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Swollen / bruised knee

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adamgerken
adamgerken

Hi, this may not be a serious injury, but about a week ago playing sport my knee collided with someone elses - it did hurt initally but i was able to continue. About 18 hours later it became very painful and was slightly swollen, and then also became bruised - at this point i struggled to walk. A week later the swelling is still there (seems like puss) and the bruise has spread around my leg, however it only hurts very slightly if i bend my leg right back. I was wondering if this is something that will heal over time or whether I should arrange to see the doctor.

I have attached a photo which may help.

thank you

0 likes, 2 replies

2 Replies

  • CHICO_MARX
    CHICO_MARX adamgerken

    Posted

    First step is to take all pressure off the knee, ice and elevate. Also take an NSAID for the inflammation 10 days max. If it's just a bruise, you will see considerable improvement by the end of that time. If it's a bone bruise, it will take longer. The "puss" factor could indicate that the bursa sac in the knee has filled with fluid. If this doesn't subside, it will have to be drained by a doc. Had that happen once when I fell on ice skating without my hockey pads on.

    Next... If this doesn't go away, then you need to see an orthopedic surgeon, preferably one that's in a SPORTS ortho practice and works with local teams. An x-ray will rule out any structural damage. An MRI is frequently inconclusive for soft tissue injuries so that's a maybe.

    The key will be the exam in which the doc will push, pull, twist and turn your knee in a variety of positions and directions. Each movement with no pain rules out a particular knee component (meniscus, ACL, etc.) so the doc can pinpoint the problem area. Once isolated, the typical next step is a cortisone injection to relieve the pain and reduce inflammation so the knee can heal. In most cases, that's it. You do not want to anticipate any surgical fix at this point.

    Icing is critical. Get an inexpensive AirCast and keep the knee iced 24 x 7 for the week. This plus the NSAIDs will give you a good shot at healing what's most likely a bad bruise. DO NOT rush to load up the knee again. Give it time to heal. It could be a couple of months before you return to full activity.

    image

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