My Knee

[seonai]

Yesterday I went to see a specialist about another matter and he asked my to undress behind the curtain. Somehow I managed to get my leg caught as I whipped my trousers off and fell forward landing smack on my right leg and twisting it.

The main pain is directly under the kneecap and its a bigger pain that I can ever remember having, it's unbearable and making me feel like vomitting.

Went to A&E - x-ray shows swelling inside, no break but poss ripped ligaments. One off dose of morphine and at the moment I am feeling in pain but not nearly as bad. BUT what am I going to do when the morphine wears off? They gave me cocodamol and an anti inflamatory.

Does anyone know any other thing I can do to solve this problem... natural or synthetic? Any help appreciated.

[PhilHarries]

Time is all I can suggest. I trod awkwardly on site a few weeks back, didn't even remember doing it, and next morning could harldy stand with the pain in my foot. Ibuprofen, 3 x 400 mg twice a day, plus a few days trying to take it easy and it eased off. Don't know about the cocodamol (codamol?) as I've never tried them because I don't like painkillers. Hope you get better soon, sounds like a few days R&R is in order if you can afford it.

[expatwannabe]

Yesterday I went to see a specialist about another matter and he asked my to undress behind the curtain. Somehow I managed to get my leg caught as I whipped my trousers off and fell forward landing smack on my right leg and twisting it.

The main pain is directly under the kneecap and its a bigger pain that I can ever remember having, it's unbearable and making me feel like vomitting.

Went to A&E - x-ray shows swelling inside, no break but poss ripped ligaments. One off dose of morphine and at the moment I am feeling in pain but not nearly as bad. BUT what am I going to do when the morphine wears off? They gave me cocodamol and an anti inflamatory.

Does anyone know any other thing I can do to solve this problem... natural or synthetic? Any help appreciated.

Heat will help the pain. I think you can also get a cortizone shot to speed the healing, but those hurt like a mother f***er.

You might also ask about taking steroids for a short time. They will help to rebuild the tissues.

[zzdocxx]

That is a tough break.

Cocodamol = Paracetamol + Codeine

I take you mean the problem of inadequate pain relief?

You might try adding ice to the regimen, on the knee that is, it may help reduce the discomfort. Elevation and rest will help too(I suppose that's obvious).

The anti-inflammatories are also a good adjunct, take them on an around-the-clock basis, ie. at regularly scheduled times whether it seems like you need it right then or not.

Your dose of cocodamol will be limited by the maximum dose of paracetamol which is 4 grams per day. So ie. if that doesn't do the trick, one alternative would be take additional opioid by itself. But probably it is best to see how you fare with what you have already at your disposal.

Unfortunately the opioids (such as codeine) have side effects such as drowsiness and possibly constipation. I guess when it hurts that much you probably don't care.

I heard something interesting on the news the other day, about a study that showed massage to reduce pain in patients who had just had surgery, go figure.

Good luck, let us know how you are doing.

[zzdocxx]

That reminds me of a joke I read somewhere here just in the last couple of days:

(courtesy of backflip):

I'm reminded of the joke...a guy goes to the doctor with a sprained ankle, and asks what he should do. The doctor replies, "Put ice on it." The guy goes back to work, complaining about his sore ankle. The cleaning lady tells him, "Put a hot compress on it." The guy is furious, and goes back to the doctor. "My cleaning lady told me to use a hot compress." The doctor replies, "My cleaning lady tells me to use an ice pack."

[Prakanong]

Yesterday I went to see a specialist about another matter and he asked my to undress behind the curtain. Somehow I managed to get my leg caught as I whipped my trousers off and fell forward landing smack on my right leg and twisting it.

The main pain is directly under the kneecap and its a bigger pain that I can ever remember having, it's unbearable and making me feel like vomitting.

Went to A&E - x-ray shows swelling inside, no break but poss ripped ligaments. One off dose of morphine and at the moment I am feeling in pain but not nearly as bad. BUT what am I going to do when the morphine wears off? They gave me cocodamol and an anti inflamatory.

Does anyone know any other thing I can do to solve this problem... natural or synthetic? Any help appreciated.

I have had torn medial ligaments twice and the symptoms were very similar to yours.

Once in England in the 70's where I was in a plaster cast for a while but i do not think they do that now and once on my first trip to Thailand and it was just straped up.

Tramadol is available in Thailand - it certainly works for me when I get costochondritis (inlfmation of the lining on the sternum where the ribs enter) which I need morphine for initially.

One of the Oncologist's i work with reccommeded it - he used to give it tosome of his patients

I can tell when the pain is subsiding with them and no need to take them any more - i get very happy and sing to myself :-)

I take them in conjunction with a NSAID, usually Naproxen but sometimes Feldene.

[ProThaiExpat]

Tramadol 50mg and Paracetamol 500mg. 4 times a day works well for most muscular pains for me. No side effects and no "high" to addict you.

[Prakanong]

Tramadol 50mg and Paracetamol 500mg. 4 times a day works well for most muscular pains for me. No side effects and no "high" to addict you.

I seem to get a little high on it when the pain is subsiding. The Oncoogist I work with reported some his patients reported the same.

