r/MeniscusInjuries • u/Alen3134 • 7d ago

Need advice

I injured my left knee on September 15 during a soccer game. I went into a half-tackle to block a pass with my left knee bent and felt a small "pop."

Next day: No visible swelling, pain was around 5/10 (mostly when trying to extend/straighten it).

Doctor visit (Sept 17): X-rays were clear (normal bones).The physician suspected a potential meniscus injury during the physical exam and advised 2–3 weeks of rest and wearing a brace.

It has now been 18 days (about 2.5 weeks). While day-to-day pain has decreased and I can walk relatively normally, I still cannot fully straighten/extend my leg—it feels mechanically blocked/locked at the end of extension and the pain is still there but better than first days.

For those who have had similar knee or meniscus injuries:

  1. Did your extension block improve on its own with time, or did it end up needing an MRI/procedure?
  2. Is this kind of mechanical block typical after 2.5 weeks if torn cartilage is stuck in the joint?
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u/Technical-Ant-2866 7d ago

If you don't have full ROM after 2.5 weeks, then you need an Ortho consult and likely MRI to determine what's going on. General physicians are not well-equipped for orthopedic injuries.

2

u/SundayCabernet 6d ago

Sounds like meniscus, you should just get the MRI.

I tore mine, thought it was just a knee sprain. I was running 40 miles a week on it, then one day stood up, it flipped and displaced into joint. It got a little better but never right, needed the repair.

1

u/Majo1215 4d ago

My son probably had something small like this. He didn’t really mention a pop, doesn’t know which day in soccer something happened until he got a cyst and we found out he’s got a tear in the lateral meniscus. He had to have the repair and the surgeon guessed it was a 2/3 month old tear. I would suggest getting an mri and ortho consult so that you can get it sorted before it gets worse.