Training & Nutrition - Knee problem - how to fix?

I was playing basketball one day but I think I pivoted my leg too fast, so my foot stayed planted on the spot and so I ended up over-twisting my knee. It's been couple months now and I still feel weak in my knee (less strength) and when I bend it INWARDS too much it hurts.

Will some sort of physical therapy or medication help me? Or do I simply have to just wait it out like a badly twisted ankle? (but still, it's been couple months now).

I'm sorry this really has nothing to do with bikes but I've been on this forums for a long time so I thought you guys might no a little about knee problems around here since a lot of cyclist here I read are cycling because they injured their knee in another sport.

If you guys could direct me to a better health forums whihc I could turn to that would be great too. Thanks!

You've just described what happened to me (twice, first time from playing basketball) when I blew out all the ligaments in my knee. The weak feeling in your knee might be attributed to having a torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament, which runs diagnolly through the center of your knee. The pain caused by bending it could be a result of scar tissue building up, inhibiting your range of motion. My solid advice based on experience and a titanium knee joint is to see an orthopedic specialist as soon as possible. While it probably won't get any worse with time, it certainly won't get any better either.

don't scare me, but you needed a titanium knee joint???????????? How bad did you twist it during basketball? And could you walk right afterwards? Because for me, I can do everything fine. I wouldn't be able to walk properly if I tore my ACL right? It just hurts if i exert GREAT force on it (i.e. when I try to jump as hard as i can it hurts).

I wouldn't be too scared about needing a titanium knee joint in your case, mine came as a result of my second knee injury, playing rugby in college. Both times that I've torn ligaments, I've been able to walk shortly afterwards, but could feel more flexibility during side to side motion, i.e. cutting back while playing basketball. In your case it could just be meniscus (cartilidge) damage, which isn't much of a big deal these days. Keep in mind that I could be wrong about any of this, but get out there and get checked by a medical professional.

You could feel MORE flexibility during side to sie motion? For me when I tried playing basketball again, slight jumping and running was ok but then when I tried to pivot or turn, basically either slight rotational or side-to-side motion would hurt me.

I teisted my knee 25 years ago playing squash. I have twisted my ankle harder than I twisted my knee that day.

It swelled up to the size of a grapefruit. Turns out I had torn my ACL.

Had surgery about a year later and other than some bone damage I did to it twiating a 2nd time before I had my surgery it's fine.

Get it looked at by an ortho asap.

G3cko:

The key message here is to seek sound medical advice. Don't look for an amateur, even one with a bad knee(s) to tell you everything is OK. Go see a doctor.

G3cko:

The key message here is to seek sound medical advice. Don't look for an amateur, even one with a bad knee(s) to tell you everything is OK. Go see a doctor.

Hes got it right, as good as my intentions are, I'm not a doctor. Go find someone who is.

Going to the doctor is the best idea. I tore my knee up at fencing practice one night and just thought I had sprained it. About two months later (after I could move my knee cap side to side) I finally went to the doctor. I was lucky and it just required minor surgery.

You could also go to a sports injury expert. Sometimes they can give you exercises that will strengthen the muscles around an injured joint and avoid the need for surgery completely. It's the way I would go if I have the choice -- really don't like the idea of someone taking a knife to me unless it's absolutely essential.

Going to the doctor is the best idea. I tore my knee up at fencing practice one night and just thought I had sprained it. About two months later (after I could move my knee cap side to side) I finally went to the doctor. I was lucky and it just required minor surgery.

What kinda small surgery was it? What was the procedure? And how fast is it to fully recover?


You could also go to a sports injury expert. Sometimes they can give you exercises that will strengthen the muscles around an injured joint and avoid the need for surgery completely. It's the way I would go if I have the choice -- really don't like the idea of someone taking a knife to me unless it's absolutely essential.

Thanks I'll look into that.

And yea, After my final exams are over, I'm planning on going to go see a doctor. I made this thread just to see what my problems might lie and what might need to be done.

Last year I ran into a cab that cut me off. Hit the front fender at about 35km and flipped over the hood hyperextending my right leg while doing so. After a couple of hours I couldn't bend my leg.
I went to a massage therapist about 8 times to keep the scar tissue from building up, That, and some stretching, and I'm as good as new! Get it looked at as soon as you can and heal fast!

What kinda small surgery was it? What was the procedure? And how fast is it to fully recover?



Thanks I'll look into that.

And yea, After my final exams are over, I'm planning on going to go see a doctor. I made this thread just to see what my problems might lie and what might need to be done.

The doctor did arthroscopic surgery on it to fix the meniscus. They did have to make a little bit bigger incision though to remove the back of my knee cap (I shreed it off somehow). I was off crutches that evening and was walking fine the next day. I did some PT for the next few weeks, but the knee felt fine right after.

What's scar tissue? Is it some kinda ligament that's healing in the wrong way?

I'm no doc., but after your ligaments tear and they start healing the tissue seems to "bunch up" like scarring on the outside. Proper massage breaks down the "bunching" and keeps your range of mobility.

Sounds like you torqued your knee and have a torn meniscus.

I am still recovering from one myself. It has been several months, but now i AM ALMOST 100%.

madvice - see an orthopedist!! Try to find one that also rides so you will have someone with knowledge about your needs as a cyclist. If you have what I had you tore your maniscus. The treatment I got was a week on Celebrex (and amazingly I didn't fall over dead from a heart attack!) and a cortisone shot in the knee. Don't worry about the shot. they numb the area and you don't even feel it.

The other thing I had to do was cut way back on my training and just spin easy gears to keep the legs used to turning pedals.

It worked for me!!

Bill