UKC

Over Christmas went skiing at Les Arcs, had a blast but on the last day damaged my knee - it got progressively worse and after 8 hours on the train home I could barely stand, it was frigging agony. Went to the doc, he gave me some non-steroidal anti-inflamatories and it seemed to sort itself out OK, though there occasionally there would be a twinge.

Last week for no apparant reason it flared up again, swollen, aching, couldn't bend it etc. The problem is - we're off skiing again in a couple of weeks time. Now I will go to my GP again, at a guess he'll give my anti-ingflamattories etc, possibly even an injection, but should I be considering other things, e.g. these knee braces and so on? Also - I have sever tendonitis in my elbow, stopping my climbing at the moment - is this likely to be related?

Just looking for benefit of experience and some informed opinions, so thanks in advance.

In reply to Rob Exile Ward: If I were you I would go to see a good physiotherapist who specialises in sport injuries - one that you pay for yourself. GPs do not have specialist knowledge in this area.

In reply to Rob Exile Ward:

Go and see a physio with MMACP quals.

In reply to Rob Exile Ward:
If this happened over Xmas & you are asking the UKC collective, think that you are in denial & you already know the answer.

Don't ski until its better & doesn't hurt, sure it will only prolong the problem by carrying on skiing.
Sorry my two penny worth & probably what you don't want to hear.

In reply to walts4: Hear what you're saying though I've skiied up and down Pen Y Fan in the meantime and been a few (not huge, admittedly) walks without issues.

In reply to Rob Exile Ward: Where you off to in a fortnight, Rob?

In reply to Rob Exile Ward:

I've had loads of knee problems. Most were fixed with NHS orthotics in all my footware. Howerve 8 years ago I tore the cartilage in one knee which was discovered with an MRI. Thankfully I did not need surgery, but I did need many, many months rest. In fact it took several years before my knee stopped locking. Quite painful.

See a physio and see a GP and ask for an MRI scan as well as a referral to a Podiatrist.
This should cover all bases.

The next bit sounds horrible but it may be best to lay of the skiing while on holiday.

Sorry

In reply to andy: Bit of a cheeky etrx trip, really - bunch of parents have hired 3 coaches and we're off to Dachstein West, wherever that is - (well I know it's near Salzburg but that's about the sum of my knowledge).

It's as much social as anything, we keep kidding ourselves.

In reply to Rob Exile Ward: Swelling and locking suggest you could have damaged your meniscus (the cartilage mentioned above) and it's probably torn off. This can happen both from an accident or just wear and tear. It would be picked up with an MRI and you could do with an Orthopod seeing you, these things can be fixed, sometimes with very, very small surgery if you choose to do it this way. Physio (as mentioned, private, I'd advise against NHS) will help prevent this happening in the future and speed up recovery but it's not a miracle solution. I'd advise laying off skiing as well, like some have mentioned here.
Of course I might be wrong, and sorry to sound like a smart ass, I'm almost qualified as a doctor but I speak mostly from experience - I've had 2 serious knee surgeries myself and I've recovered 100% from both, so it's not the end of the world but it needs time!

In reply to island_explorer: 'Swelling and locking suggest you could have damaged your meniscus (the cartilage mentioned above) and it's probably torn off.'

This sounds horrible! It's unfair I know for you to diagnose remotely, but FWIW is that compatible with a) the fact that it had all subsided to practically nothing for a couple of months, also b) it has subsided now with a few anti-inflammatories? Genuine questions.

Hmm I really appreciate all the replies even though I haven't had the one I wanted yet... I'll try and get advice or a referral from the GP tomorrow.

Lot of food for thought.

In reply to Rob Exile Ward: i'm off to St Anton on a work trip a week Sunday - just a three day jobby, but if someone else is paying it seemed rude not to go...

In reply to andy: Ha! Well if you see someone hobbling about on crutches in the middle of a bunch of crusties singing Calon Lân at the tops of their voices do stop and say hello!

In reply to Rob Exile Ward:
Yes, it can be, especially if it is a floater. Go private rather than nhs.

In reply to Climbing Pieman: ..... for the sports physio that is; there are many nhs consultants that are excellent, but for physio the nhs can't seem to handle sports injuries properly IMO - nhs physio attitude is you can get dressed and walk what more do you want, whereas a private sports one is what do you want to do.... ok we can get you back to hill walking, climbing, skiing, etc, etc.

In reply to Rob Exile Ward: I have previous with both my knees, ironically one of those was a 'last day, must get loads done' twist.

I found that cycling has made the biggest difference in strengthening the muscle around the knee joint and keeping everything inside all where it ought to be.

I expect everyone will say it is the last thing you should be doing and if it is damaged. Maybe it is one to remember for next year once you've healed up but it has sorted mine out 100%.

Let me know if you want a whole load of straps and support braces that I don't use any longer

In reply to woolsack:
Not me! I actually do more excercise when the knees play up, but then again I do know what is wrong with mine. A proper diagnosis is needed for op first. Not cycling for me though, but strengthening exercises in the gym, walks, stretches and lots of, lots of movement, more climbing, etc. I only usually get the problems and pain back when I am lazy in my excercise regime. I do however always wear supports for skiing (nothing else) as a safety precaution - more a psychological thing as not brave enough to try without as this allows me to ski harder and faster than I did before a knee op .

In reply to woolsack: Update: Saw my GP today, he gave me loads of anti-inflamattories and arranged an X-Ray for this pm, so that's 1 up for the NHS. Downside is tat he said the X-Ray won't show any tissue damage so I'm not quite sure of the point...

Woolsack, do you reckon your straps and braces helped at all? I'd *really* like to go skiing next week, even if only a bit of cruising. Are you serious about selling them? PM if you want.

In reply to Rob Exile Ward: I've PM'ed you, borrow them for the week if it helps

In reply to Rob Exile Ward: yeah it would be (as already said above). Menisci, especially chronic, like to get better and then re-injure. But as you said, you won't know until you see a "real" doctor so probs best to do that... also, totally support the comments about private physio (the NHS ones have a working threshold of "can the patient go to the toliet and make a cup of tea independently" - and please don't take offence NHS physios, there are some good ones out there but I still wouldn't risk it) and cycling. It helped me build up my knee after op number 2. But only if it's not painful! If you have pain, just wait for the doc/physio to assess you. Oh, and best of luck! Hope it all gets better.