Stupid Knee--time for physical therapy?

Hiya~

I have had trouble with my knee for well, forever.  I played on youth soccer leagues up until high school and workout on as regular basis as I can, but my stupid knee keeps bothering me.  It's been a few years since I last saw the sports medicine people, but it's hard to see one while I'm at uni because my insurance doesn't really cover me out of state (don't even get me started on that one).

Anyways I was a the sports medicine people a few years ago when I had horrible swelling and the worst pain in my left knee.  Yeah, well apparently I have weak muscles in my knee and will have chronic bursitis.  Supposedly I can go to physical therapy and it *might* help with the situation....Has anyone else had this problem?  Did physical therapy help at all?  

I would go if it really did improve my situation, but I don't want to go if it doesn't help as my insurance is being dumb about it.  I've been slipping on the ice on a regular basis, straining my knee, and last night I really did it in.  My knee is now very painful, it's swollen and my knee cap feels like it's on top of some jello.  Any tips besides icing it, wearing a knee brace (for warmth and improved circulation) and doing lower impact exercises instead of high impact ones?

Knees are tricksy (darn you LOTR) things.  I'd say definitely see someone about it, because otherwise you could be looking at long term damage, that could have been lessened if you'd seen to it earlier.

wench

Thanks for the advice, Wench.  I just might see if I can't see one of the physical therapists here at my uni for free or a small fee.  Will phone the health services tomorrow.....stupid tricksy knees!!!

Well tricksy or not (hee hee) let me know what they say as I have the same exact problem.  I will be fine for a few days even months and then it hurts like hell and is all floaty and crap.  I notice it more in the humid weather or when I do some movement it does not like.

I also agree that you should definitely go to have it checked out and don't worry so much about cost.

Both of my knees are duff with arthritis. Back in high school I used to get corizone injections in them to stop the pain and swelling but the needles alone would be more pain than they were worth! They also gave me exercises but those caused more of the shooting pain I was trying to get rid of.

I think because I had crap insurance cover at the time I didn't get proper treatment as I didn't go to a physio ....just a Dr referred specialist (yeah right).  I'm still always twisting my knees and that cues the husband to bark at me that I'm not wearing my knees braces (they're too pinchy sometimes!).  :-/

Anyway, best to get it looked into now and find out what the problem is before you regret it and do more damage by neglect (like I probably have).

Well you've all scared me (in a good way) into going to see somebody about my knee.  Called health services today, and they've redirected me to someone who's redirected me to someone else....and of course they're not in their offices anymore today...sigh.

Anyways, will check into it further tomorrow.  Will let you know what they say.

Good luck Krissy, let us know how it goes.  
wench

Argh...still no specialist today, but I WILL see one tomorrow, I am determined.  I would go to a regular specialist, but you have to be referred, yadda yadda...  Anyhow, managed to do some pilates so am feeling better that I'm still trying to keep on track with working out despite my stupid knee.  Btwn this and my other health issues, I'm just gonna trade myself in on a new body!!!!  hehehe

What should I expect from the physical therapist?  Will they yank me around or be nice?

Just back from the trainer...no working out for a week and icing my knee twice a day until at least next Thursday. :-/  She can't really see any big problems, just have aggrevated the burca (spelling?), or the cushioning pads on both the front and back of my knee.  Yucky.
 We will see what they say next week, but it'll be icing and taking it easy till then.  I might have to do some rehab and some strength training to help prevent it from being a problem as often as it is lately, but too early to tell what exactly I'll have to do.  No running, no taebo, no elliptical machine....boohoo!!!!!  Guess it's just pilates for now.

Hey, better taking it easy followed by physical therapy now, rather than surgery later.  
wench

Glad to hear it probably isn't anything too serious! Just take it easy and follow dr's orders! Rest can be a good thing.  

I hate my knee!!!  I hate it I hate it I hate it!!!!  I'm taking a sledge hammer to it soon if the pain doesn't go away soon.  I'm not waiting till Thursday, I'm going to see if I can't see a trainer again tomorrow.  If they say there's nothing they can do or it's nothing serious, I'm gonna bite the bullet and pay for the ER or for a real doctor, which is where I probably should have gone in the first place but I have stupid insurance that doesn't pay for stuff out of state.  I hate US medical insurance, but that's a whole other issue.

This is really a post more for the grievances section, but oh well.  I'm only 22, I shouldn't be having aches and pains such as these in my joints already.  I want a new body...lol.  Anybody know of good pain killers that knock out the pain?  I know Aleve works but I can't take it as I'm allergic to Naprisin. :-/

  Ive heard having a joint is good for pain

Hahaha...good one G!    

This is really a post more for the grievances section, but oh well.  I'm only 22, I shouldn't be having aches and pains such as these in my joints already.

Nice to know I'm not the only one who says these things...


wench