Help! Chronic Knee Pain

[CBC guy]

Ok some background first:

I twisted some of the ligaments in my knee a few years ago playing floor hockey. I didn't think too much of it, but I've twisted them a few times since. Now whenever it rains my knee starts swelling up and getting all stiff, making it painful to walk. Moreover, a few days ago we went on a vigorous hike up Qingcheng Mountain outside Chengdu, China, and my knee hurt like hell the next day. Originally I wasn't too worried but now I'm kinda concerned as its still hurting even today. I've seen Chinese massagists and physiotherapists and they both think that its because its never healed properly. I don't want to limp around forever! Does anyone here happen to know anything about this?

[eos]

you're getting old.

you have arthritis. might as well get a cane and live with it.

sorry.

[CBC guy]

Aiya! I'm younger than you man.... :biggrin:

No seriously has anything like this happened to anyone else here before?

[Tao]

you probably either partially tore your ligament or the meniscus cushioning your knee joint. as a result when you use your knee too much it gets irritated and inflamed. the best possible option is to go to a hospital and get an cat scan or mri....i guess they'd do an x-ray first, but if it's not a broken bone but a torn cartilage, they'd have to use the former two methods.

[CBC guy]

Usually the pain goes away after a few days of rest, but yeah I'll probably want to go to a hospital and get a scan ASAP.

What happens after that? Physio? Acupuncture? (I really don't know anything about health science LOL)

[Tao]

Usually the pain goes away after a few days of rest, but yeah I'll probably want to go to a hospital and get a scan ASAP.

What happens after that? Physio? Acupuncture? (I really don't know anything about health science LOL)

yeah i'd say that if they find out your joint hasn't properly healed worst case scenario is that you'll need an operation to fix it. If the doctors think it's not "worth" it to do an operation, or if you can't afford it (I don't know what the med insurance is like in china), at best they'll probably give you some anti inflammatory drugs, more likely it'll be tylenol or they'll give you something to wrap your knee in to stabilize the joint. For a trauma like this usually you'd get the operation, since from your description it doesn't sound like it could be anything else...like for example inflammation due to infection....and so anything other than surgery probably won't heal the injury.

[CBC guy]

:shock: surgery? Crap that sounds kinda bad.

[inthesky]

maybe you should look at some TCM (traditional chinese medicine) techniques while you're there, where it has originated from. Just a suggestion. I know a couple people who tried acupuncture, etc when Western medicine didnt work, and they're doing fine now. But nothing as serious as yours i think..

[CBC guy]

Actually speaking of TCM I got one of my friends to book me an appointment, i'm going on Monday to get a look-see.

[eos]

yeah i got accupuncture for a slipped disc. i didn't even know i had one until the chinese doctor told me. so i was like ok sure, i have a slipped disc; now fix me.
it worked. i hardly have the shooting pain in my lower back anymore. give it a go.

[mrazntre]

so what happened CBC guy, did you tear a ligament?

[CBC guy]

Uh actually they said it was a miniscus tear. something to do with the ligament between my femur and my kneecap or something like that. I should take it easy for a while and then get another checkup in Canada when I go back.

Chinese massage is... pretty painful but it did make my knee feel better... Just have to be careful I guess.

No more Qingcheng mountain for me.

[mrazntre]

yeah, that's pretty bad.

if you've been having that many problems with it, i think surgery might be the only way to go. not that i'm a doctor or anything...

good luck with that.

[Tao]

awwww shit, my first diagnosis.

[robotic]

hope you get better soon! *hugs*

[inthesky]

hey check out below link

http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/meniscusinjuries1/a/meniscus.htm

2nd page has some pretty interesting info on treatment. good luck..