I use it as a guide the pain is subsiding and stop the Tramadol.

[MrSquigle]

If you still have some pain there in a week or so, it is a possible torn maniscus. A simple twist like that can do it, I did.

Only an MRI will tell if sure or not, pain to one side of the knee, interior or exterioir and feels like behind the knee cap or just below it is a good guide and if you try to twist the knee a little, easier for a doc to do while you lay down, you will also feel it.

As for meds....dunno I just put up with it for several months until I had enough and it was not getting better and then had operation on it....twice.

[yorkman]

Yesterday I went to see a specialist about another matter and he asked my to undress behind the curtain. Somehow I managed to get my leg caught as I whipped my trousers off and fell forward landing smack on my right leg and twisting it.

The main pain is directly under the kneecap and its a bigger pain that I can ever remember having, it's unbearable and making me feel like vomitting.

Went to A&E - x-ray shows swelling inside, no break but poss ripped ligaments. One off dose of morphine and at the moment I am feeling in pain but not nearly as bad. BUT what am I going to do when the morphine wears off? They gave me cocodamol and an anti inflamatory.

Does anyone know any other thing I can do to solve this problem... natural or synthetic? Any help appreciated.

Just a possibility.....

I did exactly the same thing many years ago, and it turned out to be a small internal bleed behind my kneecap. After they finally found it they drained the blood off (instant pain relief!!) and left it for natural healing to take its course.

As you say, hurts like hel_l, no external signs and it does not show on an x-ray. I would go back and try and get a scan if the pain returns after the meds wear off.

[Momo8]

Ouch,sorry to hear about your knee.I dislocatd my knee playing tennis and it hurt like hel_l,was on all types of drugs,to knock out the pain for a week.Fenbid comes to mind containing Ibuprofen not sure what else.Keep it elevated and hopefully will get better in a few days.

[LeungKen]

Having worked with dancers most of my life the following is almost a gospel.

Please note the first is R for Rest.

If you injure yourself while dancing, you should be aware of the proper and immediate treatment. Some injuries only require self-treatment, but more severe injuries need to be treated by a doctor. Immediate treatment will speed the healing process. A simple way to remember the first aid treatment is to keep in mind the following acronym: RICE.

• R= Rest
  
• I= Ice
  
• C= Compression
  
• E= Elevation
  

RICE is the recipe for first aid.

1. Rest: Stop using the injured area as soon as you experience pain.
   
2. Ice: Apply ice immediately to the injured area for 15 to 20 minutes several times a day for the first 48 hours.
   
3. Compression: Firmly wrap the injured body part with an elastic or compression bandage between icings.
   
4. Elevation: Raise the injured part to decrease the blood supply to the injured area.
   

It maybe too late in your case but hopefully will be of benefit to others.

If your pain continues see a good orthopedic surgeon, preferably one experienced in dance or sports injuries.

[Bluelotus]

Have your knee checked for a bucket handle tear of the medial meniscus , arthroscopic surgery and a couple weeks rest you'll be fine

[moldy]

Have your knee checked for a bucket handle tear of the medial meniscus , arthroscopic surgery and a couple weeks rest you'll be fine

poor you. what bad luck.

resting is essential. stay in bed. Similar to sports injury. Sure it will be ok.

[seonai]

Thanks all of you for your advice. I can't bear the thought of ice on it unfortunately They gave me crutches and the pain killers take an edge off it but it still hurts like he_l as you all said! I am a naturally busy person so am trying to stay in bed as long as poss in the morning then a few hours of activity then rest again. If I don't go out and do at least two things I'll get depressed so I have to keep moving.

Wouldn't wish this on anyone...

[bottleymike]

Thanks all of you for your advice. I can't bear the thought of ice on it unfortunately They gave me crutches and the pain killers take an edge off it but it still hurts like he_l as you all said! I am a naturally busy person so am trying to stay in bed as long as poss in the morning then a few hours of activity then rest again. If I don't go out and do at least two things I'll get depressed so I have to keep moving.

Wouldn't wish this on anyone...

Just try the ice pack for thirty minutes a day whilst your resting your leg.

you might find it really helps. It certainly helped me when I had something similar.

ps If you carry any frozen packs of veg ( peas etc in your fridge) you can use them.

[Sheryl]

Ice (or something cold) is indeed recommended for the first 24 hours but after that, either cold or heat can be applied, whichever you arer more comfortable with. just don;t apply heat in the first 24 hoursm, reason being that there may stikll be some bruise formation taking place. Once past that time period, geat is fine and will relax the muscle spasms that often result from the pain but in turn worsen it.

ANother advantageo f the heat is that it will increase absorption of topical creams/gels. Voltaran if available in UK is good, or else counterpainor one of those...an antinflammatory or alicyclate. Apply after heat while the screen is still red and rub in well.

Besides this, rest and compression (ace bandage etc)

I too am concerned it could be a torn meniscus, or other damage which an Xray won't show. if the pain remains severe insist on an MRI.

And do not try to walk on it.

Good luck & my sympathy.

[0Mix1up]

Wear a support if you are going to use it

There a many types to choose from

Try to keep off it as much as possible

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