Whats wrong with my knee?

[CPFitz14]

I'm just starting my varsity soccer season, and am having some issues with my knee. Lately my knee has felt sort of, "weird." About three days ago after a soccer game, or practice (don't remember:rolleyes:), I had some pain in between my knee and my quad, but 90% of that seems to have gone away. I don't have any pain really, and can bend my knee just fine.

Today is the first day i've checked to see if it was swollen, and it looks a little swollen. Not basketball size or anything, not even enough to notice. It is a little bit swollen after taking a careful look though. It feels funny to walk on it, not pain at all, just "funny." It feels a little better to limp, but I can walk, and run, just fine. In fact, I just played 3 soccer games yesterday, and performed just fine. My knee didn't bother me at all, except between games it was a little stiff/uncomfortable.

Could anything be wrong with my knee, or is it just in my head? I don't remember specifically twisting it, or doing anything to make it act up. I've got another game tomorrow, so i'll see how that goes.


-CPFitz-

[Cjwinnit]

Unless you are goalie I wouldn't play footie until a physio has seen it.

[Crash893]

yea

have a xray or something not worth it to tough it out and F your leg up for the rest of your life

we have the technolgy use it

[CPFitz14]

Not what I wanted to hear.;)

Honestly, I don't notice it unless I am specifically thinking about it. It just doesn't feel like i'm "toughing it out." However, you're right about F'ing up my leg for the rest of my life. My dad has a bum knee, so I know that its no fun at all. The more I take my mind off of it, the more it goes away, i've been able to get up and down stairs just fine. I also have to mow the lawn today, so i'll see how that goes.:):rolleyes: Hey, c'mon, I'm a teenager. I'm invincible right now.;):rolleyes:

I'm going to play tomorrow, and see what happens. I'll ice it tonight as usual, and if I don't notice any improvement by the end of the week, i'll think of seeing a doctor. I've got a friend whose dad is a radiologist, so I might be able to arrange something.

Mostly wondering if anyone has had similar symptoms. It hurts a little if I push firmly above my knee, towards the inside of my leg. (Upper right side of my left knee.) The weird feeling is pretty much my whole knee, right in the middle.

[Malpine Walis]

Well, the forums are not a good place to get medical advice. You should see a doctor if you are worried about it, prefferably an orthopedist. In fact, there really id nothing that a radiologist can do until someone else orders testing.

I have a bad knee myself (backflip over my handlebars when downhilling at 40+mph) and I get some of the same pains you describe. Don't be surprised if the doc ends up ordring an MRI. X-rays dont really show soft tissue the way a doctor needs to see it.

Originally posted by CPFitz14
Not what I wanted to hear.;)

The more I take my mind off of it, the more it goes away, i've been able to get up and down stairs just fine.



Why do you mention stairs? Did you have a problem with them at first and not now? Or have you just heard about stairs being a problem with knee injuries? If you do see the doc, he should hear that so he knows where to look.

[repo man11]

The doctor suggestion is a good idea. And so is backing off the activity level until you have.
There is an excellent chance that you have the classic overuse injury called chondromalacia.

Chondromalacia

What Is Chondromalacia?

Chondromalacia (pronounced KON-DRO-MAH-LAY-SHE-AH), also called chondromalacia patellae, refers to softening of the articular cartilage of the kneecap. The disorder occurs most often in young adults and may be caused by trauma, overuse, parts out of alignment, or muscle weakness. Instead of gliding smoothly across the lower end of the thigh bone, the kneecap rubs against it, thereby roughening the cartilage underneath the kneecap. The damage may range from a slight abnormality of the surface of the cartilage to a surface that has been worn away completely to the bone. Traumatic chondromalacia occurs when a blow to the knee cap tears off either a small piece of articular cartilage or a large fragment containing a piece of bone (osteochondral fracture).

What Are the Symptoms of Chondromalacia? How Is It Diagnosed?

The most frequent symptom of chondromalacia is a dull pain around or under the kneecap that worsens when walking down stairs or hills. A person may also feel pain when climbing stairs or during other activities when the knee bears weight as it is straightened. The disorder is common in runners and is also seen in skiers, cyclists, and soccer players. A patient's description of symptoms and a followup x ray usually help the doctor make a diagnosis. Although arthroscopy can confirm the diagnosis of chondromalacia, it is not performed unless the condition requires extensive treatment.

More: http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/926052680.html .

Take care of your body, it has to last a long time.

BTW, don't panic. Most of the time, the only thing required for recovery is to take some time off from running, cycling, etc., some anti inflammatories such as Ibuprofen, and to prevent reoccurence possibly some physical therapy.
As an extreme cyclist when I was younger, I've had some bouts with it. Cyclists are especially prone to it, because your quadriceps will overpower the opposing muscle groups, causing misalignment that causes the injury. That is a big reason that cyclists stay on flat ground, riding in low gears as they begin training in the late Winter.
Being out of shape, and tackling every hill in the highest gear you can manage is a recipe for injury. But as a thickheaded teenager, I didn't believe it.

[altec]

I have the same thing, also from just starting my soccer season. I play keeper (goalie) however, and I noticed it last week when I was practicing my goal kicks. It hurts if I extend my leg all the way straight (more straight than when walking or running) and I have also noticed a little swelling the same reigon. I didnt think anything of it since I have been running and walking fine, but you all have gotten me all worried now. If you do go and see a doc CPFitz, let me know what he says...I hate doctors and I will avoid seeing one at all costs.

[Silversinksam]

This thread reminds me of when I was young at camp playing soccer, while running to the ball I stepped into a gopher hole and that hurt a bit.

You should see a Dr. asap, even if its minor as you could cause permenent damage as it may not look or feel terrible, but it could be. Better safe than sorry