Pain in Knee...advice?

[Kingsman1288]

Seeing as my injury occurred in the course of officiating, I figured who better to ask for advice than my officiating brethren.

Long story short...I felt the occasional pain in my knee during the high school season but I changed my insoles and that seemed to solve the problem. While working some games this past weekend, the pain returned big time. It's gotten to the point now where anything more than a slow jog makes my knee feel like it's going to explode, almost like the feeling you get when you really need to pop a knuckle but can't. The pain got so intense during my last game that I was reduced to hopping one footed on a trip down the floor and for the first time in my life I couldn't finish a game I started. I've got an appt with a doctor but that's not until next week, so I was looking to see what advice others might have, and if anyone has had this problem before. I'm taking ibuprofen for the pain, icing occassionally and trying to stay off it as much as possible for now, but I have a lot of games coming up on my schedule. Taking a break from officiating isn't really an option for me, as it is my only source of income (being a starving college student ) Thoughts? Tips? Suggestions? Thanks!

[grunewar]

IMO your doing many things right - Doctor appointment, rest and medication.

But, the one thing you may be doing wrong,is taking the games and trying to battle your way through it.

While I certainly understand the financial aspects and admire your tenacity, nothing good can come from doing games on an injured leg - in fact, it could make it worse.

I wish you good luck.

[bob jenkins]

So you'll get one weekends worth of games in at the possible cost of a serious injury that will keep you out a year.

Typical short-sighted college student thinking.

(And I say that as the parent of two who just finished).

[stir22]

First of all, kudos to you.

Applying a learned craft to generate income while attending college is laudable, indeed-i don't think its short-sighted at all. When we are young we tend to think we are bullet-proof, and adopt the "it hurts now, but it'll be okay next week mantra."

Sounds like you are doing everything right. Is there swelling? If so, "ref candy", i.e. advil or aleve will help with the suppression of fluids.

Stretching helped me a lot last year; however, if it is meniscal in nature stretching probably won't help that much. Have you injured your knee before? ACL injuries that are unrepaired tend not to have near the impact when we are young, as a few years later.

I also use something called Bio-Freeze right before games, and at halftime. If it is muscular in nature, icy hot after games will help. However, if you are young, it is most likely structural.

Good on you, young college man; stay the course.

[Mark Padgett]

You'd better take care of it now or it could get worse and turn into kneemonia!

[jophyal]

as a coach with the luxury of a team trainer available their advice is, arrive early and see if teams trainer can treat it. our trainers will even wrap it, if necessary. i have had 11 knee surgeries. a good brace can help. SEE A DOCTOR!!

[RadioBlue]

Because it comes and goes, it makes me wonder if you don't have a cartilage tear. Sometimes with a "bucket handle" tear of the meniscus, the tear can flop into the knee joint space (giving you extreme pain and difficulty fully flexing the knee) and a step or two later can flop out of the joint space leaving you nearly pain free. I had this exact same condition years ago, and what was the tipoff to me was when you said, "when you really need to pop a knuckle but can't."

To be honest, I'd stay off of it if I were you until you get it looked at.

[JRutledge]

Another thing to consider is you may have to work out more to strengthen the legs or knee (after you see a doctor of course) so this does not keep occurring. I think many times our problems can be attributed to lack of activity to make our bodies prepared for what the season will bring. I have found that when I have worked out with certain exercises, many of my minor problems went away. But still see a doctor and see if there are other problems. But if the injury is minor rest and then a certain level of exercise that might keep this problem at a minimum. Also my suggestion is to see a doctor that deals with sports medicine. A regular doctor might just tell you to do something that will allow you "function" and not get back on the court or do activities that are related to officiating. I had a similar problem when I pulled my hamstring some years ago.

Peace

[Mr. Ref]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

You'd better take care of it now or it could get worse and turn into kneemonia!

Wow... Every single thread you have to interject some sort of stupid comment. Kudos to you though.... This one might be the worst.

[ref2coach]

Originally Posted by Mr. Ref

Wow... Every single thread you have to interject some sort of stupid comment. Kudos to you though.... This one might be the worst.

Mr. Ref, if you don't like Mark's posts, don't read them.

Mark keep up the levity.

[Mr. Ref]

It's tough not to read them when they are in every single thread on the board.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by Mr. Ref

Wow... Every single thread you have to interject some sort of stupid comment. Kudos to you though.... This one might be the worst.

Let me see - you have 15 posts here and I have over 11,000. When you hit 5000, then we'll talk. Oh wait - why don't you just put me on your ignore list and then you won't have to worry about chuckling here ever again. Of course, you'd also have to put BillyMac and a few others on it. I've got an idea - why don't you put everyone on it!

Oh yeah - welcome to the board.

[SmokeEater]

Originally Posted by Mr. Ref

Wow... Every single thread you have to interject some sort of stupid comment. Kudos to you though.... This one might be the worst.

Ouch One may think you are new to the board and have not had the pleasure (or pain) of seeing Mark's true side!

If you think these are bad wait till he gets new Meds!

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by SmokeEater

Ouch One may think you are new to the board and have not had the pleasure (or pain) of seeing Mark's true side!

If you think these are bad wait till he gets new Meds!

Mark has a true side?

Bwahahahaha!

[Kingsman1288]

For the record Mark, your post made me chuckle.

I appreciate all the advice, and I will be turning back the games I have coming up. I dont want to ruin my officiating career when its barely started. The dr I am seeing specializes in sports medicine, so hopefully he can get me back to full speed. For those out there who speculated that it might be a cartilage issue/tear, do they generally require surgery or just rest?