Decide my life

cantalopes24

So I don't know what I did but about a week ago my right knee started hurting. After a couple days it felt better except for occasional twinges so I figured I just pulled something. Saturday night I woke up in a lot of pain and assumed I aggravated it because we had been swimming and walking around all day. I managed to prop it up on a pillow and go back to sleep. Yesterday afternoon it started hurting again and I had to sit on the couch for awhile. It started to feel better this afternoon after resting it but then my husband had to work late (we drive to work together) so I had to get the kids and pick him back up. I'm now in a lot of pain and obviously can't take ibuprofen. We're leaving for a family trip very early Wednesday morning. Should I even bother taking time off from work tomorrow to get it looked at? I've missed a ton of time for doctors appointments and while my work is flexible I have a very important and time sensitive project I need to complete before I leave. Technically someone else could finish it for me but if it's not completed we would be forced to discontinue selling certain products so I'm hesitant to leave it. Is there really anything they can even do other than ice/heat/rest? Or is going a waste of time?

TL;dr my knee super hurts and has been on and off for a week. I have something essential to complete but I could pass off although it makes me nervous. Worth a doctor's visit before vacation Wednesday morning or are they just going to tell me what I already know? 

Gingersnap

H said to ice it, Motrin and ace wrap it. If it's still really bothering you or swells go to the Dr. 

foxrosy

Ice the knee several times a day, you can either use a wrap or brace if you have to be active and most importantly try to give it a rest.

rachoochoo2

Are we the same person? My right knee too for close to 2 weeks. No idea why. A few days it's been down to only a little stiffness but if I do a lot of walking (2 hours at the zoo yesterday) then it's right back to hurting. I'm being stubborn and haven't gone to the doctor. For a little bit I had myself freaked into thinking I had a blood clot but I really think that somehow it's just strained.

cantalopes24

@Gingersnap I thought Motrin was a no go? I had an ace wrap on earlier and that did seem to help. It's swollen but just in one spot which is the source of the pain. 

WinchesterGirl

That sucks...is one of those minute clinic style places an option? You might be able to hit one after work tomorrow... so you can still get it checked, but not miss more work.

cantalopes24

@WinchesterGirl if I go after work I'll be there for hours and it'll cost me $50. 

glitterdragon-2

cantalopes24 said:

@Gingersnap I thought Motrin was a no go? I had an ace wrap on earlier and that did seem to help. It's swollen but just in one spot which is the source of the pain. 

I'm pretty sure Motrin is not ok but try Tylenol extra strength (the 500mg). You can take 2 of those every six hours. I'm sorry you're going through this! I have poly inflammatory arthritis and life sucks without ibproufen. I'm taking the Tylenol and going to bed every night with my legs propped on pillows with ice packs. Try a heating pad on the knee too it might work better for you!

Gingersnap

cantalopes24 said:

@Gingersnap I thought Motrin was a no go? I had an ace wrap on earlier and that did seem to help. It's swollen but just in one spot which is the source of the pain. 

Sorry! I didn't tell him it was one of my pregnant bishes. 
Tylenol. Motrin is classed as safe until 3rd tri, but better safe than sorry. 
He's used to saying Motrin. 
I'll be sure to specify when it's a preggo next time. 

BumpasaurusRex

This happened to me when I started running.  It's a combination of things but stretching helped, as well as wearing a knee brace for awhile.

It took about a month but it eventually got better.  I hope you feel better soon!

PerraSucia

My right knee is fucked up too! Ice and elevation. 

mjsommer

e relaxtin (sp?) could already be in effect girl!  Def rest/ice/light stretching will be beneficial whatever you do. Just look up some good pt exercises for sore knees. I would document all the steps you are taking now so if you do end up at the dr they don't make you do all this over and you can move onto the next treatment option. Unless you had an incident where you think you did injure yourself such as a fall or you over extended then dr. Is a good option to go to first! Hope you start feeling better!

cantalopes24

@Gingersnap I didn't know that! Tylenol really doesn't do crap for me but I am trying it. My dad has a lot of  knee problems so he taped it for me this morning and it's helping a lot more than the ace bandage I had yesterday. 

