Dislocated knee?

[Kram]

Ow! For a few seconds it was one of the worst pains I remember until I popped it back in out of panic (bad! Never do this, I knew it was bad to do but it hurt too much). Whatever had moved, went back in easily. My lower leg looked to be about 4 inches to the outside of where it should be (right leg, it moved right). From a quick look at the map I suspect my MCL ligament might be fooked


Anyone had this problem before? Any advice appreciated. I've been triaged by nurse and just had an xray, which as expected, doesn't show soft tissue injuries...

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Just seen doctor, he tested by pulling and pushing in all directions and it appears stable. I can walk on it. Tells me what I describe, is impossible without tearing three ligaments, which appear to be working fine now.. "Go home and rest, fracture clinic referral in a week or two"
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I note that they have wrestling on the A&E waiting room tv. I know its fake but absolutely not what I want to be watching or being forced to listen to right now...

 

[Migmac]

Never dislocated a knee, done both shoulders several times whilst playing rugby. First couple of times they had to be put back in, the last times they popped they went back into place themselves. Getting them put back in was painful

 

[Gareth J]

Have had a few knee dislocations. My knee geometry makes them prone.

It's absolutely possible to have the patella go astray without completely snapping anything.

You'll likely feel "wobbly" for a while. If there is no repairable damage treatment is physio to increase muscle around the joint to help provide some physical stability. Cycling is an easy going thing to start with.

Prophylactic use of stabilising support wraps are good if you know you're going kickboxing or whatever.

Good luck

 

[frank horton]

u need to increase muscle mass n strength in that area for extra protection....
once it's popped it's likely to do it again....
work on the muscles but be extra cafeful in ur activities...

had a bad fall on the stairs......now come down very carefuly....i watch every step...
must be getting old......does 74 count........lol.....

 

[Wildefalcon]

Yep, a qualified physio should be able to give you exercises to make all the soft tissues better at staying in place. Knee dips, standing on one leg, squat thrusts etc.

 

[dobbslc]

Nasty sounding
If it doesn't feel right I'd be getting a second opinion asap just in case you have damaged a ligament as they shrink back if left too long and are then harder to fix.
Insist on a MRI scan if you're worried.

 

[Kram]

When it happened I was standing on the two red circles, which is a full stretch for me.

 

[dobbslc]

Nutter!

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Happens to me all the time. I was born with a slightly twisted left leg and the 1950's treatment method of "YOU will walk straight" means, as an adult, I'm left with what doctors call and unstable knee joint. Most of the time I can catch it before it gets too bad however if it fully "pops out" then you can hear me scream as the pain is excruciating. It happened once in GP's surgery and they wanted to ring for an ambulance and they were shocked when I poped it back in myself ! When this happens, whether minor or full, then I'm left with a seriously swollen knee for maybe a week after .Hospital issued a knee brace but it was no better than ones you can get off the shelf so I don't bother with it any more however I do use a walking stick for anything other than a few steps. BTW I've got different length legs and have to wear a riser in my shoe - another legacy of birth

 

[drjim]

I suspect your patella dislocated. You can damage ligaments inside the knee but generally it doesn't dislocate. An actual dislocated knee generally leads to horrible injuries to the arteries supplying the lower leg and vascular reconstruction/grafts/amputation even before the orthopaedic guys worry about the knee itself.

Patella is painful but treatment is to straighten the leg and generally you can click it back.

Clinic review so they can formally examine your knee when it has stopped hurting is the way forward, if there was anything terrible you'd have the MRI already. If it's swollen football sized there could be internal damage but generally patella doesn't cause that much swelling.

 

[drjim]

Did they put you in a cricket pad splint or say to move it??

 

[premmington]

Happens to me all the time. I was born with a slightly twisted left leg and the 1950's treatment method of "YOU will walk straight" means, as an adult, I'm left with what doctors call and unstable knee joint. Most of the time I can catch it before it gets too bad however if it fully "pops out" then you can hear me scream as the pain is excruciating. It happened once in GP's surgery and they wanted to ring for an ambulance and they were shocked when I poped it back in myself ! When this happens, whether minor or full, then I'm left with a seriously swollen knee for maybe a week after .Hospital issued a knee brace but it was no better than ones you can get off the shelf so I don't bother with it any more however I do use a walking stick for anything other than a few steps. BTW I've got different length legs and have to wear a riser in my shoe - another legacy of birth

OUCH...

 

[jenki]

I wrecked my ACL complete break coming off a Ski lift the details don't matter.

Referral to an Orthopaedic surgeon upon my return to UK it helped that my GP was a skier as well; the Surgeons initial reaction was ‘just get on with it at your age’ (wrong side of 50) I protested quite firmly and he eventually acquiesced to consider surgery but only if I proved I could deal with the rehabilitation required this involved strengthening muscles surrounding the knee mostly squats and more squats both legs and single leg I was to avoid impact type exercises so only walking no running, a rower was OK but none of the heavy leg strengthening machines in the Gym.

During this time I had a MRI which was not fully conclusive after about 5 months of exercise the surgery was agreed and carried out within a month (in early in the morning out by 8.30pm under General anaesthetic).

Then the rehabilitation began a brace for a month that was adjusted to permit increasing articulation and to provide side to side stability following that it was squats and the rower and walking I was lucky I could spend my lunchtimes walking on the soft sand on the beach (Swansea) which twisted the knee without excessive movement or danger of it buckling under me The Physio I had was a former Rugby player who had had the same operation he was a great inspiration during this process. By the time of my last consultation with the Surgeon he had done 2 more over 50's and had been impressed with our determination to recover fully.

 

[Kram]

Thanks for the replies. I did quite a bit of walking today with little pain and plan to resume easy normal activities tomorrow (climbing but with no stress on the joint). It appears I over reacted somewhat but I am very thankful that the damage is much less than I imagined!

- I was wrong and, rather than my lower leg being 4" out to the side, more likely my patella had moved to the inside and giving a similar, horrific view.

Did they put you in a cricket pad splint or say to move it??

They offered crutches which I said I wouldnt use as I was then ok with walking. I will put my walking stick in car for future and also order some instant ice packs. A&E refused to give any form of ice/cold pack..

A friend lent me their knee brace until I next see them and it appears to be helping.

 

[Hopefuldave]

I managed to do my ACL thanks to a motorbike accident, a stationary one - in this case, didn't get the sidestand down proppingly and it fell over - I was fine, wriggled out from under, but then lifting it back up (all 600 pounds of it) on my sloping drive it rolled, knee gave way...
Took a few weeks on sticks and a lot of physio, still isn't really right, when it was X-rayed the radiographer said I had a bit of arthritis in my knees, I said tell me something I don't know...

 

[Kram]

Been doing a lot of walking, and leg raises with foot turned out, to focus on the VMO muscle. Climbing Saturday, really easy stuff and went again tonight.

Pop, patella out of place again. Extremely painful for the 30 seconds it took this time, to pop it back in. Not too bad after that, can walk ok.

My new "Kool Pak" instant ice packs appear to be rubbish, they dont really get cold or last more than a couple minutes.

I now appears that my MPF ligament is done and needs surgical repair or replacement