I'm going to justify this one by saying it's more likely that FG riders have knee injuries. So here's the situation. 7 years ago my right knee blew out. I never had it looked at (no insurance) it's strength has built up nicely and is for the most part stable now, except for when I do cartilidge tricks. Now, my left knee has the feeling that my right one had before it gave up the ghost.
So I have a feeling that it's a strained ligament. I know I'm not supposed to ask the internet for doctor advice. My question is this: Have any of you had a strained ligament before? If so what was recommended as far as rehabbing it? Unfortunately I'm still in a situation where I'm without insurance and not financially "happy". Thoughts?

The first thing I'd do is try to figure out why you may have strained it.

Have you changed anything with regards to bike position, pedal system, or something else that could have caused the injury?

Beyond that, I'd say put a brake on (if you don't have one), maybe ride your geary (if you have one), gear down, or go SS. You're in a tough spot, best of luck.

The fixed is definitely on second string now. If I ride at all it's going to be the road bike in an easy gear.

ice 15 minutes at a time(no more than once every hour and a half or two hours), as much as you can for the first 48 hours after injury...
(do not place ice directly on your skin...put a cloth between to let your body adjust)

after that...stop icing...and slowly ease into stretching a few times a day, and you're gonna need to figure out what light (VERY light at first) exercises you can do to strengthen the ligament

I'd refrain from from riding your bike until it feels better


oh...what are cartilidge tricks?
and did both of these injuries happen riding fixed?

Do not forget to elevate the knee if possible. This will help to keep down any swelling. Compression bandages (ACE type or other wraps) will also help provide additional support to the area relieving some of the stress on the injured area. Just keep in mind the R.I.C.E rule for soft tissue injuries (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevate).

No, the kirst knee going out was a result of Skateboarding. The knee right now is likely from cycling because that's all I do now. I wouldn't even say it's from riding fixed because I've mostly been inside on the trainer lately.
I'm going to re-evaluate my position on the bike. Maybe try the saddle a little farther forward or something. Of course that'll have to wait until it feels better.

Oh and the tricks I was talking about is basically just grossing people out by popping my cartilidge out. It makes a very noticeable bump in my knee that shouldn't be there. It's only funny as long as I can put it back where it's supposed to be.

Depends on which ligament, too. I have both knees unstable (decades of activities not helping them), inner straight one was partially torn last January when skiing hard. Knee bent to outside. I was barely walking, but took fixed gear (front brake, easy 50x19 gearing) to build up the strength without affecting bad (or worst) ligament.

It worked, I can practice my martial art again and I am planning to go skiing soon. I was also helped by acupuncture and koho-shiatsu.

Here's the best idea:

Go see a doctor. Strained will turn into torn more than likely, regardless of what every internet Ph. D. here wants to tell you.

The value of the advice here is equivalent to what you paid for it: zero. It is either really basic or experiencial and may not apply to the level of injury you may have.

It's a knee, you need them for walking and most importantly riding. I would not mess around with ice packs or armchair voodoo. Get it looked at.

yes...he should go see a doctor, but fam just said that he can't afford it right now...so the advice here is NOT worth zero...the OP should consider all the suggestions and related experience given and proceed cautiously in deciding what path to take

that said...if you strain a muscle or ligament (and especially if there is swelling) I wouldn't call icing it "messing around" at all...icing during the post injury 48 hour period is pretty standard practice, and it is certainly not going to do more damage (assuming you're resting as well)...and what the hell is "armchair voodoo"?...besides the illogic of the term, I hope that wasn't in reference to the mention of acupuncture...

Suck it up, find a clinic and a place where you could get an MRI done on the cheap
or with a payment plan. There is no other way. Before I had insurance I "strained"
my knee, which became a full blown torn acl despite all the rehab advise in the world.

Agreed, I should get it looked at. I will get it looked at if it continues to bother me. Right now there is no swelling and there was no impact or sudden injury to cause it. It's just more of an "unsteady" feeling and I would not say it's painful it just feels a little uncomfortable when at at either extreme. (flexion and extension)

I think it really sucks that millions of working people in the richest country in history
don't have health insurance. Good luck with your knees.

