Knee injury

[foilFencer909]

I am right footed and have injured my left knee fencing. The bottom front of the knee is slightly swollen just below the knee cap. Its not too painful. I can walk fine but going down stairs can be slightly painful. I can still fence. During the night the knee stiffens up but is relaxed with a shower in the morning. When I was first injured it was painful during fencing, I know that its recovering since it is less painful fencing. Now I an only fencing once a week and using the cross training machine and the bikes at the gym. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[epeelion]

Could be tendinitis or some sort of inflammation of the joint. The patellar tendon rests just below the kneecap, as you described.

That said, go see a doctor. Teh Intarwebs is a bad place to get medical advice.

[Allen Evans]

Pain coupled with swelling in a joint is something that should be looked at by an expert.

See a doctor.

AE

[Fechter1]

I am right footed and have injured my left knee fencing. The bottom front of the knee is slightly swollen just below the knee cap. Its not too painful. I can walk fine but going down stairs can be slightly painful. I can still fence. During the night the knee stiffens up but is relaxed with a shower in the morning. When I was first injured it was painful during fencing, I know that its recovering since it is less painful fencing. Now I an only fencing once a week and using the cross training machine and the bikes at the gym. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

<clears throat>
STOP FENCING!
SEE A DOCTOR!

The location of the swelling, plus the stiffness, would indicate something is wrong within the knee itself.

Not knowing the precise movement that caused this injury, nor the exact location of the pain, i will reiterate: STOP EXERCISING AND GO SEE A DOCTOR!

(4 knee surgeries to date, at least one more incoming, I know what I'm talking about.)

[LTranter]

I would concur with the previous posts and if you would allow me to put on my mommy hat, give you this gentle advice.

Do you like fencing? Do you love fencing? Do you want to keep fencing for a long time? Then take this minute blip in time, rest your knee, see a doctor. At the least, he will tell you to rest and allow it to heal, but if this is indeed an injury to the knee only medical therapy will truly heal it and get you back to the top of your fencing ability.

L

[foilFencer909]

When I've been fencing I have been leaning too far forward. I think the knee should be above the foot rather then in front. Could have been caused by putting unnecessary strain on my knee by bad posture.

[Greg]

Absolutely see a doctor - and one that specializes in sport or occupational injuries first. I had several knee injuries due to sports. Common ones that are easy to recover from are bursitis, patella femoral and tendonitis (pardon my spelling). The problematic ones are torn or stretched ligaments - acl, pcl, similar to what happened to Tiger Woods.

My GP misdiagnosed the injury. It took a orthopedic surgeon who specializes in sports medicine to get the diagnosis right.

[foilFencer909]

Thanks for the advice. Everyone agrees that a Dr or sports injury specialist should be seen.

[LTranter]

When I've been fencing I have been leaning too far forward. I think the knee should be above the foot rather then in front. Could have been caused by putting unnecessary strain on my knee by bad posture.

Everything I know about lunging from yoga, to aerobics, to dance, to fencing will tell you that knee should be in a straight line from the ankle up, 90 degrees. I know in the world of fencing that usually gets pushed, but still, it is the safest position for the knee. Anything beyond that subjects the knee to potential injury.

L

[MyrddinsPrecint]

There are some aches and pains that can be solved by fixing form. Since everyone's body is different, what's best for one person won't be best for another....

But this is not a general ache or pain, this is an injury, and those demand seeing a doctor. Perhaps fixing form will help this from not happening again, or not exacerbating a problem, but we don't know that, because we don't know what's wrong.

[BrianH]

After you've seen a doctor, been properly diagnosed and provided treatment, may I suggest rehabilitation in a swimming pool? I have prevented recurrence of a similar injury by walking in waist-deep water; it's excellent exercise that doesn't stress the lower limb joints. Boring as can be, but a good time to meditate.

[Greybeard]

As someone who has torn their ACL twice (OK, in basketball) but I know wherefrom I speak when it relates to knees.

GO SEE A SPORTS MEDICINE ORTHO NOW !!!!

OK, Seriously, you could do some serious permanent damage. If the first thing they do is suggest surgery, see another Doctor. Get an MRI or CT scan first, X-rays won't show the soft tissue damage.

Oh, and listen to Brian too, pools are great, until you climb out and discover gravity again

[Nicksmom]

Ok.....I realize it is a holiday weekend, so.....RICE. Rest...Ice...Compression....Elevation. And call a Doctor on Monday morning. You will need to get a referral to an orthopedic (pref. sports medicine orthopod.)

[taracor]

I have to agree with everyone else, it is likely that waht you have is not serious, but you really should see a doctor just to make sure.

[BAD KNEE 2]

<clears throat>
STOP FENCING!
SEE A DOCTOR!

The location of the swelling, plus the stiffness, would indicate something is wrong within the knee itself.

Not knowing the precise movement that caused this injury, nor the exact location of the pain, i will reiterate: STOP EXERCISING AND GO SEE A DOCTOR!

(4 knee surgeries to date, at least one more incoming, I know what I'm talking about.)

Yeah, follow this advice.

My forum name is due to two knee surgeries to date totalling $80,000, $1500 knee brace to keep fencing, expensive drug habit, all because I kept running when my knees hurt. Going down steps hurts every time and will for the rest of my life. I can look forward to a total knee replacement in the next few years, oh boy. Trust me, you don't want that. Follow this advice.