for then I'm feeling better about deciding NOT to go. I can live through pain - I've been injured in worse ways its just been a while.

**theworm**[$] · #6 11-14-2006, 12:58 PM

If the pain doesn't start getting better or if it starts swelling a lot I would go to the doctor.
And a bag of frozen peas is the best ice pack. Conforms to your shape. I keep one here in the work freezer - chiropractor says I must ice my back twice a day and it helps.

If you can have someone get you peas on their lunch break, that would be good (if there is a freezer in the building - once they thaw they don't work so well)

phoenixx · #7 11-14-2006, 01:00 PM

I have to drive home for an hour to do work for ANOTHER client so I'll ice it then. I need to ditch heels for tennies with this anyway - the heels are currently on the desk I'm at - evil little buggers - high heels, a skirt, rain and wet leaves on pavement - AWESOME for knee injuries, apparantly

**amykhar** · #8 11-14-2006, 01:02 PM

ouch. I really feel for you. The advil will help, as will the ice. Try to move it from time to time cause when it stiffens up, it'll hurt more.

cristina1 · #9 11-14-2006, 01:11 PM

We use frozen peas as our ice packs, too, and frozen corn. I hope it feels better soon. Being hurt sucks anyway, but when you are that busy it is even worse.

**jgibson2**[$] · #10 11-14-2006, 01:18 PM

I landed on a rock on my knee last fall. I did go to the doc, but only because a day later I still wanted to cry when I shifted gears (clutch - left knee). No fracture, but it hurt for months.

If you didn't shatter the kneecap, there's not much a doctor can do for you anyway. Rest, Ice Compression, Elevation -- and your choice of pain management.

**theworm**[$] · #11 11-14-2006, 01:19 PM

NO Drinking at the Client's office!!!

phoenixx · #12 11-14-2006, 01:36 PM

Quote:

jgibson2 said

I landed on a rock on my knee last fall. I did go to the doc, but only because a day later I still wanted to cry when I shifted gears (clutch - left knee). No fracture, but it hurt for months.

If you didn't shatter the kneecap, there's not much a doctor can do for you anyway. Rest, Ice Compression, Elevation -- and your choice of pain management.

My knee cap seems to be intact - I'm guessing I would know if I broke that - the pain would be much much worse!

**jgibson2**[$] · #13 11-14-2006, 01:45 PM

If you really shattered it, you'd know. A "stable fracture" -- which is what I was trying to rule out with the xrays - is a little more subtle, but after seeing what my son's arm looked like with a hairline fracture of his elbow, I think you'd probably know. It was amazingly purple and swollen.

**lynnzop**[$] · #14 11-14-2006, 02:27 PM

Don't forget elevation. Keep your foot propped up if you can.

phoenixx · #15 11-14-2006, 02:48 PM

It is slightly elevated - best I can do here is about 10 inches off the floor - lower than the office chair seat but not straight down. At home in my office it was about the same, too. Okra bag is currently in freezer here refreezing for the next go round. I wrapped it in an ace bandage though I'm not sure if that is helping - tigheter and my leg turns blue, looser and it seems a little silly - lol. I took two advil and one aspirin, but that's it - I dont WANT it to feel TOO much better - then I'd walk on it and hurt it more.

The big surprise was changing from heels to socks and tennies - when I was putting on the sock I saw SPOTS cuz I had to bend my knee a little (as if I was head for indian style, but not that far). Holee-crap. Leaning straight down to tie the tennies wasn't so bad. It seems to have settled to a dull throb, a BIG, BIG knee capped shaped bruise is developing, and minor swelling still. I'm going to try toughing it out without a doctor. If it is still hurting this weekend I'll go.

It better not be hurting though - I have to cook for turkey day in between clients.

And yes, I also drive a stick, but luckily this is my right leg.

And yes, I know am a big baby, and have suffered far, far worse injury in my day, but you know, it's been a while since my brawling days and my hockey goalie days - I'd forgotten how much this kind of random thing hurts. whew.

**hadassahchana**[$] · #16 11-14-2006, 04:32 PM

What everyone else said, but try using Aleve, maybe? My family doc and neurologist both told me to use that, it's a stronger anti-inflammatory which is what you'll want for an injury like that. Judy would know more about that, though.

**Prepoia**[$] · #17 11-15-2006, 12:20 AM

So, it's been a while. How's the knee?
Better I hope. Be Careful!

Sandy

phoenixx · #18 11-15-2006, 09:36 AM

A little better today, actually. I'm still gimping around, and still have it wrapped - it still hurts and it doesnt feel quite stable yet. But it isn't burning anymore, and not psychotically throbbing, and not quite as vibrantly purple and swollen. I forgot to bring my okra (no peas in the house - used bag of frozen okra - lol) so I'll have to wait to keep icing it until I get home, but I iced it a lot yesterday and I think that helped.

**thinkerlady**[$] · #19 11-15-2006, 10:49 PM

I am the queen of knee injury. I know about it all. I have even had knee surgery. Keep it elevated and iced. Is it turning colors? Any swelling? How about temperature? Does it feel colder or hotter to touch? It will be sore and tender for a while. A hot shower will give you some mobility, and relief also, but then it needs to be iced again.

phoenixx · #20 11-15-2006, 11:37 PM

I ended up being dragged to an xray - sprained and a chipped knee cap. Nothing torn, nothing broken.

I got a brace thing, which helps.

VERY happy nothing is broken.

**theworm**[$] · #21 11-15-2006, 11:38 PM

Yowsa!
Chipped Knee Cap!!!! You must be really good with pain!
I'm so so sorry! I'm glad it's not broken but you must be really hurting!!

**thinkerlady**[$] · #22 11-16-2006, 12:30 AM

I am happy for you. It could have been much worse. Is it getting stiff? I remember my knee stiffening and that it hurt big time to bend it.