Thanks for the advice everyone! I think I'll wait it out. I have it elevated at work and brought an ice pack and a heating pad. 

PerraSucia

Don't do heat!!  You probably have fluid in your knee and heat will make it worse. 

cantalopes24

@PerraSucia even if it's not swollen? I haven't done heat  (the ice feels so good!) yet but my back/ass is killing me from having my foot propped up so I'll just use it on that if I shouldn't put it on my knee.

glitterdragon-2

PerraSucia said:

Don't do heat!!  You probably have fluid in your knee and heat will make it worse. 

That was always my thought but my doctor just explained to me that Ice only prevents swelling. (So when you first get an injury, ice it). Once a joint is already swollen heat disperses it. But I haven't tried it yet.

PerraSucia

GlitterDragon said:

PerraSucia said:

Don't do heat!!  You probably have fluid in your knee and heat will make it worse. 

That was always my thought but my doctor just explained to me that Ice only prevents swelling. (So when you first get an injury, ice it). Once a joint is already swollen heat disperses it. But I haven't tried it yet.

man there must be two schools of thought on that, because I have robo knee and my doctor has always said no heat..  heat is more for muscles and the knee is all ligaments

glitterdragon-2

PerraSucia said:

GlitterDragon said:

PerraSucia said:

Don't do heat!!  You probably have fluid in your knee and heat will make it worse. 

That was always my thought but my doctor just explained to me that Ice only prevents swelling. (So when you first get an injury, ice it). Once a joint is already swollen heat disperses it. But I haven't tried it yet.

man there must be two schools of thought on that, because I have robo knee and my doctor has always said no heat..  heat is more for muscles and the knee is all ligaments

I guess so.  I hadn't really thought about it until she talked with me yesterday. But I've been "recommended" everything under the sun over the years. Icy hot patches, tiger balm type numbing cream, ice, heating pads, and even a weird hot wax therapy. Most of it I haven't even tried. When not pregnant, my pain is easily managed with a decent diet and ibproufen. 

cantalopes24

My dad has jacked up knees and had his replaced and he said to try heat so I did because he's my dad and it helped a lot. I used this rice sock thing the big kid made in school for mother's day and tied it around my leg this evening. I'm trying not to do it too much in case it's making it worse in the long term but I could at least get around enough to finish packing my stuff.

glitterdragon-2

@cantalopes24 that's awesome I'm glad the heat worked  

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cantalopes24 said:

My dad has jacked up knees and had his replaced and he said to try heat so I did because he's my dad and it helped a lot. I used this rice sock thing the big kid made in school for mother's day and tied it around my leg this evening. I'm trying not to do it too much in case it's making it worse in the long term but I could at least get around enough to finish packing my stuff.

"...but I did because he's my dad..." 

Bahaha! I love that!!

Edit: because of font

cantalopes24

@AfKash my dad is pretty much the best so I usually do whatever he says lmao

MrsDramaK

GlitterDragon said:

PerraSucia said:

GlitterDragon said:

PerraSucia said:

Don't do heat!!  You probably have fluid in your knee and heat will make it worse. 

That was always my thought but my doctor just explained to me that Ice only prevents swelling. (So when you first get an injury, ice it). Once a joint is already swollen heat disperses it. But I haven't tried it yet.

man there must be two schools of thought on that, because I have robo knee and my doctor has always said no heat..  heat is more for muscles and the knee is all ligaments

I guess so.  I hadn't really thought about it until she talked with me yesterday. But I've been "recommended" everything under the sun over the years. Icy hot patches, tiger balm type numbing cream, ice, heating pads, and even a weird hot wax therapy. Most of it I haven't even tried. When not pregnant, my pain is easily managed with a decent diet and ibproufen. 

Yeah I have chronic pain so whenever I injure myself my doc always said ice for the first 24 hours and heat thereafter.