Knee injury - have to wait for treatment. Any exercises I can do in the mean time?

[Scrappy]

Hello Ladies! 5 days ago I crashed pretty specularity which I'm guessing damaged the ligaments in my right knee. There is still some swelling, lateral stability is weak at best and I don't have very good range of motion. Unfortunately, my husband just started a new job and so we won't have health insurance for another 4-6 weeks.

I know I need to see a Dr. but that's just not going to happen until we have insurance. I've already been told by a nurse they will need to look at it with an MRI. (I'm getting acupuncture done on Sat as an alternative).

What I was wondering is for those of you that have had knee injuries, were there any exercises recommended to help strengthen the area or keep it loose?

I would like to keep it from atrophying until I can get into the sports med clinic in 4-6 weeks.

Thanks!
Scrappy

[thekarens]

I wouldn't think you should do anything until it's checked out, but if you insisted I'd pick swimming. I've had a few friends with knee replacements and surgery and they always do aqua therapy.

[Melalvai]

I would like to keep it from atrophying until I can get into the sports med clinic in 4-6 weeks.

You can rebuild the muscle. 4-6 weeks is a long time to go during which the injury could get worse and progress to requiring surgery. Swimming is a good suggestion. You can call now to get your appt made 6 weeks from now. If you wait until insurance kicks in to get the appt made, you might be waiting another 4-6 wks!

[Hi Ho Silver]

Maybe I'm missing something, but even if you wait until the new insurance kicks in, won't the injury be declared a "pre-existing condition" and, therefore, not covered under the new policy?

[jessmarimba]

I'd think if he has already started working there, you could go now and the insurance should still cover you, you might just have to file the claims later. I think the coverage should kick in on the date you start work, even if all of the paperwork and getting stuff taken care of isn't done yet. But maybe it's different there.

[Scrappy]

Hmm, I'm not sure how his coverage will work for pre-existing conditions. I will cross that bridge when I get there, but in the mean time I need to keep working that leg. Swimming is a great idea but I don't have ready access to a pool. Any machines at the gym that will help?

Thanks so much!
Scrappy

[malkin]

Rest and ice.

Maybe for insurance purposes, the accident hasn't even happened yet.

[indysteel]

Hmm, I'm not sure how his coverage will work for pre-existing conditions. I will cross that bridge when I get there, but in the mean time I need to keep working that leg. Swimming is a great idea but I don't have ready access to a pool. Any machines at the gym that will help?

Thanks so much!
Scrappy

Can you make some inquiries now as to coverage? Even the injury isn't going to be covered, then you might as well find out now and get whatever care you can afford out of pocket (understanding that some costs can be negotiated). To wait four to six weeks for your coverage to kick in only to find out it's not coverage seems like a waste of time.

[thekarens]

As someone who has worked for the evil insurance companies for 23 years I can tell you coverage isn't retro active, but almost always pre existing is covered. Obviously you'll have to make sure, but most of the time that is the case.

[Scrappy]

Hi Everyone, good news! Major improvement! - yesterday afternoon I was taking a "standing break" in my kitchen and my knee suddenly made a 'pop' and all at once regained some range of motion! This morning I was able to take about a dozen or so unsupported steps - woohoo! It's still unstable - but at least it feels straight again :-)

Baby Steps!
Scrappy

[tulip]

I just have to chime in here. If you are seriously injured--and it certainly seems like you are--please go to a doctor. Don't wait; you risk doing permanent damage. Figure out payment later--hospitals will work with you.

If it were your child, would you do the same thing? Take care of your self.

[pll]

I just have to chime in here. If you are seriously injured--and it certainly seems like you are--please go to a doctor. Don't wait; you risk doing permanent damage. Figure out payment later--hospitals will work with you.

If it were your child, would you do the same thing? Take care of your self.

I will chime in to say I agree 100% with Tulip. I would not spend any money on acupuncture (mention in the very first posting) -- an unstable knee has a serious biomechanical issue.

[Wahine]

Hi Everyone, good news! Major improvement! - yesterday afternoon I was taking a "standing break" in my kitchen and my knee suddenly made a 'pop' and all at once regained some range of motion! This morning I was able to take about a dozen or so unsupported steps - woohoo! It's still unstable - but at least it feels straight again :-)

Baby Steps!
Scrappy

I've been meaning to get to this thread for several days and haven't had time to address it appropriately. But I do have some time tonight.

There are three things here that point strongly to meniscal damage - 1) significant swelling, 2) feeling very unstable and difficulty weight bearing and 3) the quote above.

If you have a meniscal tear, the flappy part of the tear can get into a non-anatomical position (twisted on itself, folded back on itself) and will block normal motion. If the knee suddenly pops and then can straighten all the way, it's usually because something has happened to change the position of the flappy bit of the tear and gotten it out of the way so to speak.

The other condition that does this, but usually self corrects within hours not weeks of the incident is a patellar dislocation. So I would consider this less likely.

Either situation is considered significant and needs to be investigated further.

The danger of waiting a long time to have it looked at is that every week you go without using it normally, the more muscle wasting that occurs and the longer your rehab will be after the fact. But you aren't going to risk further structural damage to the joint by waiting.

Meanwhile, you can ride a stationary bike without clipping in, on light resistance. This is considered a non-weight bearing exercise and that is the key right now. If you can't go all the way around with the pedals, you can oscillate back and forth and that can help loosen the knee quite a lot. Don't try to force any motion, that can make a meniscal tear worse.

Don't try to do any squats or other weight bearing exercise that has you going into a knee bend until you've had this properly looked at!!!

Here are some other suggestions but don't do them if they are painful at all!!!

I would do this with the legs relatively straight and start by having your whole lower leg, up to the knee supported by the ball. If you don't have a ball you can do this with an ottoman or chair.

This video shows a bunch of different weight bearing exercises that would be quite safe to do as long as you don't have any pain. It's a bit long but worth watching, especially for the quad exercises and the side lying gluteus medius exercise.

I hope that helps some.

And yes, YOU STILL NEED TO GO GET IT CHECKED OUT!

Heal well and fast.

[Scrappy]

Hello! Thank you everyone for the support. I have been doing the exercises in the articles you ladies have shown me. The good news is since that small pop this weekend, and with the regular exercise it has gotten MUCH better thankfully. (whew!) I have been able to walk on it short distances with a cane or single crutch and was able to do some easy leg exercises at the gym.

I managed a few revolutions on the stationary bike at the gym today. Still pretty stiff and slow. It didn't help that the adjustable seat slid down like 2 clicks with my knee at the apex of the pedal stroke (read - in bend.) Bending it waaay more than it felt like going on it's own. YEEOUCH!

A friend ours specializes in shortening bicycle cranks - he put together a stationary recumbent exercise bike with 125mm cranks so I can start strengthing it without too much strain on the knee joint. (I can't wait to get it home and try it out!) He's also going to put short cranks and a 28t front chainring on our semi-recumbent hybrid so I can ease back into riding soon... YAY!

I know it still needs to be seen by a Dr, but at least now I can get around and get out of the house.. and soon... soon.. I'll be back feeling the wind in my hair.....ahhhh :-)

With Gratitude! And to be continued...
Scrappy