Anyone ever tear the meniscus or LCL?

[ChadTower]

Just curious, to compare notes... I got lit up pretty bad on a punt play (I play DE and am the kicker/punter) yesterday.  Bad snap, I go back to recover, wet ground, left leg slides at the heel as I get nailed from behind, stretching it out bad.  I'm shocked the hamstring didn't tear off, felt like it would while it was happening.

Anyway, played the rest of the game with minimal push off the left leg (that's a great way to kick a football, BTW  )... anyone here ever injure either their meniscus or the LCL?  That is what really hurts right now.

[DrewKaree]

I had an injury where I tore everything BUT my ACL.  I also dislocated my kneecap in the same injury.  Sounds like a very similar action that caused mine - lost my plant foot and everything else didn't want to help.

My knee ballooned to cantaloupe size within a half hour.  I probably did a bit more than you did to yours though.  They stuck me in a thigh-to-ankle thingy and I wasn't supposed to walk for about 3 months without it.

Stuff in your knee feel kinda "loose"?

[ChadTower]

No, I think I strained at worst. I can walk, it's very sore in the LCL area but only a little swelling.

It wouldn't have been that bad a slip if the 260lb dude didn't dive on my back while it was happening.

Punting is scarier than defensive line.  It's like putting your sack in a lion's mouth.  Don't ever let anyone tell you it's easy, takes a combination of courage and stupidity.

[DrewKaree]

I can almost guarantee the general pain will go away fairly quickly, but you'll feel it for a lot longer when trying to plant on it.

I was able to watch myself, if not careful, swing my leg forward, like an ostrich's leg.  Side to side movement might cause you swelling, but if you don't have much, it'll hurt.  Continually making it hurt should cause swelling.  You also might notice barometric pressure changes.  That's when my knee hurts the most, because you won't notice any rhyme or reason for it.

[Jabba]

Chad, that sounds painful. Hope you are feeling better soon. Nothng worse not being able to get around.

[DrewKaree]

Any clicking sounds or white-hot poker feeling every once in a while?  Dunno what tests you've had done, but did they x-ray for chips or anything in there?

[Havok]

Just curious, to compare notes... I got lit up pretty bad on a punt play (I play DE and am the kicker/punter) yesterday.  Bad snap, I go back to recover, wet ground, left leg slides at the heel as I get nailed from behind, stretching it out bad.  I'm shocked the hamstring didn't tear off, felt like it would while it was happening.

Anyway, played the rest of the game with minimal push off the left leg (that's a great way to kick a football, BTW  )... anyone here ever injure either their meniscus or the LCL?  That is what really hurts right now.

Bad news, that causes impotence. Ask your Doctor for a Viagra prescription...

[duffjr]

No, I think I strained at worst. I can walk, it's very sore in the LCL area but only a little swelling.

It wouldn't have been that bad a slip if the 260lb dude didn't dive on my back while it was happening.

Punting is scarier than defensive line.  It's like putting your sack in a lion's mouth.  Don't ever let anyone tell you it's easy, takes a combination of courage and stupidity.

i guess you didn't see the dive on me sign they put on your back during the timeout.

[ChadTower]

i guess you didn't see the dive on me sign they put on your back during the timeout.

This is football... dive on me is implied.  If you can legally hit someone, do it.

I don't have a game this weekend, which is good.  I may have one next weekend, but it isn't set yet, so hopefully it will either be improved enough to play or I won't have one.  If I do play, either way, I wear a brace on it for the rest of the year.  Haven't seen a doctor but I always err on the side of caution with injuries.  Equipment is cheap compared to rehab and medical costs.

Drew, I already feel weather changes pretty thoroughly in the lower back from my back injury over the summer... why not the knee now too?     It's all just part of getting older.

[Havok]

Drew, I already feel weather changes pretty thoroughly in the lower back from my back injury over the summer... why not the knee now too? It's all just part of getting older.

Just equally injure the rest of your body to balance things out. That way when the weather changes, it won't bother you as much. You may even become more in tune with the weather...

 

[ChadTower]

Trust me... I'm working on it.  My entire right arm is bruised, like 75% covered, from wrist to shoulder.  It's like camoflauge paint under the skin.  My right shin is bruised from ankle to knee and covered in cuts.  There are misc bruises, smaller ones, all over the rest of my body.

[ChadTower]

I have an appt to see an orthopedist on thursday... I asked some other football players, they say that at the very least the ortho will make a custom fitted brace and the insurance will cover it.  It was agreed by all that the knee is not something to mess around with, if it's wrong, get it fixed.

[ChadTower]

Saw ortho... dude said ligaments are strained and loose but intact and will heal.  Meniscus is probably torn, but not that bad.

Getting fit on monday for a custom knee brace for football.  The person doing it says they usually cost about $850... yay for insurance.

[ChadTower]

Just got one of these.

[DrewKaree]

My brother-in-law has one of those.  I used to have one very similar to that.  He skis, and likes it.  I play basketball and liked it, but not as much as he did, or as much as the one I have now.

Both of us say that it feels too "open" though.  I bought a McDavid Level 3 brace that has a neoprene sleeve and wraps that I like better for basketball,

For football though, it'll give you the protection you need.  I wouldn't have thought of wearing anything different when I played football.  Stuff OTHER than football, though, you might wanna look into McDavid's stuff.  If the doc says to use that one, don't look at anything other than their Level 3 stuff.  Check Eastbay, or if you have Sportsmart's in your area, you can see 'em in person.  I dunno what other stores carry 'em.

[DrewKaree]

I use something similar to the Short Runner they've got on that site you linked to.

Looks something like this, but I've got 4 straps that have to be fastened on the thing.  That one looks like a sleeve with a hinge. 

Here's that Short Runner:



Mine looks like this, but there's two more straps that cross on the front.  It's an older model, prolly about 4-5 years old, and I don't see it for sale anymore.  I bought it from Eastbay, and they DEFINITELY don't sell it anymore.  They've got one similar without the hinge. 



Here's the similar one.  Same strapping setup, only missing the hinge

[ChadTower]

Yeah, for football, that one wouldn't do all that much.  This one is designed specifically for NFL players, to absorb side impacts and disperse them.  It is supposedly the same one half the NFL uses and the best there is...

That said, I find it pretty uncomfortable where there is still a lot of swelling in the shin and knee because it really mashes those areas down.  I suppose once that swelling is gone that won't be an issue.