11 Weeks after Fall - Dx is Contusion/fracture

[Jyes]

On May 8th, I had a fall in the bathroom. I slipped on wet ceramic tile flooring and my legs went flailing out as I landed on my butt and back!

With my spinal issues a fall like that could have easily paralyzed me but luckily no injury to my spine/neck or head at all!

However, while falling my left knee struck the corner of the vanity. At the time of the incident, I thought as I was lying in 2 inches of water on the floor (that's another part of the story I will skip) my thoughts were I had broken my leg.

I have had many broken bones in my life, never a leg, but I do recognize the pain in general. I immediately got a marble size contusion on the inside of my left knee.

I would not let my wife call 911, since I was beginning to think it was just a bruise and I would be OK. Well, I was, I got up after about 5 minutes, and iced the knee down and all seemed alright.

I went out the next day doing my normal day to day activities, which I continued doing up to about the middle of June. During this time my knee was still very sore to the touch where the black and blue was but I had full mobility and no problem walking.

I was cutting my lawn around June 10th (over a month since I fell) and I noticed my knee was now throbbing and I started limping. I had a busy week ahead with a death in the family so I held off calling my family MD. When things settled down, I cut the grass again and the knee was now worst, and the pain steady, low ache type. But at night it was a continuous throbbing type pain.

I called my family MD and got to see him June 26th. My Doctor said it was swollen a bit , but he said, probably arthritis!!!!! Grrrrrrrrrrrr, So he sent me for X-Rays and they came back normal, no broken bones, nor any arthritis of any significance.

I asked to see DR Z my Orthopedic Surgeon who operated on my shoulder in 2004. I saw Dr Z on July 18th, he agreed something is wrong to be hurting this long and sent me for an MRI. He mentioned the X-Rays looked great and that if the MRI film showed nothing , he was thinking of getting a bone scan done and then PT. He said my knee did not need surgery from what he could tell, prior to MRI.

Well, as I waited for the MRI results, I researched and I was positive that if it were not the bone damaged (end of the Femur) that it was the MCL (Medial Collateral Ligament).

The surgeon 's office called about an hour ago and told my the MRI showed a significant contusion of the end of the bone and a fracture! I said, a fracture showing up 11 weeks after the accident? The PA I was talking to kind of stuttered a bit and said, yes, a tad unusual, but it happens.

So, I see the Orthopedic Surgeon bright and early on Thursday. Not sure if he will order a bone scan now, and have no idea what the treatment will be, other than PT.

So, sorry for the long post, but let me say this, I rather be posting now about this leg bone than posting about a new spinal problem.

I think those of us who are use to chronic pain can endure other pains that many would have complained about alot more than I did with this injury..

Also, I sincerely believe that the sequence of events would have been the same even if I had gone to ER that night on May 8th, since I am sure all they would have done would be to X-Ray the knee and send me home saying no fracture and apply ice...........................

Gimpy Jyes :)

[Gymnast_Navy_Wife]

Gimpy---
Its fairly common for the type of fracture (stress fracture) you experienced to NOT show up on x-rays UNTIL it has already started to heal.

I had the same type thing happen to me with my last break (i've broken 5 major bones, so.....), only I didn't have some sort of injury or fall or "cause"--- one day my foot just started hurting (for no reason). After ignorning it for a while and then finally telling my drs, I had regular x-rays done--which showed nothing. So they recommended resting it, light excerside, etc . After a lot more pain and several more months, I told my neuro--who did more x-rays, only to have those come back normal. However, he sent me to an Orthopedic dr to get his opinion. Well, by this time about 3 months had gone by. So, i finally see the Ortho and he did plain x-rays---- and FINALLY something -- a fractured showed up. He then went on to explain that theese types of fractures tend to only show up on plain films, UNTIL they have begun to heal--- and then you could tell a slight difference. So, I know how frustrating it can be.

Hang in there and get better soon !

:) GNW

ps a Bone Scan will be able to tell if you have any broken bones, arthirites, blood flow problems, etc--- as they are really sensitive and use a radioactive tracer.... I've had 2 done ;)

[Mark N]

Gimpy Jyes [a new name for you I see], I agree that nothing would have been different if you went to the ER back in May. I hope your ortho dr can get you on the path of healing so you are out of pain with your knee. You have enough going on to deal with this too. I remember when I busted my big toe and how hard it was to get around with my spinal issues. I hope you are moving as slow as I did back then, I couldn't cross the street before the light changed.

I am hope your knee starts feeling better soon and you can get to walking normally, do we really do that any more? Let us know what the ortho says.

[BrokenBladder]

Gimpy I'm so glad to see that your on the road to recovery!! I have only broken a couple of toes in my life so i can't imagine what you must be going through. Take it easy and let us know how you're doing!!
Take Care,
BB

[suede]

Wow Jyes,
It seems that your really taking it Tough.

I'm sorry that this has happened but as you pointed out at least it's not another spine injury, hard to believe that you took such a hard fall and didn't do damage to your back.

I agree though that to have one to the ER when it happened most likely wouldn't have made a difference.

I hope that your feeling better soon and hey, be careful!!

Linda

[Bobbi]

I know how hard it is for you to just kick back and do things like whittle away hours daydreaming and looking at clouds and envisioning them as other things, but... you better, Dude! :D. Take it easy for once in your life, okay? :)

You got a nasty boo-boo, and a big one. Your family and friends don't want you suffering. Got it? ;)

[Jyes]

Yesterday, July 19th, I had my follow-up visit with my Orthopedic Surgeon. He discussed the MRI with me, cool, first time I had MRI on CD where he could zoom around on the laptop and show me up close and personal the film. :)

Anyway, the fracture is minor for now and not of much concern but the fact that the MRI showed no damage other than the large contusion on the femur that he is concerned about the the fact I have so much pain after almost three months and he came up with this plan of treatment for now.

I start PT next Tuesday and it will consist of Cryogenics, Ultrasound, Whirlpool, Moist Heat treatments and Isometrics. IF I am not better in three weeks (short 9 sessions of PT) That will take me almost at the 4 month mark and if I am still the same in pain level and stiffness, I am to see him again on the 22nd of August and he will then discuss doing a scope of the knee looking for hidden damage.

I think his plan is sensible and from my research on bone contusion of the knee area, I believe 4 months is about the maximum time mentioned for healing and if not by then, time to do a scope and look for other damage. So I whole heartily agree with this plan.

Oh, my significant other went along with me and she mentioned to the Doctor some things I neglected to say, like, "his knee has given out a few times lately", and "cutting the grass, cleaning rain gutters, cleaning out the shed" are not exactly resting things. So, I am now in a knee brace with orders to REST. I think Bobbi, sort of alluded to the fact I have some trouble sitting and doing nothing. :)

I attached a link showing the Key images that the Doctor selected that initially read the film, the arrows point to the small impacted fracture and I circled the bone contusion area.

The MRI Impression read:
Large bone contusion involving the medial femoral condyle with a small cortical fracture at the mid and medial aspect of the inferior portion of the econdyle. There is otherwise no significant internal derangement of the knee................

http://home.comcast.net/~slospokes2/KneeMRIreduced.jpg

Jyes (but still Gimpy)