Patella Subluxation Injury

[tcco94]

I dislocated my knee cap in hockey about 2 weeks ago and went to the doctor because of the swelling and such. He said it was a patella subluxation with fair prognosis. He said with some rest and such over 3 weeks when I see him next (Dec. 28th) that it should be okay or whatever swelling down and such. Ive noticed that its become alot easier to walk on. Usually overnight, when I wake up in the morning its stiff again but by night time its okay but the only pain I have is on the right side of my right knee (the one I dislocated). It feels like theres a bruse, where the meniscus is. He said it was uncertain if I tore my meniscus but he thinks its nothing serouis from xrays and what not so I didnt worry.

My knee cap tends to pop sometimes but this pop makes it easier for me to walk on. It pops when I stretch it but this pop doesnt hurt or make my knee hurt, it makes it better it seems. The only time I get the pain is when I stretch my knee out all the way but its not deathly sharp pain but its a pain. Im thinking it might be like a bad bruise on my knee and nothing more.

I was wondering if it seems like ill be okay to play another hockey tournament by the second week of January. Do you think at this recovery rate ill be okay by then? I think my symptoms are getting better and the swelling is going down.

Thanks,
Tyler

[Heidi]

Hi
If it was just a subluxation then usually yes, 5 weeks is probably enough rest, although this does vary from case to case.
Wearing a knee support with a patella butress to avoid excess lateral patella movement may help prevent it happening again. You can get these at return2fitness