What's wrong with my knee?

[CarRiz]

I injured my knee about 2.5 weeks ago playing soccer.
What happened was myself and an opposing player both kicked the ball at the same time, however, my foot was kind of in a sideways position at the time. It didn't hurt that much at the time, I finished playing the rest of the game there was only like 5 mins left. I went to a wedding that night and didn't experience any pain at all...I was drinking a lot however so if there was pain to be felt I probably wouldn't have felt it. The next day it was sore, it wasn't extremely painful but there was discomfort. My team had a soccer game 1 week later. I didnt do any physical activity over the course of the week and my knee hadnt really bothered me at all since the first 2 days after the injury. During warm ups, I attempted to kick a soccer ball with my foot straight and it didnt hurt. I then attempted kicking it with the inside of my foot...hence my foot was in a sideways position similar to how the injury happend and it my knee hurt the instant it made contact with the ball. That was about a week and half ago and I havent done anything physical on it since. I can walk on it fine, it's just when it gets twisted a certain way or when there is sideways pressure that it hurts.
I went to my family doctor last week and he sent me for some xrays. He said he would call back if something was wrong. I haven't heard back from him so I'm assuming he found nothing wrong in the xrays. I was planning on calling him today just to confirm that.
There is obviously something wrong with my knee but what is it and how do I go about getting better?

[Heidi]

Hi.
Where is the pain? Is it on the inner part of the knee or on the outside.
from what you have said and how you did it my intial though is lateral ligament damage.

See what you think:

http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/front/knee/ilateralligament.html

[CarRiz]

The pain is on the inner part of my knee.
From what I've read on the link you posted the pain is on the outside of the knee, or am I interpreting that incorrectly?

[CarRiz]

I just got off the phone with my doctors office and they said everything was ok on the xray

[Heidi]

Yes you are right that pain would be on the outside. However I think I misread the position you were in when you injured it and a medial ligament injury is more likely, especially as the pain is on the inside of the knee. This wouldn't show up on an x-ray.

Have a look here:
http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/front/knee/medialligament.htm

Sorry about the confusion!

[CarRiz]

When I first went through this site I thought it was a mcl injury.

Who would I be able to go see about something like this?

[Heidi]

Hi

I don't know where you are based, but in the UK a physiotherapist or sports therapist/rehabilitator would be able to treat this for you.
If you're in the US I think you have physical therapists or athletic trainers who do a similar thing.

Have a look on our 'find a clinic' directory to find someone near you:

http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/clinics/indextherapist.php

[CarRiz]

I went to see a chiropractor...I've seen him 3 times this week.

He confirmed it is an mcl injury. He suggested I get a knee brace as well. He didn't really specify what kind to get, he just said get one that will keep the knee cap centered.

There are so many different kinds of knee braces. Can you suggest some specific ones that would be good for me?

Thanks

[Heidi]

Hi

You should go with a stabilised knee brace that also has a patella buttress. This will help to keep the knee cap centered and also prevent any sideways or twisting movement which can cause pain as they strain the ligament.

Our partner site return2fitness.co.uk (or .net for USA) sell knee braces. I would recommend the McDavid 421:
http://www.return2fitness.co.uk/Supports_And_Braces/Knee_Supports/md421patella
in the US, try the 425:
http://www.return2fitness.net/Supports_And_Braces/Knee_Braces/md425knee

[CarRiz]

Hello again,

based on your suggestions I looked on ebay and found several other similar knee braces. I've narrowed it down to 5. I'd really appreciate it if you could look at them and suggest one of them, or if you still think the McDavid brace that your originally recommended is best please let me know.
I think the first link below, the Mueller 231 brace may be the best based on it's design. It is kind of similar to the way an mcl sprain would be taped. You know better than I do however so I look forward to your response.
I'd really like to thank you for all your help, your support has been invaluable.


http://cgi.ebay.com/MUELLER-231-Adjustable-Wraparound-Knee-Brace-REGULAR_W0QQitemZ140329394382QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item20ac48a0ce&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A6%7C294%3A50


http://cgi.ebay.com/MUELLER-4540-Elastic-Knee-Brace-Sleeves-SMALL-MEDIUM_W0QQitemZ140299816552QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item20aa854e68&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1262&_trkparms=%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A2%7C294%3A30


http://cgi.ebay.com/MUELLER-HG80-PRECISION-KNEE-BRACE-54111-SMALL_W0QQitemZ140299390170QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item20aa7eccda&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1262&_trkparms=%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A2%7C294%3A30


http://cgi.ebay.com/FLA-37-250-Lateral-Knee-Stabilizer-RIGHT-LARGE_W0QQitemZ370025561140QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item56273dfc34&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1262&_trkparms=%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A6%7C294%3A30


http://cgi.ebay.com/J-LATERAL-SUBLUXATION-KNEE-SUPPORT-14-1-2-16-RIGHT_W0QQitemZ130108086970QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item1e4b0bdaba&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1262&_trkparms=%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A7%7C294%3A30