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Suggest Remedy For Pain In The Knees After A Fall
Question: hi, about a 3 months ago, i fell down the stairs and directly fell onto my knees. Super painful. But i got up and thought it was ok. Couple days later went to get x ray on one of those knees /the right one/, that seems more swallen and tender. The xray came out fine and i was just recommended to follow the PRICE regim and bandage, masage with antiinflamatory ointment and streccht to no pain.
Its 3 months later. I have no pain in either knew. Except: when I poke kinda deep into the one that was exrayed i feel there are these tiny bubles (size of a sweat pea maybe) moving around. What is that? doesnt hurt but is tender.
On the other leg the knee works fine (both do, walking up and downs stairs and all) except when I knee on the bump that is no on my chin. where it took the biggest hit. and the tissue around my knees though no longer bruises is still more tender and softer than I would like it to be. Can you please tell me if there is anything I can do myself to help my health? Also are 3 months a normal time to heal these injuries? Can i still expect the bump to go away as well as those tiny bubbles and tenderness? or have I crippled my self for life? I am only 35 and was something active in dancing and kickboxing, dreading that i wont be able to do it anymore. thank you. XXXXXXX
Its 3 months later. I have no pain in either knew. Except: when I poke kinda deep into the one that was exrayed i feel there are these tiny bubles (size of a sweat pea maybe) moving around. What is that? doesnt hurt but is tender.
On the other leg the knee works fine (both do, walking up and downs stairs and all) except when I knee on the bump that is no on my chin. where it took the biggest hit. and the tissue around my knees though no longer bruises is still more tender and softer than I would like it to be. Can you please tell me if there is anything I can do myself to help my health? Also are 3 months a normal time to heal these injuries? Can i still expect the bump to go away as well as those tiny bubbles and tenderness? or have I crippled my self for life? I am only 35 and was something active in dancing and kickboxing, dreading that i wont be able to do it anymore. thank you. XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Please find details below
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
It appears that you might have had a mild injury to the soft tissues around your right knee.
The knee joint is a hinge joint and the articulation of the femur, tibia, fibula and patella bones. There are also a number of ligaments, tendons and muscles around the knee joint. On a X ray we only assess the bones in and to a lesser extent the soft tissues. Since you had a swelling on the affected knee a day after the injury, it looks like your ligaments and muscles might have been injured. This is a mild injury and since you took the PRICE regimen, it has healed on time. Complete healing usually occurs in 6 weeks time.
As you are young, the healing is better and quicker. The small bubble of bump might be due to little amount of fluid collection or due to healing of the ligament injury. As it has been 3 months and now you are not experiencing the pain (unless you poke the area) any more, you can slowly start with doing moderate activities.
To confirm about any collection of fluid in spaces around the right knee joint called as bursa, you can get an ultrasound scan of right knee joint done, small amounts of collection are seen and this is a basic investigation. If facilities exist and with the recommendation of your doctor and insurance, you can also go for a MRI knee scan for a more detailed evaluation.
Please get a clinical examination of your right knee done before doing activities like kick boxing and routine dancing.
Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vive
Please find details below
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
It appears that you might have had a mild injury to the soft tissues around your right knee.
The knee joint is a hinge joint and the articulation of the femur, tibia, fibula and patella bones. There are also a number of ligaments, tendons and muscles around the knee joint. On a X ray we only assess the bones in and to a lesser extent the soft tissues. Since you had a swelling on the affected knee a day after the injury, it looks like your ligaments and muscles might have been injured. This is a mild injury and since you took the PRICE regimen, it has healed on time. Complete healing usually occurs in 6 weeks time.
As you are young, the healing is better and quicker. The small bubble of bump might be due to little amount of fluid collection or due to healing of the ligament injury. As it has been 3 months and now you are not experiencing the pain (unless you poke the area) any more, you can slowly start with doing moderate activities.
To confirm about any collection of fluid in spaces around the right knee joint called as bursa, you can get an ultrasound scan of right knee joint done, small amounts of collection are seen and this is a basic investigation. If facilities exist and with the recommendation of your doctor and insurance, you can also go for a MRI knee scan for a more detailed evaluation.
