[BigMike]

So I fell hard in a race this weekend, banged up my knee pretty bad, waited a day or so and went to Patient First. The doctor there was a douche. He was not very through, and I just got a bad vibe from him. He looked at the X-ray and said it was just a bone bruise, gave me a leg immobilizer and crutches. He wasn't specific in how long to use it, and sent me on my way. Well, here I am 3 days after the crash, my knee is still pretty swollen, the area of impact is swollen, and there is a bruise going mostly down my leg. I'm thinking about getting a second opinion from a "real" doctor. What do you all think?

 

[LOOnatic]

Yeah i've been in your position.
Doctor A sucks and you feel not thorough.
With an injury like that the only sure fire way is to have an MRI which is pricey.
If you have insurance why not go seek a 2nd opinion?

I have no insurance and a cash MRI discounted on my knee was $400.

 

[TreeSaw]

If I were you, I'd also get a second opinion. Regardless of the outcome, it will provide you with peace of mind!

 

[binary visions]

If you have insurance, you shouldn't even be bothering to ask the question

Go get a second opinion. Doctors aren't even close to always right.

 

[Ciaran]

I don't know what "Patient First" is but in my limited experience I have noticed that Urgent Care docs are usually in a bad mood and not very thorough. Where I work the docs rotate in and out of Urgent Care and none of them like doing it.

Just my opinion

 

[SkaredShtles]

If you have insurance, you shouldn't even be bothering to ask the question

Go get a second opinion. Doctors aren't even close to always right.

Just remember - like lawyers, doctors are forever "practicing" their craft.

 

[Westy]

I bruised my kneecap earlier this summer. It was never bad enough that I could not walk on it but it hurt like a motherf!@ker for 6 weeks. I think a bone bruise can take longer to heal that an actual break, it does not stimulate the healing response quite the way a break does.

 

[HedgeHog]

Yep. I've been there too. I went to 3 docs one time for something before the last one really did a proper work up.

If you really think something was missed, I'd have it looked at it again.

 

[chillindrdude]

i'd second that motion to get a second opinion. tho keep in mind you may not have broken anything, i'd be on the look out for ligament damage. i'd go see an orthopedic doc.

 

[DH Diva]

I would definitely get a second opinion. Last year when I was in the ER the doctor diagnosed my obviously shattered right wrist and right hand but missed a fractured right elbow, fractured left hand bone (Pisiform), and fractured right index finger (all of which were found later by my orthopedic surgeon.

It's worth it if you think something isn't right with your original diagnosis.

 

[BigMike]

OK, so everyone agrees with me So do I go to the ER, or make an appointment with a Orthopedist? I do have insurance by the way. I figure if I go to the Hospital, they can tell me if I need to go to an orthapedist

 

[chillindrdude]

tho i would not classify your knee as an emergency, its your call, tho you'd probably be sitting all day in the ER waiting anyways. it depends on what kind of insurance you got...does it require you to have a general internist (primary care doc) approval before you see a specialist? or can you just go see any doctor you'd like in your insurance plan? if thats the case, i would just call around to local orthopedic surgeons and see if one will see you sooner than later. i would also bring your x-ray films if you've got them.

 

[DH Diva]

OK, so everyone agrees with me So do I go to the ER, or make an appointment with a Orthopedist? I do have insurance by the way. I figure if I go to the Hospital, they can tell me if I need to go to an orthapedist

Depends on if you can get into an orthepedic in a reasonable amount of time. If not, the ER will give you a referrel which will get you to the front of the line at the orthopedic. Getting into the orthepdic without an ER referal really just depends on who you know and if you can weasel your way in!

And briging your X-rays with you does makes a big difference!! Take them if you have them and I would guess you would get in quicker!

 

[Lex]

OK, so everyone agrees with me So do I go to the ER, or make an appointment with a Orthopedist? I do have insurance by the way. I figure if I go to the Hospital, they can tell me if I need to go to an orthapedist

It depends on what sort of insurance you have (HMO, PPO, etc.). Do you have primary care doctor (usually when you have an HMO)? If so, you will probably need to go to that person, and they will refer you to the proper specialist. If you have a PPO plan you can should probably be able to just make the appointment with an ortho yourself.

 

[BigMike]

I don't have my films, and I do have a PPO. I guess I should just call around and find out. Only thing is, like was mentioned before, Ortho's are pretty hard to get an appointment with. I dunno, we'll see what happens, I'll call around.

