Possible Meniscus Tear - WWMD?

Had a fairly mundane fall skiing a groomer (yes a groomer) where I had my downhill ski prematurely release in the middle of a turn. My uphill ski stayed on momentarily before too popping off. I never felt a pop or anything though I do feel as if I hit my ski on my knee (it was a crash - so who knows)

Knee has been bothering me since - slowly getting more swollen/stiff/painful. Most movements hurts. There is no instability. I will likely go in but before shelling out the $$ for an MRI I'm wondering how long I should continue to ice/rest? Thinking of giving it a week. What does the collective think?

I can walk. If a gun was put to my head I could probably make a turn. I can go up/down stairs but it hurts a bit (right below the knee).

So - place your bets. What did I do?

Clinical test (McMurray) will tell you if you have a tear. See yiur doctor.

A lot can be told just by physical exam, don't necessarily always have to jump from an MRI. For example, if you hit the inside of your knee on a ski and the pain is now below your knee, that could be the pes anserine where the hamstrings insert (I've clipped a brake wing there before - it hurts and the bursa there can bleed). Meniscus is often a twisting injury or a deforming force to the knee rather than a glancing blow, though realize that can be hard to know with a fall. Consider just having an exam and then having a conversation about the utility of MRI.

Just my lay persons take on things, but meniscus tears can often be overcome. As I age I am more against surgery and cutting out parts unless it is absolutely necessary. Also what works well for me beyond ice is taking a course of 600 mg of ibuprofin 3x's a day with meals. I find this has significant healing effect in the short term.

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Originally Posted by Peruvian

Clinical test (McMurray) will tell you if you have a tear. See yiur doctor.

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IMO skip the McMurray test and do the Thessaly test (Google it). Better sensitivity and specificity and doesn't require a skilled tester to perform the test. Probably best to control swelling and let inflammation subside for a few days if you want best results on the test.

Can you squat down to pick something off a bottom shelf or the ground? Yes but slowly not meniscus, not at all meniscus, but this is only a loose guide.

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Originally Posted by powtario

Can you squat down to pick something off a bottom shelf or the ground? Yes but slowly not meniscus, not at all meniscus, but this is only a loose guide.

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It hurts to squat down but I can do it. I tried the "squat down and do the duck walk" (insert joke here?) - again, hurt but nothing brutal...

I had a similar situation many years ago. If my memory serves me correctly, I just had a bone bruise. I had thought it was meniscus tear. I had an MRI, but they basically told me to just give it time. I'm no doctor, but I would give it a few weeks and see how it feels. If you want piece of mind though (which I always like), but go in and get an MRI, if it won't cost you an arm and a leg.

Probably best to see a doctor for some confirmation and at least get the swelling drained if it is significant. The swelling was the worst part when I had a slight tear in mine. I eventually got a MRI as well but never had surgery and the max recommended by a knee specialists was going in with scope to clean up scar tissue. My knee has been good to go since the drain and steroid shot.

Jeffrey I vote for going to see the docs.
Andrew was pretty 'certain' he had only partially torn his mcl when he fell and then found out it was acl/mcl full tears.
You are far too active to let this thing go and meniscus damage seems to be what causes the most pain later in life if neglected.
Let us know if we can help while you are recouping- I can come by and take the dog for a walk too as I'm sure he is going stir crazy

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Originally Posted by Orthoski

For example, if you hit the inside of your knee on a ski and the pain is now below your knee, that could be the pes anserine where the hamstrings insert.

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Curious about this. Flew off a kicker in the park today and overshot the landing ramp, hit the hard flats. Knew something was fucked right away. Went to the Ortho Urgent Care and the doc said he thought the pes anserine tear was a possibility. Also thought it MIGHT be an ACL tear in the back of the knee, which he said does not typically call for surgery. He did not seem to think it was a major ACL tear, but he wants to see me in a week for another test.

Symptoms: No swelling that I can see. No real pain except some when I fully extend the leg. Very sore on the right (outside) part of the knee (where the pes answerine attaches?). Here's the strange thing: I can pressure the knee outward, but if I pressure it inward, it seems to cave in like nothing is holding it. Does that last symptom make it sound like the pes answerine to you? The doc also noticed a small "chippy" looking thing off to the side at that part of the knee where the pes answerine attaches.

Any opinions?

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Originally Posted by yeahman

Curious about this. Flew off a kicker in the park today and overshot the landing ramp, hit the hard flats. Knew something was fucked right away. Went to the Ortho Urgent Care and the doc said he thought the pes anserine tear was a possibility. Also thought it MIGHT be an ACL tear in the back of the knee, which he said does not typically call for surgery. He did not seem to think it was a major ACL tear, but he wants to see me in a week for another test.

Symptoms: No swelling that I can see. No real pain except some when I fully extend the leg. Very sore on the right (outside) part of the knee (where the pes answerine attaches?). Here's the strange thing: I can pressure the knee outward, but if I pressure it inward, it seems to cave in like nothing is holding it. Does that last symptom make it sound like the pes answerine to you? The doc also noticed a small "chippy" looking thing off to the side at that part of the knee where the pes answerine attaches.

Any opinions?

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Was the doc at the ortho urgent care an orthopedist? Wouldn't necessarily be one. If not, see one. (Poetry unintended).