Please get a clinical examination of your right knee done before doing activities like kick boxing and routine dancing.
Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vive
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
XXXXXXX
Even at 3 months post/ trauma it is normal? And the lump/bump on the chin bone (the area of impact) that is painful when I kneel on it, that will also likely get better and heal? Why is there a physical hard bump, what seems to be on the bone? (the bubbles are on the other knee)
Also, is what level of activity is helpful to promote the healing? I do 45 min walking on treadmill every other day. Is there anything else I should do to promote the tissue healing? Also I take krill oil. Anything else to take?
Thank you!
Even at 3 months post/ trauma it is normal? And the lump/bump on the chin bone (the area of impact) that is painful when I kneel on it, that will also likely get better and heal? Why is there a physical hard bump, what seems to be on the bone? (the bubbles are on the other knee)
Also, is what level of activity is helpful to promote the healing? I do 45 min walking on treadmill every other day. Is there anything else I should do to promote the tissue healing? Also I take krill oil. Anything else to take?
Thank you!
Brief Answer:
Hard bump can be due to slight collection after the injury that is healing
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
It is possible that you might have had swollen soft tissues and slight bleeding under the skin at the site of impact. This might have developed in to a hematoma of small blood pool collection over the tibia bone (shin region)and now it is still resolving and therefore the pain. X rays usually do not pick up this finding and if the pain in shin was there since your injury, doing an ultrasound scan of the region might have helped.
The healing time for most shin injuries is 2 weeks to 2 months. I hope that you have started doing your activities slowly after getting the injuries. Use gentle ice massage for 10 minutes is recommended before and after workouts after a week or two following such an injury. If you have started leg movements too soon after your initial injury then healing can get delayed. Physical bump at the shin can be due to to possible scar formation, calcification and changes due to healing.
Since it is already 3 months after the injury and most of the healing has occurred, nothing more need to be taken at the moment. If imaging shows persisting collection in the area of pain with scar then depending on the collection, aspiration of any fluid might be required to make you comfortable.
Since it is already 3 weeks after the injury, there is no limitation to physical activity as long you are not having pain. However, the ligaments of the knee should be clinically examined for any post traumatic ligament injury by doing a clinical examination before participating in high speed contact sports such as kick boxing and dancing.
Krill oil is a preparation of fish oil and helps reducing swelling and prevents blood cells from clotting. It also helps control cholesterol level.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Hard bump can be due to slight collection after the injury that is healing
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
It is possible that you might have had swollen soft tissues and slight bleeding under the skin at the site of impact. This might have developed in to a hematoma of small blood pool collection over the tibia bone (shin region)and now it is still resolving and therefore the pain. X rays usually do not pick up this finding and if the pain in shin was there since your injury, doing an ultrasound scan of the region might have helped.
The healing time for most shin injuries is 2 weeks to 2 months. I hope that you have started doing your activities slowly after getting the injuries. Use gentle ice massage for 10 minutes is recommended before and after workouts after a week or two following such an injury. If you have started leg movements too soon after your initial injury then healing can get delayed. Physical bump at the shin can be due to to possible scar formation, calcification and changes due to healing.
Since it is already 3 months after the injury and most of the healing has occurred, nothing more need to be taken at the moment. If imaging shows persisting collection in the area of pain with scar then depending on the collection, aspiration of any fluid might be required to make you comfortable.
Since it is already 3 weeks after the injury, there is no limitation to physical activity as long you are not having pain. However, the ligaments of the knee should be clinically examined for any post traumatic ligament injury by doing a clinical examination before participating in high speed contact sports such as kick boxing and dancing.
Krill oil is a preparation of fish oil and helps reducing swelling and prevents blood cells from clotting. It also helps control cholesterol level.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
thank you Dr,
Thank you. One more question - most likely I wont be able to go get MRI or other tests done before end of May. Is waiting another 2-3 months considered a high risk? What I am worried about is the tissue/scars/bone lump potentially "settling" or forming something that will be unrepairable. (Of course if redness, temperature or big pain appears i would go right away)d and the "bone growth" - the bone has literally a different shape of shin than what it had before -that cn also awit a couple of months?
