Knee Injury Playing Football Last Year!!

[Matty0682]

Hi All,

I am posting this query as I am not sure what to do. In Sept 2008 I injured my knee (I’m guessing my MCL). A player tackled my leg forcing my knee to jerk straight (as if going to bend my leg the wrong way). I was in my immediate pain and I remember it was hurt when trying to my leg straighten after it happened (I felt relief when I kept my leg bent).

Anyway, I hobbled off the pitch and didn’t take any further part and the next day my knee swelled up. After a week of hobbling about, the pain went and swelling went down. I tried playing football a month after, and I experienced the same pain attempting the kick the ball (when jerking my leg straight). This is when I said I needed more rest.

I haven’t exercised since Nov 08 when my knee last caused a problem until I started running in May this year. My fitness started returning and my knee felt fine. So I signed up to play 5-a-side football last week. Everything was going well, until I kicked the ball hard and my knee went again (after 6 months of complete rest). It wasn’t as bad a before and there was only a little pain (I would have been able to continue running).

Since football last week, there is no pain when I walk. I only get the occasional pain when I move suddenly (stand up fast or move my leg in an awkward angle). Even more worrying, yesterday I was demonstrating to gf where my knee hurts.......I tensed my thigh to make my leg my straight and the sharp pain returned causing my leg to buckle as I was standing up.

So I am at the point where I am concerned there is a permanent weakness in my knee and whether I should get it checked out, afterall, I have rested it for 6 months and it still re-occurred. I would like to return to football at some point as I am only 26.

Your thoughts and advise are much appreciated!

Matt

[Heidi]

Hi

MCL is possible, but there are other injuries to consider, such as meniscus (cartilage):
http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/front/knee/medialmeniscus.htm

Either way if it is still playing up after this long then I would recommend seeing someone about it. A physio, sports therapist or someone similar should be able to give you an idea as to what is going on, and put you on the right track. It will probably be as simple as some rehab exercises.

Good luck!