Kneecap trauma 3 months ago

Posted , 4 users are following.

Hello, has anyone experienced the following? 3 months ago, I landed directly on kneecap, 2 xrays revealed no fractures. My kneecap was very sore when touched for 6 weeks, but now kneecap is not tender at all. However, it still feels swollen on the inside and if I do more exercise than the knee likes, it lets me know the next day be being inflammed. I have been in PT for 2 months now and I am waiting to get an MRI. The orthopedic surgeon who I saw most recently said it could be a tracking issue, but my PT said it might be cartilage damage, at which case it would just take a long time to heal. If anyone has advice, it would be much appreciated.

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7 Replies

  • Posted

    1st Get the MRI for positive diagnosis. Take it easy and stay away from any type excercises that include running, jogging or otherwise high impact movement. Temporarily try aleve or other anti inflammatories. Ice for 20 mins at a time and see if you get some relief. A lot of the bruising from falls take much longer than expected because you have to keep using the knees much more than most joints. You might also want to apply something like tiger balm at bedtime and 1st thing in the morning. It takes a long time, much longer than you think, for knees to heal after any type trauma.
    • Posted

      Thank you Oldfatguy. My MRI came back and I have a small fracture of the latral aspect of the patella. Will do PT 2x per week and work on tracking. Thank you again.
  • Posted

    If your doctor thinks it's a tracking problem you should ask your pt to put a special tape around your kneecap realigning your patella. If symptoms get better then you no it's a tracking problem and you either need to work on your ankles or hips but if your symptoms are still there then you can rule out the tracking problem. I hope this could help you good luck
  • Posted

    If you fell onto your kneecap, your tendon will have taken some impact as well as the underside of the cap hitting other bones. Bruised bones are extremely painful.  If it was a tracking issue, your knee cap will be unstable and popping out everytime you twist your knee.  Any damage to soft tissue can be more painful than the broken bone and will take longer to heal.  If you are told to reast do so.  Take anti inflammatories if there is any swelling and pain killers for the pain.  Don't grin and bear the pain, otherwise you will not want exercise

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