I fell and twisted my knee tonight (MRI, pain, cold)

[chuck_steak]

I was told a few years back that I needed knee replacements due to osteoarthritis and haven't gotten them because I had other pressing health issues and surgeries since.

Anyway, tonight I fell in my kitchen going down stairs and twisted my left knee (the really bad one). It is swollen and so painful I literally cannot put any weight on it.

I am hoping that elevating it and putting ice on it tonight along with ibuprofen will help.

I really, really, really do not want surgery and that's why I'm avoiding the ER. I literally died right after surgery (and was brought back) last year and am still pretty traumatized from that.

Does anyone know if there is anything else I can do?

[heather.lynn1022]

For now, it sounds like you're doing what you're supposed to do - ice, rest and ibuprofen. If the swelling doesn't go down, maybe you could go to your regular doc? There's short term things like steroids that might help. I hope you feel better soon.

[lubby]

buy a knee brace from the drug store too.

[subject2change]

If at home treatment doesn't help enough, find a physiatrist, or sports medicine specialist. They will most likely prescribe physical therapy, which can do wonders for injuries that seemed hopeless. These specialists are much less likely to recommend surgery, especially if you tell them you're dead set against it. Good luck!

[Hedgehog_Mom]

You can go get that knee looked at without having to have surgery on it. The doctors can't make you have the surgery, they can recommend it or tell you what your recovery will be like if you don't have surgery, but they will still tell you how badly it's hurt (sprained, broken, etc) without instantly doing surgery.

Also, is it really surgery that you're afraid of, or general anesthesia? Many procedures can be done without general anesthesia. You didn't mention how old you are, but you've got to consider how many more years you will be using your knees...if you plan to be around another 20 or 30 years or more, do you want those years to be healthy, active ones? Just imagine if you wait 15 years to have anything done to your knees, feel great once it's done, and realize that you suffered for 15 years when you could have been feeling wonderful.

And I do understand how you feel about surgery, after I had surgery on my leg, I told my husband if I ever broke another bone that needed surgery, I'd shoot myself instead. It's been a couple of years and things are more in perspective now...if I have to have surgery ever again, I will do my best to make sure it's done without general anesthesia, because that's the part that was the worst.

[chuck_steak]

Originally Posted by Hedgehog_Mom

You can go get that knee looked at without having to have surgery on it. The doctors can't make you have the surgery, they can recommend it or tell you what your recovery will be like if you don't have surgery, but they will still tell you how badly it's hurt (sprained, broken, etc) without instantly doing surgery.

Also, is it really surgery that you're afraid of, or general anesthesia? Many procedures can be done without general anesthesia. You didn't mention how old you are, but you've got to consider how many more years you will be using your knees...if you plan to be around another 20 or 30 years or more, do you want those years to be healthy, active ones? Just imagine if you wait 15 years to have anything done to your knees, feel great once it's done, and realize that you suffered for 15 years when you could have been feeling wonderful.

And I do understand how you feel about surgery, after I had surgery on my leg, I told my husband if I ever broke another bone that needed surgery, I'd shoot myself instead. It's been a couple of years and things are more in perspective now...if I have to have surgery ever again, I will do my best to make sure it's done without general anesthesia, because that's the part that was the worst.

It's not the general anesthesia that scares me.

Last year, during a tummy tuck, the surgeon nicked an artery and I bled out 9 units of blood and literally died. I had to have repair surgery and was in a coma for a while, ICU three days, cardiac floor three days, then the general hospital for 7 days. It took a year to get my head back right (loss of oxygen). It was all pretty traumatic so I'm scared ****less.

Anyway, I called my PCP's nurse today and she said that I should go the hospital because the doctor only has x rays there at the clinic and I'll probably need a MRI or sonogram, which the hospital can do. That way I can get a correct diagnosis and know what kind of injury it is. She said it could be a lot of different things.

Since I have panic attacks related to the heat my husband is taking me late tonight to the ER to get it looked at.

I still can't put any weight on it at all. The elevation, ibuprofen, and ice don't seem to be helping so I know it's something serious I've done.

Like you said, they can't MAKE me have surgery, but at least I'll know what is going on this way.

Thanks to all of you for your replies.

[baker Freesia]

Hoping chuck_steak you will get some needed relief real soon, I feel for you. Take it easy & take care of yourself.

[chuck_steak]

Originally Posted by baker Freesia

Hoping chuck_steak you will get some needed relief real soon, I feel for you. Take it easy & take care of yourself.

Thanks a lot, I really appreciate that.

I am just hoping 1) I don't have to have surgery 2) I will be able to walk on it again at some point.

[chuck_steak]

Update: It is a bad sprain. Good news that it will heal on it's own. Bad news it will take 3-6 weeks to heal. I have to stay off of it. I have a brace. I have to keep cold packs on it. I have a prescription for Motrin 800 mgs. since I didn't want pain medication.

Guess I'll get some bed, watching TV time and pampering at home

Thank you all who responded here.

[Hedgehog_Mom]

I'm so glad you got it checked out. Hope you feel better soon!