Bradley's Right Knee

by Bradley
(Ofallon, MO)

Here goes...

I hurt my knee 2/7/09, went to the doctor 2/9/09 was told to get a MRI. I did and went back to the doctor on 2/12/09. The doc read from a piece of paper what somebody else say they saw on the MRI. I asked the doctor if he saw the MRI and he asked why, don't I think that the person that read the MRI knows what they are doing. I said that was not my question that I wanted to know if he knew how bad it was...he grabbed my leg an did a test and said yes it appears that you did tear your ACL and that I have a severe bone bruise along with some fluid.

He drained the fluid (or most of it)and then asked me what I did for work. I run a construction company and I am a police officer. I am not in the best shape of my life but I still have to climb ladders, carry heavy things, chase and wrestle with people...he sent me to P.T. and told me that since I am not a athlete that he don't see any need for me to get the surgery.

As I was leaving I asked him for something for the pain...he frowned and then told me to take some Advil that it should help.

I start my P.T. tonight. The knee is still really swollen which is keeping me from bending it to far. I am able to put weight on it but that is it. As I am walking it keeps overextending and slipping to the side along with a lot of popping sounds. The doctor says that it should not be doing that.

I am still in a lot of pain. I've been trying to keep it mobile by moving it but no side to side with the foot. Afterwords it swells and makes my foot go to sleep.

The knee has been giving me some problems for a long time. I talked to a physical therapist and was told that in my professions that if I don't get the surgery now that I only stand a chance of messing it up more down the road. Not to wait until I get older. That if I do wait that the healing time would be extended.

Need some help...do I get the surgery now and be done with it (I am 43) or do I try to make do with the P.T.?

The doctor told me that I could get another opinion but if they told me something different then he told me they would be wrong.

I live in Missouri just outside of St. Louis, does anybody know of another doctor that I might go see. Not happy with the one I with now.

Thanks for all the help.