Hey guys,<br /><br />Contributing to the known fact that plenty of our injuries occur in smaller surf, I was surfing a mini-simms shape about a week ago and injured my knee while coming down from a lip hit on a little close-out. Came down from it with my back leg bent in, almost Craig Anderson like. I'm almost positive I did something really minor to my MCL, because there was no swelling and the pain has been definitely there but minimal. This is my right knee, and I think I'm having issues with my right side because it's not as strong as it should be. I tore my right hip flexer years ago, and had a really bad sprain on my right ankle last year. Reading up on knee injuries, I'm finding that the stability of your ligaments and joints rely on the strength of your other ones. At this point, not too much is painful in my knee, and the occasional pain I do have seems like it can be worked out. I don't want to paddle out this week and injure it further, because I know how bad injuries suck when they keep you out of the water. How long do you guys suggest I rehab my knee, and what methods are the most successful? Bad knee injuries freak me out and I want to do whatever it takes to strengthen that area and prevent busting it. Beach walks? Biking? Bosu? Stairs? I'd love to hear what you guys have to say.<br /><br />Thanks, <br /><br />Eric
1) Go to a doc if possible... 2) If its an MCL is can heal on its own, but you will need to give it time to heal then rehab it to strengthen the knee. 3) Biking is great for rehab. Avoid things that can twist. 4) Again, go to a doc if possible. Best to determine if its just the MCL. I've been through three knee ops, not something you want to take chances on...if you don't do it right and your MCL is weak when you get back on it you increase the risk of blowing your ACL as well as seriously injuring your MCL. 5) If they say its the MCL and want to cut you...GTFO of there and go see a real Dr. Again, MCL or PCL can heal themselves, ACL cannot. Good luck man.
anything that strengthens the muscles around the affected area will help. you want to keep it as stabilized as possible. i'm pretty sure i tore the meniscus in my right knee when i was in college 10+ years ago, but never did anything about it. as i've gotten older, i've noticed that if i don't keep active...biking, running, etc...it starts to feel weak & i almost have a limp. same goes for a shoulder injury i suffered around the same time. laziness=pain, weakness, & an inability to get in the water or surf as well as i'd like. you might even want to revisit the pt you were seeing for your ankle last year. she could have some good exercises for you.
is it swollen? if so do nothing but ice. I've had 4 knee surgeries.......... biking is what I rehabed with, but minimal time (on a stationary bike, about 5 minutes to start) with correct seat height, and /orvery light weights lifting laying on back on floor with other leg bent.... wrap weights above knee on thigh area, less stress on knee than having weights around ankle. I would do VERY LITTLE and see how it responds... maybe see someone certified to guide you correctly, I wouldn't want you to do anything and then feel worse...
mostly i remember a sharp, shooting pain & then not being able to walk or run w/out a limp. i went immediately to the athletic trainer, as i was finishing up my senior track season, & recall her saying she thought it felt & sounded like a meniscus thing. it pops & clicks a bunch, but that's it. i've never had it lock up or pop out on me (thank FSM...that'd be TERRIFYING in an OH winter swell). i can't crouch down for extended period w/ it, & it does get stiff from time to time where i have to kind of "shake it out" & make it pop so it feels right.
That reminds me... i need to go to a gentleman's club, it's been awhile. I have no meniscus left in my right knee. I had it removed about 7 years ago. Def go to the doc if you can (sorry to beat a dead horse). Weights and yoga will keep you strong after you're healed up. Self diagnosing is a risky game dude. Try to see someone, sounds serious.
Go to a REAL orthopedic group that specialized in sports medicine. Not old lady orthopedics. You have no idea what you did wrong and shouldn't make assumptions. Even an MRI won't reveal the entire problem.
i blew out my knee pretty bad at blacks a couple years ago, completely folded sideways. had to hike up the goat trail in crazy pain - took me out of the water for a couple months, then i bought off ebay "donjoy armor" knee brace, $200 was steep but worth every penny. I surfed with it for 6-8 months until the knee got better... its still a bad knee but that brace made a huge difference:
Ossur makes a Ct2 brace, when I replied for them Corey lopez, and a lot of the jaws guys Who needed a brace wore it. I did too after mine..awesome...water proof..solid.