And could you advice how often for how long should I massage it or apply the hot compress I should apply, and is it still worth it 3 months after the injury?
Also should I tape the knee and wear support tapes or is that risking a weakening of the tendons/muscles? Subjectivelly the taping feels like it helps support it, but I wouldnt want to do it if it is contra productive.
thank you.
Thank you. One more question - most likely I wont be able to go get MRI or other tests done before end of May. Is waiting another 2-3 months considered a high risk? What I am worried about is the tissue/scars/bone lump potentially "settling" or forming something that will be unrepairable. (Of course if redness, temperature or big pain appears i would go right away)d and the "bone growth" - the bone has literally a different shape of shin than what it had before -that cn also awit a couple of months?
And could you advice how often for how long should I massage it or apply the hot compress I should apply, and is it still worth it 3 months after the injury?
Also should I tape the knee and wear support tapes or is that risking a weakening of the tendons/muscles? Subjectivelly the taping feels like it helps support it, but I wouldnt want to do it if it is contra productive.
thank you.
Brief Answer:
You can wait for 2 to 3 months for MRI unless you have pain and inflammation
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
Please find my observations below.
1. Since 3 months have already passed and there is no sign of infection or inflammation, you can wait for 2 to 3 months for the MRI knee and leg.
2. You have done the right thing by applying anti inflammatory and blood thinning ointment regularly. This has dissolved any small bleeding areas under the skin. Since the shin has a superficial bone surface, it is possible there there was slight blood collection along the surface of the bone. After 2 to 3 months we would not expect any sudden activity or progression from the present state. Any changes occurring usually take place in the first 6 weeks and then the progress is slow. So you can wait for two months until there are signs of pain and inflammation and that requires an early appointment.
3. You can continue applying hot compress for 10 minutes every day before starting workout or treadmill session and it will help increase flexibility and to stimulate blood flow to the injured area. After exercise, applying ice pack for 10 minutes is the best for your injury because it prevents the onset of swelling and pain. This is to give you temporary relief and not a treatment for your condition. Doing this will help prevent any further problems in the area of injury and this is does not cause any adverse effects.
4. The knee joint is made of many ligaments and tendons. If there was only a direct impact on the shin and knee then it is only an impact injury. If you got hit and then fell down, there might have been sudden rotation at the knee leading to ligament and tendon injury. A clinical examination is required to confirm any ligament or tendon injury.
You can wear knee support when doing a workout or walking on the treadmill to avoid any further injury. Having it on all the time without any ligament injury will not help much.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
You can wait for 2 to 3 months for MRI unless you have pain and inflammation
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
Please find my observations below.
1. Since 3 months have already passed and there is no sign of infection or inflammation, you can wait for 2 to 3 months for the MRI knee and leg.
2. You have done the right thing by applying anti inflammatory and blood thinning ointment regularly. This has dissolved any small bleeding areas under the skin. Since the shin has a superficial bone surface, it is possible there there was slight blood collection along the surface of the bone. After 2 to 3 months we would not expect any sudden activity or progression from the present state. Any changes occurring usually take place in the first 6 weeks and then the progress is slow. So you can wait for two months until there are signs of pain and inflammation and that requires an early appointment.
3. You can continue applying hot compress for 10 minutes every day before starting workout or treadmill session and it will help increase flexibility and to stimulate blood flow to the injured area. After exercise, applying ice pack for 10 minutes is the best for your injury because it prevents the onset of swelling and pain. This is to give you temporary relief and not a treatment for your condition. Doing this will help prevent any further problems in the area of injury and this is does not cause any adverse effects.
4. The knee joint is made of many ligaments and tendons. If there was only a direct impact on the shin and knee then it is only an impact injury. If you got hit and then fell down, there might have been sudden rotation at the knee leading to ligament and tendon injury. A clinical examination is required to confirm any ligament or tendon injury.
You can wear knee support when doing a workout or walking on the treadmill to avoid any further injury. Having it on all the time without any ligament injury will not help much.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Answered by
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