Topic: Knee injury

[jeffrx]

Hi guys,

I play tennis about 3-4 times per week.  I just won first place in my club's singles league.  Not a big deal, but not bad for a 37 year old like me who did not grow up playing tennis (I played basketball).  Now I an addicted to this great sport.  About 1 month ago, I injured my knee while playing outside.  I was standing still and suddenly rand left for a ball that was hit, when I felt a sharp pain on the inside of my left knee.  I literally have been hobbling around for the entire month and have difficulty walking up stairs.  I am so eager to get back on the court, but I can see that this is no minor injury.  I am trying to get am MRI to see what the problem is, but my insurance is saying they have to pre-authorize it, which could take a week or more.  I'm thinking it is a torn (or partially torn) MCL.  Have you guys ever sustained this type of injury?  It is really tough to deal with not being able to play tennis and I feel that I am losing my tennis skills a little bit each day.  It is getting depressing....   I hope I will at least get back in action sometime withing the next month or so.....   

[dmastous]

I think I had a similar thing happen running on a beach in the mid - 90's. Hopefully, it's just a strain and not a tear. You haven't had a doctor take a look at it? He may not be able to say if it's an ACL or MCL, but he'd be able to recommend an MRI.
Man..... insurance companies are the pits! 

[monstertruck]

Hi guys,

I play tennis about 3-4 times per week.  I just won first place in my club's singles league.  Not a big deal, but not bad for a 37 year old like me who did not grow up playing tennis (I played basketball).  Now I an addicted to this great sport.  About 1 month ago, I injured my knee while playing outside.  I was standing still and suddenly rand left for a ball that was hit, when I felt a sharp pain on the inside of my left knee.  I literally have been hobbling around for the entire month and have difficulty walking up stairs.  I am so eager to get back on the court, but I can see that this is no minor injury.  I am trying to get am MRI to see what the problem is, but my insurance is saying they have to pre-authorize it, which could take a week or more.  I'm thinking it is a torn (or partially torn) MCL.  Have you guys ever sustained this type of injury?  It is really tough to deal with not being able to play tennis and I feel that I am losing my tennis skills a little bit each day.  It is getting depressing....   I hope I will at least get back in action sometime withing the next month or so.....   

Dude, rest that thing and get it checked ASAP.
I have a similar problem with my left knee (sharp pain on the outside).  It occured over 1 year ago and I've been able to treat it with rest and glucosamine.  Due to my insurance and profession, I am unable to do knee surgery at this time so elected to avoid paying the deductible to at least have it looked.  Things are ok at this point but I'd say if you've got the coverage then get it done.

The sooner you take care of it the sooner you'll be back on court.  In the meantime you can continue to work on you upper body / core strength and endurance so that you won't be lacking in that dept. upon your return to tennis.

Good luck!!!

[jeffrx]

I think I had a similar thing happen running on a beach in the mid - 90's. Hopefully, it's just a strain and not a tear. You haven't had a doctor take a look at it? He may not be able to say if it's an ACL or MCL, but he'd be able to recommend an MRI.
Man..... insurance companies are the pits! 

I went to my MD on Tuesday.  He wrote a script for an MRI, but the insurance has not approved it yet.   Meanwhile, I hobbling around!  Hopefully I can get the MRI next week....   

[jeffrx]

Hi guys,

I play tennis about 3-4 times per week.  I just won first place in my club's singles league.  Not a big deal, but not bad for a 37 year old like me who did not grow up playing tennis (I played basketball).  Now I an addicted to this great sport.  About 1 month ago, I injured my knee while playing outside.  I was standing still and suddenly rand left for a ball that was hit, when I felt a sharp pain on the inside of my left knee.  I literally have been hobbling around for the entire month and have difficulty walking up stairs.  I am so eager to get back on the court, but I can see that this is no minor injury.  I am trying to get am MRI to see what the problem is, but my insurance is saying they have to pre-authorize it, which could take a week or more.  I'm thinking it is a torn (or partially torn) MCL.  Have you guys ever sustained this type of injury?  It is really tough to deal with not being able to play tennis and I feel that I am losing my tennis skills a little bit each day.  It is getting depressing....   I hope I will at least get back in action sometime withing the next month or so.....   

Dude, rest that thing and get it checked ASAP.
I have a similar problem with my left knee (sharp pain on the outside).  It occured over 1 year ago and I've been able to treat it with rest and glucosamine.  Due to my insurance and profession, I am unable to do knee surgery at this time so elected to avoid paying the deductible to at least have it looked.  Things are ok at this point but I'd say if you've got the coverage then get it done.

The sooner you take care of it the sooner you'll be back on court.  In the meantime you can continue to work on you upper body / core strength and endurance so that you won't be lacking in that dept. upon your return to tennis.

Good luck!!!

Good advice...thanks.  I plan to try some upper body lifting in the meantime.  But there is only so much I can take.  I guess I should also do some sit-ups or ab work to avoid getting too heavy in the gut.   

[monstertruck]

Another thing that's helped me is a knee brace.
Even if it's only a neoprene compression type it still helps.

[dmastous]

I think I had a similar thing happen running on a beach in the mid - 90's. Hopefully, it's just a strain and not a tear. You haven't had a doctor take a look at it? He may not be able to say if it's an ACL or MCL, but he'd be able to recommend an MRI.
Man..... insurance companies are the pits! 

