Messed up my knee riding yesterday

[slimtrader]

What a bummer, I was in a field doing wheelies. I was having fun trying to keep the bike in the balance point where you don't need any extra power to keep the wheel up. I got a little unstable and instictivly put a leg down to try to stabilze the bike. My foot caught the ground and swung my leg back forcefully. I didn't wreck but my kneecap was now on the side of my leg instead of in front. I got off the bike, rolled around in pain and pushed the kneecap back into position. Very painful for a couple of hours after. Currently in bed with leg elevated and iced. I will go in to the Dr. Monday as I know they will tell me to do what I'm already doing and I won't probably be able to get an MRI until a weekday anyway. I hope I heal fast becaue I tend to use my knees often....

Moral of the story, don't be so quick to take a foot off of your pegs to catch yourself, It's instictive but probably not always the best choice...

[Harvey Mushman]

Dang Slim, that's bad news. Hopefully you don't have any MCL/ACL damage. I was never worth a damn at riding wheelies. I have a hard enough time keeping the bike upright on two wheels. Get well quick.

-Harvey

PS; I'll bet your wife was real happy about this huh........

[slimtrader]

Update:

Feeling much better than when I first posted. Still very stiff and still can't bend my knee past 45 degrees, walk with a limp but don't need to use crutches. Dr was optimistic that I only streched/strained my Lateral Meniscus and doesn't think I tore anything. Insurance won't pay for an MRI until I try 2 weeks of physical therapy first. Anyhow, I'm more optimistic now then I was yesterday. I think I'll still get to ride later this summer after I give it some time to heal....

[Hank Moody]

Update:

Feeling much better than when I first posted. Still very stiff and still can't bend my knee past 45 degrees, walk with a limp but don't need to use crutches. Dr was optimistic that I only streched/strained my Lateral Meniscus and doesn't think I tore anything. Insurance won't pay for an MRI until I try 2 weeks of physical therapy first. Anyhow, I'm more optimistic now then I was yesterday. I think I'll still get to ride later this summer after I give it some time to heal....

Dang Mike!

I’m no doctor, but I do play one on TV. The lateral meniscus is a cartilage and you can’t strain that. You tear the meniscus secondary to axial forces from the twisting of your knee. With a displacement (sub-luxation) you might have damage your ligaments (medical collateral ligament aka MCL or anterior cruciate ligament aka ACL) these can be stretched or strained.

I have attached a link to a good site: http://www.sportnetdoc.com/injury/08-20.htm

You might want to do further search on patella sub-luxation treat options. I hope you have a speedy recovery! Please keep us updated.
Daryl

[MacWildcat]

Had this happen to me years ago from the same situation. I was going to lose the bike backwards so I put my leg down. I think this action alone makes the bike pivot on the back tire. Unfortunately I was wearing heavy lug boots. The boots didn't twist but the knee did. Ended up with a torn ACL, hope you fair better. If there is any good news in this, the procedures to repair meniscus and ACLs is a outpatient surgery with really good results.

[slimtrader]

Dang Daryl,

I was feeling better until I read your link! Made me hurt all over again. I guess the term he used was stretch, not strain. But maybe that's not possible either. I wish I could just get the MRI right away so I know where I stand and what I need to do. The Dr. did push pull on my leg and also slightly on my kneecap but I didn't have any pain. He's only a family practitioner not an orthopedic Dr. I only have some swelling and difficulty flexing the knee. I might try to move the knee cap again later like the link says to see if the patella is stable.

Anyway, thanks for the link, it's the best info I've read so far. I wasn't having much luck with my own searches.

[KC]

NNOOO
Dang, Mike...sorry to hear that. I was doing the same thing in a buddy's field the other day. I was practicing holding a wheelie while hard shifting from first to second and remembering to cover the rear brake. Luckily for me, I never had to stab my foot down so I will try to remember not to do that. OR...maybe at almost 36 I should just forget about my dream of riding a wheelie like Robbie Knievel. (His dad wasn't much of wheelie rider)

[troy]

Sorry to hear about the knee, Slim. Like you, I tend to use my knees a lot, too. Go figure.

I want to learn how to ride a wheelie myself. I'm almost embarrassed I don't know how to ride one after riding motorcycles my whole life--I'm 38. I should say, I have not built the skill--I know technically HOW to ride a wheelie.

[Savage]

Stick with it, you'll get it. Try to never remove your feet. You can touch your tag, tap the brake and still be good.