Knee Dislocation

[ArcherUK]

Hi All,
As you may have or may not seen by my recent threads I have been fencing for a few weeks now. For some reason lastnight when sitting down of all things my right knee ( lunging knee ) popped out and did it again this morning. Luckily my folks are both nurses and it is strapped up and I'm seeing a doctor this afternoon.

Did any of you suffer the same or have done ? I think it's because I'm using my muscles/joints after so many years out of excercise ?( long story )

[Inquartata]

I did that once, fencing on grass while wearing boots, ie being stupid. Lunged, sole stayed put, heel slid right...lunges aren't meant to be done with the knee bending sideways.

But that was an injury dislocation, not a use-related one. I just wear a brace and it's usually fine.

[great bowyer]

once i lunged, and was recovering, and i put my weight on the rear leg wrong, and my knee twisted out or i pulled a tenon or something made it hurt really bad. this happened twice, once at practice, the other at a tournament. i had a medical withdraw, but went back the next day for a different event and made it to the finals. with out any problems. that was 6 months ago, have not had any problems since.

[ArcherUK]

Great, not you getting injuries but the fact it didn't do you any long time harm, gives me hopes.

[Craig]

Originally Posted by ArcherUK

Great, not you getting injuries but the fact it didn't do you any long time harm, gives me hopes.

Really depends on what happened. Another board member blew out his knee (tore the ACL) at a recent tournament.

If you weren't on the ground writhing in pain, then it may not be too bad. Once you get the green light from the doctor, then you want to do some extra exercises to help prevent future injuries.

Good ones for the knee are exercises that target the muscles that help provide stability. Leg extensions are a good one to start with, as are leg curls (hams) and lunges.

Craig - who thinks he needs to find a few exercise therapists to post some articles here -

[great bowyer]

Originally Posted by Craig

If you weren't on the ground writhing in pain, then it may not be too bad.

yes, i was on the ground in pain, was bad, but don't think i tore anything. went to the doctor just to be sure the first time it happened, he said it was just sprained, and had me use a splint. the second time, i just iced it for a few min, then the next day i used one of the ace knee supports, and fenced without any problems. i don't think this is recommended by anyone with common sense though.

[ArcherUK]

Thanks for the support and advice, It just popped ten popped back in..i yelled and cussed for a bit but it is better now than it was. I went to the doctors today and he couldnt see any inflamation or tearing. He was pretty sure it was just because I jumped into excercise quickly and my quads werent strong enough. He advised le extentions too so I definately am going to follow your advice. I have a physio appointment coming through for just a thorough check.

Phew, i was worried my bod was against me

Thanks as always

[Aeric]

A fencer I know tore her ACL when she was retreating. It took her more than half a year to recover.

She started fencing again a few months ago, and recently won 3rd in a Div II NAC. Got her B out of it.

Don't give up!

[R. Exnicios]

Originally Posted by Craig

Really depends on what happened. Another board member blew out his knee (tore the ACL) at a recent tournament........-

That was me. Ruptured ACL as well as a few other things. Go to a doctor who knows sports, knees and ACLs. Even a good doctor will miss a ACL or PCL tear without an MRI. If it is a small tear you want to know now and start working on preventing a full ACL tear or rupture.

I blew my knee out March 27th, had reconstruction April 20. i am still on crutches, taking pain pills etc. I will not be 100% until well after Christmas (learning to fence with the other hand in the mean time!)

You DO NOT want to go through a ACL replacement if you can avoid it. Get a second opinion from a Sports Doctor.

There are several people in rehab with me who were told by a general doctor that they "pulled something" so they rest a bit then went back to work/practice and ended up blowing out their knee.

Good Luck with the knee!

Cheers

[ArcherUK]

OMG, good luck on the recovery !!!

He did mention that he would feel more re-assured ( I too ) if a physio saw me because he himself said that any operation would be drastic and that he would like to see all options covered first. Hopefully they are on the ball and getting something done.