I went to my MD on Tuesday.  He wrote a script for an MRI, but the insurance has not approved it yet.   Meanwhile, I hobbling around!  Hopefully I can get the MRI next week....   

Friggin' insurance companies. They aren't in pain, and hobbling around. What do they care. The have to get the best deal.

[Tennis4you]

Another thing that's helped me is a knee brace.
Even if it's only a neoprene compression type it still helps.

Since 1994 there is no tennis for me without a knee brace.  It doesn't slow me down though.

[monstertruck]

Another thing that's helped me is a knee brace.
Even if it's only a neoprene compression type it still helps.

Since 1994 there is no tennis for me without a knee brace.  It doesn't slow me down though.

Which style do you prefer?
I like the compression type but feel 'safer' in the rigid brace.

[Tennis4you]

I feel safer in anything that is on my knee.  The ones I use have the hole at the knee in the front and (2) concealed metal bars on the side.  Lately I have been just using a pull over sleeve with no metal though, seems like either works just fine.

[jeffrx]

I will definitely be werin g a knee brace when I come back.  Even if it does not do anything, I'll probably feel safer with the brace on.  As of now, I'm icing 2-3 times per day and taking 600 mg Ibuprofen 2-3 times per day.  Thanks for your replies...

[monstertruck]

I will definitely be werin g a knee brace when I come back.  Even if it does not do anything, I'll probably feel safer with the brace on.  As of now, I'm icing 2-3 times per day and taking 600 mg Ibuprofen 2-3 times per day.  Thanks for your replies...

Yup, sounds like you got it bad.

Depending on what you do for work, you might consider wearing a compression brace during the day there as well.

Best of luck.  Remember to take it super slow on the recovery side of this!!!

[jeffrx]

Just got off the phone with insurance (Cigna).  They rejected my request for an MRI.  Makes sense to me.... I guess not being able to walk up stairs does not raise a flag like it used to....   

I'm thinking that I have a grade 2-3 MCL tear, which would keep me out about 2-3 months.  I've already been out 1 month, so hopefully 1 more month should nearly complete it.... 

[pawan89]

Just got off the phone with insurance (Cigna).  They rejected my request for an MRI.  Makes sense to me.... I guess not being able to walk up stairs does not raise a flag like it used to....   

I'm thinking that I have a grade 2-3 MCL tear, which would keep me out about 2-3 months.  I've already been out 1 month, so hopefully 1 more month should nearly complete it.... 

That kinda sucks. I suppose if it is a real serious tear, time's the only good healer but are you using some kinda treatment on it? like some conscious attempt to keep it static or slow movements or .. maybe even applying hot/cold packs? I really don't know how much those would help with a real tear but maybe it'll help you feel better and at least help in recovery right?

[jeffrx]

Just got off the phone with insurance (Cigna).  They rejected my request for an MRI.  Makes sense to me.... I guess not being able to walk up stairs does not raise a flag like it used to....   

I'm thinking that I have a grade 2-3 MCL tear, which would keep me out about 2-3 months.  I've already been out 1 month, so hopefully 1 more month should nearly complete it.... 

That kinda sucks. I suppose if it is a real serious tear, time's the only good healer but are you using some kinda treatment on it? like some conscious attempt to keep it static or slow movements or .. maybe even applying hot/cold packs? I really don't know how much those would help with a real tear but maybe it'll help you feel better and at least help in recovery right?

Ice, Motrin, and ACE Bandage (when I'm not too lazy to put it on)....  I try to ice it 20 min at least 2 times daily.   Motrin is 600 mg 2-3 times daily.  It sucks trying to keep up with this, but that's what "they" say to do.   

[Jamesdster]

While playing football in high school in '76, I tore my acl, mcl and miniscus in 1 knee.  Surgery corrected the mcl, but in those days, technology wasn't around to repair acls so I have been acl-less since.  Today I only suffer from a mild case (so far) of arthritis and not being able to fully bend it.  I have had 2 surgeons tell me I will be sporting a shiny, new plastic knee in my future but so far so good I guess.  I have a $1,500 knee brace that I wore for about 3 years but can't stand it.  I took it off and haven't put it back on.  Strengthen the areas surrounding the injured part to compensate is what I was told and did. 

[jeffrx]

While playing football in high school in '76, I tore my acl, mcl and miniscus in 1 knee.  Surgery corrected the mcl, but in those days, technology wasn't around to repair acls so I have been acl-less since.  Today I only suffer from a mild case (so far) of arthritis and not being able to fully bend it.  I have had 2 surgeons tell me I will be sporting a shiny, new plastic knee in my future but so far so good I guess.  I have a $1,500 knee brace that I wore for about 3 years but can't stand it.  I took it off and haven't put it back on.  Strengthen the areas surrounding the injured part to compensate is what I was told and did. 

Wow, you hit the trifecta, huh?  Sounds like a pain in the....well, the knee in this case.  I know some old guys (>62) who have had total knee replacement and they still get around a tennis court pretty well.   Glad you pulled through....

[Tennis4you]

Don't listen to anything Jamesdster says!  He moves like a cheetah!  Too many times I have knocked him into the court next to us and he gets there and then hits a winner...  Sickening.

[Jamesdster]

Don't listen to anything Jamesdster says!  He moves like a cheetah!  Too many times I have knocked him into the court next to us and he gets there and then hits a winner...  Sickening.

Cheetah??   
I move ok for my size, conditioning level, and bad knee, but no where close to where I'd like to be......and that would be at 50% of Scott

[Tennis4you]