Try stretching it out before you ride. I had a lot of knee pain recently, and this helped a great deal.

I think it sucks a million that people in the richest country in history are allowed to sue everything that moves and recieve uncapped settlments that insurance companies must pay out, therefore driving up the cost of insurance for the rest of us to the point that most people can't afford it. Just remeber, we are all entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of settlements.
Oh yeah, sorry bout the knee. I tore my ACL in May and just went in for surgery a few weeks ago only to find out that the ligament reattached itself well enough to avoid a replacement. The only advice I could give would be rest it and avoid almost all physical activity for a few months, it apparently worked for me.

Yup, institute the concept of "loser pays" [like the rest of the developed world] and the frivolous lawsuits would drop off to a manageable level. On topic, don't **** with your ACL or MCL. Even with a really good graft, it's still rarely as good as new. If you can spend time off the bike, do so. Either that or convert to a geared bike or start walking.

Go see a doctor. RICE.

If something on my bike becomes so screwed up that I cannot fix it, I do not take it to the grocery store - I go to a bike shop. Put that in your logic pipe and smoke it. I made no reference to preventive, non-Western medical practices. Do not put words in my mouth or make foolish assumptions like that.

MKRG - do whatever you can to see someone about this. If you let it go long enough, it may only get worse. Joint injuries rarely heal on their own if they are of a serious nature. The healed ACL story is pretty amazing, but the first I have ever heard of in regards to people that have torn or blown out their ACLs (myself included). And from what you have described, I would say it warrants proper medical attention and perhaps no riding until you can get in to see someone.

Sorry if you want to save the money and try to heal up on the cheap MKRG, but look into something. Semi-decent BlueCrossBlueShield runs my now unemployed ass about $100 a month. Not sure though for you as this may be deemed an "existing condition"
best of luck

wow...your analogy sucked...if there were bikers who hung out at the grocery store, and I couldn't afford to go to a bike shop, I would take my bike to the grocery store and see if anyone had any suggestions/ideas about what was wrong... [officially smoked out of my logic pipe]

this is exactly what the OP did...and he did get some usefull advice...among other things, you and others said " go see a doctor"...are your suggestions worth zero?

and your mention of the word "voodoo" PERIOD makes reference to non-Western medical practices....plus...I didn't put words in your mouth or make any assumptions...I said, I HOPE that you NOT referring to the mention of acupuncture...you put your own words in your mouth...I didn't HAVE to make any assumptions

Basically I just need my job to get off there collectively lazy asses and hire me! The advice you give is good 165.
I'm not biking at all right now and doing my best to not stress the knee. Some gentle stretching here and there. It feels good at the beginning of the day but a little weak by the end. I'm just going to play it by ear and not do anything to aggrivate it too much. If at all possible I want to keep the original parts because I think they are the best. So for the time it's rest and babying for that leg...and beer for me.

the saddest thing in this thread


and the happiest

Went on the trainer tonight for a half hour because I was going crazy. It only hurt, I'm not even sure if hurt is the right word actually, when I was out of the saddle and bouncing on the pedals. Sit and spin felt fine, no pain at all! So, if it doesn't hurt, theoretically I'm not doing damage right? I've been reading a lot on this stuff and I don't really get how biking, an activity normally recomended for post injury rehab, could cause a problem in the first place. WTF???

At this point, just because it doesn't hurt doesn't mean bad things aren't happening. It didn't hurt...until it hurt. Right? Meaning, you did the damage, then it hurt.

Community health clinics are generally the best choice for the uninsured. They will treat you and even work out a payment plan if necessary.

It's not free, but it beats the ER plan. Best of luck.

go see a doc

I would be very careful. Again I would see a doctor. I am recovering from a knee injury, bone stress aggitation, that ocurred while running. It's true that doctors often reccomend cycling for injury rehab, but thats not the green light to "ride it out". My recovery rides were 15-20 minutes on a trainer with low resistance 2-3 days a week and physical therapy 2-3 days a week. I've personally tested your theroy of no hurt = no further damage. It's flawed. You never allowed any time to heal. The hurt will come back worse than before.