On Halloween, I messed up my left leg. I slipped into a hole and fell on my arse, but the only thing that hurt was the front of my thigh. I actually couldn't move for a couple of minutes, but then I was able to slowly move around a bit. I figured I'd get it looked at if it didn't get better on its own, but it did over the next couple of weeks, so I didn't. Well, I'm not sure if it's somehow associated, but now my left knee has been bothering me. It's uncomfortable to sit with my knee bent for any length of time. Could well be just age, but I don't know.

So I guess my question really is, how does one know the timing of when to baby a sore joint and when to start working it to get it stronger? I've often wondered what that line is between recovery and rehabilitation. I don't want to further injure something that may not be right yet, but I also want to strengthen it if I can so I'll be able to ride comfortably in the Spring.

Thanks for any advice.

get an MRI and have an orthopedic surgeon look at it.
could be meniscus, could be r&r.
don't mess with your walking sticks

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Ditto the MRI and the specialist. I have arthritis in my knees—a patellofemoral surgery has been scheduled and the recovery from that will take a while. Get it taken care of early, as any damage you may have done to it needs to be taken care of before other issues arise.

Good luck.

Another ortho recommendation. I started out with a torn left meniscus that ended up as a knee replacement.

Okay, thanks for the thoughts. But most everything I've read regarding something like a strain indicates rest as the primary treatment. If a bone were broken, I think I'd know it. And if it were something else serious, wouldn't I be in constant agony? I don't suppose an X-ray would show anything, would it? That's a lot cheaper than an MRI.

And for what it's worth, while there was some bruising after a few days, there never any swelling after the event, and I do still have full range of motion in the leg.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/10/2021 06:54PM by wurm.

not that an X-ray wouldn't show anything, but unlikely enough.

7 days, ok. maybe 2 weeks. Halloween is more than 30 days.

You have the same opinion from 3 who've experienced something related to what you have.

If you hit a pothole and the car ran crooked, would you wait 30 days to have a mechanic look at it?
JOMO, but ain't your legs nearly as important as your car?

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Point taken. Thanks.

x-ray will only pick up issues with bone. MRI gets soft and connective tissue.

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Stop futzing. You could have something teetering on the edge of serious. If you have insurance, see a doc.

As an experienced knee and other joint damager, I'll add to the chorus. Get yourself into the doc, pronto. Do not mess around with self-care guesswork. Nothing good can come of it.

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"In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion." (1987) -- Carl Sagan

I tore up my left knee when I was about 16 or 17. Now at 56, it never healed right, and it will twist, wobble, pop, and sometimes lock up. 4 decades of "I should have this thing fixed."

When you fall going downstairs with a massive bowl of hummus, and a bag of pretzels, and you are lying on your back, legs twisted up, you can't help looking up at the ceiling and wonder "How in the hell am I going to get hummus off of a textured ceiling?"

Zinseer Bullseye 1-2-3 waterproof indoor/outdoor primer and paint over it. Thanks for telling me about Zinseer Bullseye stuff rgG. I always have a gallon around.

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The police have no duty to respond. See Castle Rock v. Gonzales, 545 U.S. 748 (2005) or Warren v. District of Columbia[1] (444 A.2d. 1, D.C. Ct. of Ap. 1981)

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If it's sitting in a mis-alignment, it won't show on an X-ray, the pain can be intermittent, and the trigger could be in your hips, with your knee trying to compensate.

PM me if you want more of how I know this and what I do about it.