How do I care for this knee injury?

Question

I'm not completely sure what kind of injury it is (muscle, joint or something else), so I don't know if I should be using it, staying off it, cooling it or heating it. O_o
Last night I was practicing kick-boxing, but I'm still somewhat of a novice, and I wratched up my left knee. I'm not sure if it happened when I was kicking with that leg, or when I was twisting on it to kick with my other. I didn't notice anything till I stopped.
Now I get a real shooting pain (right near the kneecap, on the outside edge of it) when I stand on it straight (when you lock the knee), and when I bike or use stairs it kind of grinds or clicks. O_o It is only a bit swollen and warm, on the outside side of the kneecap, and also when I walk it feels like there's a pillow in my knee.
I was going to go running tonight - is it still ok to do so? Running on it doesn't seem to hurt it.
So, any advice?? Does anyone know exactly what I did to my knee? Thanks!!

Oh, I should mention that it doesn't actually hurt unless I lock it, or put to much weight on it while it's bent (ie: stairs).
It feels weird when I walk and bike, but doesn't hurt.

Answer 1

Until you find out what is wrong or it feels right again, don't jog or otherwise stress it. If RICE( rest, ice, compression, and elevation) as the first answer suggested doesn't help you in a few days ask a DR. and go insist on an MRI. Of course if you have tattoos you may have eliminated the best option for diagnosis. If you have no insurance, stick with RICE and introduce motions and weight bearing in gradual amounts over time. Check web sites for the best PT exercises to strengthen associated muscles. If you rush this, you may do yourself crippling harm and your jogging days could be a memory as well as kick boxing. sensitivity when locked or bent and bearing weight could be signs of a Baker's Cyst which is ussually secondary to a primary injury. Please take care. Your worst enemy could be rushing.

Answer 2

I'd stay off of it for a few days walk with it and such to keep the blood working to repair the injury, you may have tweaked the LCL (lateral colateral ligament) on the outside edge (there're two ligaments that support the knee to keep the femur and tibia straight and inline, and this may've shifted a little and could be the clicking and popping you hear, not to mention the grind possibly in that same area right around the left side of the knee cap) of the knee, possibly by hyperextending it a little.

no strenuous activity or excercise it, move it and work it around a little with nice an easy extentions and bring it back to where your knee is bent comfortably like you were sitting down, but no exercise.

the little bit of blood that went to the injury was why it was swolen and warm, but keep icing it and flexing to as much extention as you can; elevating it when you sleep at night.

give it a week or two and it should be feeling pretty normal again, if not, or you have a relapse of a similar nature, then you'll wanna see a doctor or Orthopaedic for a beeter understanding of just what may've happened.

Answer 3

I have had my fair share of knee problems.
You should go to a doctor and see what they say.
in the mean time give it about two weeks of rest. No hard core torquing it. Just do light work outs. Ice it after working out, try to elevate and ice it every evening. Also, try anti-inflamitories if you are medically sound.If it is just a routine pull then it will go back to normal, but the clicking is a scary noise and it should get checked out.
In martial arts training no one should ever lock out a joint for any reason it is both unhealthy and impractical for training. When you are young this does not seem like a big issue but after decades of doing techniques full power and locking out your joints it will catch up with you. The joints get deteriorated in this manner.

Answer 4

You need to go talk to your doctor about this and probably look into some physical therapy. Go easy on the joint for a while, and you should probably stay out of that particular kind of kickboxing workout for a few months. Tai chi or yoga might be good alternatives for a while, but only if you get an instructor who is experienced with injuries and knows how to modify the workout for you.

Oh yes, and go to Chinatown and get some Tiger Balm. It'll feel better, but don't use it as an excuse to go work out hard and hurt it worse.

Answer 5

ice for swelling in first 12-24 hours but ask ur sensi (teacher) what he things because he problly saw when it happened and where

don't worry it's normal not to notice anything untill u stop

once u stop or phase out it's over

but ya ask ur sensi

also i LOVE aloe vera it works wonder that and austrailian tea tree oil depending on where u are
you may even want to put somt plankton on it (plankton grows on east coast of usa even in some driveways)
another plant called blood root will help with the swelling after the first 12 hours

but if there is a tendon u think is hurt wrap somthing around it

~James

Answer 6

It sounds like something happened to the cartilage in your knee if it grinds and clicks like that

Answer 7

Keep it elevated.
Ice 1st 48-72 hrs, then heat.
I find accopuncture helps.NSAIDS such as naproxen or ibuprofen also might help.

Answer 8

All I can say is ice it, elevate it, and avoid strenuous activities with your knee.