Knees hurt

[DannyMustang]

Hi doc,

if you could say something about this before I visit a doctor on Monday, I'd be thankful.

Problems started a week ago after karate practice. I must have thrown 100 full power kicks, which I don't usually do. I either made wrong moves with my kicking leg, or the other one which was on the ground suffered too much torsion while trying to maintain balance. I kicked with both legs, and when I came back my knees were hot so I cooled them down with ice packs.

I went on karate practice 2 more times since then. If I get down in a very low stance, I feel sharp pain underneath my knee caps. If I get down in a moderately low stance, no pain but knees fell like they're getting tired and I must get back up. When playing soccer, I am not agile as I was, although I attempt to make a fast movement, knees are a bit late and I'm slow.

I can walk, climb the stairs, run, drive. But it hurts when I'm sitting and trying to get up. I have a lack of power in my knees and I feel pain.

So, if you could just tell me should I be worried as I am now and roughly what can I expect when I see a doctor on Monday.

Thanks.

[Doc]

Here's things it might be...

1. arthritis from injuries in the past
2. meniscal tear
3. cartilage damage (torn/worn out)
4. ligamentous damage
5. Joint not moving correctly and it needs adjusted
6. Inflammation from overuse/injury

You might have twisted your knee when you were doing those kicks.

[DannyMustang]

Is any of these things very bad?

Can some of them heal with time and no treatment?

I suppose I should be resting a lot until Monday, right?

[Doc]

ice if heat is felt would be beneficial. Depending on the condition rest isn't always the best thing.

[DannyMustang]

Thanks doc.

[grimmy]

Check with your instructor, you may have bad kicking form. A common mistake when kicking is to snap the knee straight during the motion of the kick, and this causes wear and possible damage to the knee. Most power from kicking is from the hips, and the knee itself should not completely be straight. Torsionally, the supporting leg may get some twisting, but the hip again should do most of the work.

A way to practice this, is to loosely tie your belt and turn it so it is right above your left or right hip and practicing whipping the belt to the other side only using a swift motion of the hip.

[GDAccent]

About 4 weeks ago my right knee started hurting. By mid first week, it felt really puffy and sometimes really hard to walk on. The only thing I could think of that may caused any prob.; when I was checking the front end of the Accent, I knelt into the grass but there may have been a small pebble/rock. Could this cause and "fluid" on the knee if I hit it too hard? Or just in the right place? The first 2 weeks were kinda bad, slow with walking, I have to go up and down stairs at work. About 6 yrs. ago I injured the same knee during a neighborhood game of basketball. Untill then I have not had any problems with the knee itself.

Goiong on week 4 and have been using ice pack or heat depending time of day/night its getting better to walk on, not as much limping. But when getting in and out of the car or any such type lateral movement it still has some pain. In the venings, it does feel a little extra heated and at times, at rest feel the heat from the knee. I had thought of checking with a doctor, but now going on a month, I'm wondering if it is still fluid on th knee. I can't really crouch down very much and does still seam puffy on the outside of the right knee. Thanks for any advice.

Later,

GDA

[Doc]

Inflammation could be due to a meniscal tear or a collateral ligament tear. MRI will help to confirm what problem specifically it is. Keep icing it when it's warm and at times heat may also help too (if the ice doesn't help).