Help with diagnosis

[SharpyShamrock]

I injured myself in a basketball game 16 weeks ago. I performed a jump stop, and for those who don't know, its a move where both feet are stamped into the ground and the body twists round to score. However, when I attempted this move I twisted my right knee (lower leg was untwisted, above the leg twisted clockwise and knee popped painfully) I hit the deck and crawled of court. Very painful. Since then I've not helped myself, I've gone back over the same injury on multiple occasions... and when I went to the hospital 24 hours after the injury and was x-rayed but the doctor told me it was a lateral ligament strain, no tear, not snap. I was happy with that result.

Now, 16 weeks on, I'm still not able to fully lock open or fully close my knee joint, My knee has also developed a strange grinding/cracking sound. I don't know whether I should be cracking it? or not cracking? I remember the doctor said there could be a chance cartilage could move into the knee joint and cause a mechanical block. But I don't think it's that....

To be clear, the knee is fine in the straight plane of the knee joint, i can run on a cross trainer with ease, whenever a lateral or twisting motion is added the knee shows its weakness. Also there is the mystery grind and crack sound...

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Try to keep the "Why didn't you look after the injury better!" lectures to a minimum. I know I've handled the injury terribly.

[Heidi]

Possibly cartilage. A tear to one of the meniscus is common in association with a ligament tear and a twisting injury as you described. This would certainly explain the clicking and grinding you have experienced.
Get a sports injury specialist to check you over. That will give you a better idea, although an MRI (or other scan) is the only thing that can confirm a cartilage tear.