Topic: What kind of injury is this, and what kind of exercises can I do?

[pkninja]

A couple of months ago, I hurt my knees when I kneeled down on a cement floor. I let it heal for a couple of days, and then I went back to my normal schedule. Well, the injury compounded and now I have pain in my knee joints when I land a jump or do squats.  The pain feels as if it is between the upper and lower parts of the joints, but the sharpest pain (which is actually dull in comparison to a cut or pinch) is on the very top of the tibia.  I don't have any popping or restraint when I bend my knees, so I don't think that it is a meniscal tear or a damaged ligament.  I also don't see any inflammation, but I'm still open to suggestions.  I put an Ace knee brace on the left knee (which is the worst of the two) about a week ago, and started using ibuprofen for the pain and possible inflammation.  What kind of injury do I have, and what more can I do to help it heal? If it continues, I'll go to a doctor, but until then, what kind of exercises can I do that won't worsen the injury? (I'm already doing the usual pushups, situps, and pullups and a bit of flexibility that won't cause my knees to bend too far with weight on them.)

[Steve Low]

Sounds like Osgood Schlatter's. Especially if there's a lump at your tibial tuberosity.

[pkninja]

Thanks!  This makes sense because I am near the end of my growth period.  It also solidifies what my dad (clinical instructor at a hospital) said.  Are there any specific exercises that I could do to help?  Or even just exercises in general that wouldn't require my knees to bend very much.

[Ken PKChiro]

brace it with the tape (if it is OS) and then simply rest for 3-5 weeks.  It resolves on its own.

[pkninja]

It definitely was (and unfortunately still is) Osgood Schlatter's.  I've rested my knees for about two months now.  About two weeks ago, I started easing into practicing again, but the same symptoms came up again.  The popping is much more prevalent, but the pain is just as strong as before.  Should I just keep on resting my knees, or do I really need to see a doctor?  Also, why does it hurt doing squats, but when I use the machines in the weight room (they are horizontal leg presses), I have little or no pain, even at rather high amounts?

[Ken PKChiro]

did you brace it?... probably not.  Anyway, when i say rest, that means complete rest,  NO activity that could stress the knees at all.  but yes, it would be much more simple for you to go in to a doc, and just get a brace in.  The next point is that the pain does not necessarily mean OS.  it likely is, but not necessarily.  you would have to have an x-ray to be sure.  Regardless, if it hasn't healed in that time, you might as well go in and see someone.  Otherwise, I'd be recommending self-diagnosis, and I'm def against that.

[pkninja]

I'm trying to get an appointment with a doctor right now.  Hopefully he'll know what to do.

[Steve Low]

I'm trying to get an appointment with a doctor right now.  Hopefully he'll know what to do.

Good idea.