Medial Ligament Strain??
Four days ago I was thrown from one of my horses. This horse was pinched severely by the tack so this incident was totally unexpected. I had no time to prepare and fell face first. The L side of my body is severely bruised but most of the impact was on the knee. I already had pain in this knee upon dismount, now the pain is unbearable. I cannot straighten my L leg and can bear only minimal weight. I am using a crutch and a brace. The ER took x-rays and said nothing was broken but offered no further advice. My pain meds are almost gone…the pain is a slight bit improved but swelling on the inside and top of the knee is still present. What should I be doing and should I consult with a professional for further eval, treatment, etc. Thank you in advance for any help you can provide.
1 Comment found
May PT
Lee,
Having worked in an ER, I can tell you that the normal procedure for a patient like you (from the ER’s point of view) is just to rule out a fracture, and loss of circulation, give something for pain, and refer the patient to an Orthopedist. The ER doctors do not really do a true evaluation, and they don’t get into the follow up care needed down the line; that is really not their job. They are there to sort of “patch and refer” things. For you, I would strongly advise you to get copies of your ER Report, as well as X-rays, and then go to see an Orthopedist for a follow up exam and diagnosis. The Orthopedist will then be able to give you follow up medications, exercises, braces, etc. If the injury is classified as “Moderate” or “Severe”, you should ask for a referral to a Physical Therapist. I am sure you can’t go wrong with the above approach. In the meantime, I would advise you to continue using the ice, and talking anti-inflammatory medications (such as Advil) as long as you are not allergic to them, nor have stomach problems.
Let us know how you make out, and good luck.