Thanks and good luck

[Victor]

re pop-pop-popping: I had a severe cartilage tear in my knee. Doc went in and snipped away the fringe, drilled some tiny holes in my bone (for the development of fibrocartilage), told me to be careful. I was on a passive motion machine for weeks, crutches for a few months, plus supervised physical therapy three times a week. But everything's fine now. (I just don't jog anymore.)

Best primary advice: Don't take the first doctor you come across. Ask around. Go with your gut feeling. If one guy isn't willing to give you the feedback you need, visit another for comparison. ... Not all professionals are equally professional.

[ArcherUK]

I think I should see someone else, I can definately feel a clicking in my knee

[Inquartata]

Always a good precaution, but don't let the noise frighten you unduly. Even healthy knees can make a lot of odd noises sometimes. There's a lot going on in there. Muscles and tendons and ligaments all intertwined, sliding and stretching and tautening and relaxing. Think of a rope bridge: even on a strong and solid one those ropes are going to creak as you put your weight on the span...

[ArcherUK]

Thinking about it you are right, hopefully my physio appointment will come through soon. I'm using a knee support till I build up my quads a bit so they support my knee better.

[Victor]

Originally Posted by Inquartata

Always a good precaution, but don't let the noise frighten you unduly. Even healthy knees can make a lot of odd noises sometimes. ...

Popping isn't normal. It means something is out of place and catching on some other body part before it snaps back into place.

[ArcherUK]

Well i crack all over, is it that bad ?

[MyraTrue]

Archer, I greatly sympathize with the knee. As to the popping all over, that sounds like most of the fencers I know. My ankles, elbows, shoulders, neck, wrists and knees, sometimes hips, do that. Pretty much every joint. Fencing hasn't been easy on me, but I was told a long time ago by the physio that my joints were badly build for this type of thing. I don't care, and I wont stop fencing.

The knee- if it pops constantly, I'd definitly say something is wrong. I damaged my ACL's playing rugby and they've never been the same since. But knowing whats wrong and knowing I need to take care of my knees has gotten me through alright. But definitely see someone, several someone's. It can't hurt, and only help! Good luck.

[JAySE SUiCiDE]

wow! what a coincidence!

i was fencing yesterday (sabre) and retreated off the strip, tripped on the reel and ended up dislocating my kneecap. stayed on the ground with my knee bent with ice on it 'til my mom came (im still only 15..*insert sympathy here* ), then they called the ambulance, took me to the ER, gave me some morphine, straightened my leg and it popped back in.

i'm wearing a knee stabalizer now (basically a big foam-wrap with metal stabalizers and velcro straps, all those doodads ) for a while..im gonna go see the doctor on monday to see whats up with it. im taking siting-down lessons in the meantime.

they said i should really do strength training, which i thought was really funny..every other day in gym I go to the fitness room and focus on strengthening either my left arm (go assymetry! ) or legs, using the leg extention/leg curl/leg press, all of those machines..but ohwell.

just wanted to share that experience! and always make sure the reels are on the side at the end of the strip, not right behind where someone can trip!

~Jes

[Victor]

During my rehab, the therapist expressed surprise at the definition of my quads. (Not bragging here; just sharing amusement.) Said a good foundation of muscle development would really help in my recovery and keep me from further injuring a weakened knee.

I've never been a muscley guy, and I tend to frown on pure development for the sake of posing. But there's something to be said for having heavy-duty shock-absorbers in place to allow the body to do what it needs to do.

[R. Exnicios]

Originally Posted by JAySE SUiCiDE

.....then they called the ambulance, took me to the ER, gave me some morphine, straightened my leg and it popped back in.

i'm wearing a knee stabalizer now (basically a big foam-wrap with metal stabalizers and velcro straps, all those doodads ) for a while..im gonna go see the doctor on monday to see whats up with it. ...
~Jes

Man I feel your pain!

Stay off the knee until the doctors clear you. You may be lucky and have no major damage. If you just pulled everything you don't want to push it too soon and blow the knee.

Crutches make it hard to lunge.but on the good note, having spent 2 months on crutches (an counting) I'm developing arms of steal, before long I'll be able to flick . . . .with a crutch!

Good luck with the knee!

Cheers