Thanks everyone

 

[urbaindk]

Try to get to an ortho asap. Not just an ortho but a good sports doc. I learned a few lessons when I had my little incident the hard way. Never again!

I had the same sort of thing happen to me. I slipped playing guitar while going for some rock star pose and ended up on my back on the stage in front of a large crowd. I was told later that I finished playing the song while writhing in pain on the ground. It was a total freak accident but definitely rock and roll.

Anyway. I ended up in the ER and they didn't take me seriously after I told them my story, I'm guessing they thought I was seeking certain 'meds' or something since it was like 2 in the morning. They gave me some crap about it being a bruise and that it would get better by itself in a couple of days. I let it go for about a week while and it ended up hugely swollen and messed up. I couldn't walk at all.

Next I go to my primary care phys. I was a student at the time so that turned out to be student health. I got some xrays and a referral.

Next lesson. Do not under any circumstances go to just any ortho!!!! I was referred to this quack ass guy who made his $$$ scamming workers comp and medicare(I found out later). I had to wait for ever to get an appointment. He prescribed PT, no MRIs, no nothing, based on Xrays. I refused to go to this guy for PT and went to the school's PT people whom I had dealt with before on a few past minor injuries. By this time I had been limping around with a swollen f'ed up knee for over 2 months.

They took one look at me and said Oh my F'in god! Get to an ortho asap!!! And they referred me to the basketball / football team doc. This guy saw me right away and got me fixed right away. (after months of pain and torture.) I ended up having a pretty serious osteochondral defect on the back of my kneecap. I went under the scope and had it cleaned out. It was most definitely not a bruise.

Lessons learned:
Go to somebody you trust asap!!! and get a good referral.
A good ortho will see you with in 1-2 days not 1-2 weeks.
Don't trust the referral that your f'in insurance company gives you. They DO NOT have your best interests at heart.
If you don't like what 1 doctor says, Don't be afraid to try someone else.

 

[Brian HCM#1]

FYI, a bad bruise will last a while, and your not going to feel a whole lot better in 3 days. I'd give it a good week or so before persuring it farther.

 

[gonzostrike]

So I fell hard in a race this weekend, banged up my knee pretty bad, waited a day or so and went to Patient First. The doctor there was a douche. He was not very through, and I just got a bad vibe from him. He looked at the X-ray and said it was just a bone bruise, gave me a leg immobilizer and crutches. He wasn't specific in how long to use it, and sent me on my way. Well, here I am 3 days after the crash, my knee is still pretty swollen, the area of impact is swollen, and there is a bruise going mostly down my leg. I'm thinking about getting a second opinion from a "real" doctor. What do you all think?

if you have swelling that has lasted over 3 days and you didn't cut it open when you injured it, there's only 3 things that can cause the continued swelling:

trauma to soft tissue
trauma to soft tissue
trauma to soft tissue

a bone bruise isn't going to cause a lot of swelling unless there was soft tissue damage beneath the skin.

go see a real orthopod who has a reputation for being a great knee doc.

 

[Ciaran]

FYI, a bad bruise will last a while, and your not going to feel a whole lot better in 3 days. I'd give it a good week or so before persuring it farther.

If he has insurance why wait? It will likely be a few days before he gets a referral anyway. Start now. Especially if your co-pay is low.

 

[LordOpie]

certainly get a second opinion, but FYI, FWIW, YADA YADA...

I crashed two years ago and still have swelling from it. Yes, that bad of a crash. The doctor said I had a hematoma with the fluid content of a 2 liter bottle of soda and it'd take years to go away. I asked him to drain it and he said he would if I insisted, but there are complications like infection or worsening the affected area that he wanted to avoid. It's about 2/3 gone now.

 

[BigMike]

So I went back to the doc, apparently everthing is OK, and I got some real answers and time frames

 

[lovebunny]

certainly get a second opinion, but FYI, FWIW, YADA YADA...

I crashed two years ago and still have swelling from it. Yes, that bad of a crash. The doctor said I had a hematoma with the fluid content of a 2 liter bottle of soda and it'd take years to go away. I asked him to drain it and he said he would if I insisted, but there are complications like infection or worsening the affected area that he wanted to avoid. It's about 2/3 gone now.

THAT sucks. but its also really really cool. ida had him drain it into a sprite bottle and give it to someone you dont liek