Possible MCL Sprain or Torn Meniscus?

[eagles1511]

On Wed. July 21, I was at football (American) practice. We were doing get off and go drills. The drill was the coach said go, and you sprinted to him which was 5 yards away. You had to break down (slow yourself down) and then make a cut and run a certain way where the coach pointed to.
It was my first time up. I went, and i got there exceptionally fast, and i didn't break down as much as i should've. i had to go right, so i kind of over strided my left leg. When that leg hit the ground, my leg gave out. From what i can remember it was a crunching/grinding/popping sound. With some pops afterwards. (keep in mind i have had arthroscopic surgery on the same knee 3 years ago. im only 15 years old as of now). I could not bear weight on it for a solid hour. After an hour of icing i could barely limp. However, it swelled instantaneously to the accident. For about 3 days the swelling did not go down. I couldn't bend my knee all the way or straighten it all the way. The past 2 days i can straighten all the way but not bend all the way. in the past 2 days the swelling has receded, but there is numerous pops, clicks, and noises whenever i straighten or bend my knee. however there is still swelling on the outside of my (left) knee right above and its actually covering where the meniscus would be. Please let me know what could be wrong. My mother is supposed to be getting a call today about an MRI appointment. But this could mean the end of my football career, so i want to know ASAP!

[Heidi]

Hi
I'm afraid its impossible to tell you what the problem is. A full assessment from a sports injury professional would only be able to indicate what may be wrong and the only way to know for sure (and even then ometimes it isn't 100%) is an MRI so hopefully you will get one booked in.
From what you have said it could be any of the ligaments in the knee or it could be cartilage.
The best thing to do at the moment is to rest it, keep icing, elevating and compressing, try to keep it moving (non-weight bearing if this is painful) and wait for an MRI. (If not possible then visit a professioanl for an assessment).

[eagles1511]

[QUOTE=Heidi;4022]Hi
I'm afraid its impossible to tell you what the problem is. A full assessment from a sports injury professional would only be able to indicate what may be wrong and the only way to know for sure (and even then ometimes it isn't 100%) is an MRI so hopefully you will get one booked in.
From what you have said it could be any of the ligaments in the knee or it could be cartilage.
The best thing to do at the moment is to rest it, keep icing, elevating and compressing, try to keep it moving (non-weight bearing if this is painful) and wait for an MRI. (If not possible then visit a professioanl for an assessment).[/QUOTE]

thanks for the reply.
I am feeling pain when i try to walk normal right under the patella. The acl and pcl are both in there i know that much. It is a sharp pain. There is constant pops and clicks in the knee as well along with a ball of swelling over the lateral meniscus i believe.