I hurt my knee

I have no idea how I did it, there was no defining moment, but my knee is messed up now.  I haven't done any exercise since Thursday but it isn't getting better.  Tonight it's got fluid, I can feel the fluid pocket.  The problem is that as a stay at home mom of 4 with a husband who travels I can't just stay off my feet.  But the bummer is that I can't do my aerobics.  I'm trying to figure out a plan to have time to swim, but I'm nervous about that hurting my knee too due to the motion of kicking.  But I figure I can try at least.

I need to call the orthopedic doctor and see what is going on.  It's just not right that my knees were so much better when I weighed 74 lbs more.

Is there a great deal of pain? If not, it could be irritation of the knee joint causing swelling, perhaps due to mild degredation of the cartilage that cushions it. Until you see the doc, you can coddle it a little, but gentle weight bearing exercises may help if you can find the time, as well as anti-inflammatories (so long as they don't interact with anything you may eb taking at the moment).

Thanks for responding.  Now, it's not super painful, just painful enough to be concerning if that makes sense.  So being on my feet a lot doing housework, I'm guessing that that is a weight bearing exercise, at least sort of.  What do you think about swimming?

(Definitely understand about the 'concerning' part)
Gently, I don't think swimming would hurt (and housework, especially with children, I would definitely consider a weight bearing exercise). I'm not medically qualified, but I believe it's used a lot where normal exercise may be harmful.

Make sure you don't 'lock' your knees, when you do the kicking motion. Or when you do anything else, for that matter.

In spare time ice and compression may help too.

Hopefully your orthopedic can give you a reassuring, not-incredibly-serious answer as to what may be the true cause of this.

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind with the swimming.  I definitely hope that nothing serious is wrong.  I do have trouble with this knee on and off, but this time it's different and that worries me.   My dad had to have knee replacement surgery a couple of years ago, but of course he's a lot older than me.

First and foremost, contact your doctor sooner rather than later (also, if they think you tore something, make sure they do an MRI and not an xray, when I was 16, my first orthopedic surgeon sent me for an xray which didn't pick up my torn ACL).  Especially if it isn't getting better.

I've seriously hurt my knee twice and had surgery both times.  If you can straighten and bend your knee all of the way (even with some pain) then you probably aren't too bad.  When I tore my ACL that is the first thing they had me try and do and when I couldn't, they (my second doctor, who was great) knew to send me for an MRI. 

If there wasn't a moment where you specifically felt or heard something, then it probably is just irritation.  Ice it for 10-12 min at least 3-4 times a day (with at least a 2 hour break between icings).  That will help with the swelling and fluid.  If you really didn't hurt your knee too bad and it is just irritated, then the fluid is probably what is causing the pain by pushing on everything.

Lazykat had the right idea.  Moving your knee (without any weight on it) actually helps move the fluid out (unless there is something wrong with the basic motion of your knee and that is what is causing the fluid and pain).  If swimming iritates it, try walking in the water with it up to about your shoulders.  Also, try to walk normally (if it isn't too painful), if you are limping, it puts different stress on the knee than when you walk normally.

I saw the doctor today.  He did do x-rays and said that it's an inflammation in the lining of the knee.  And also my kneecap isn't aligned properly which is causing the irritation.  So the basic plan is physical therapy.  He said that that is really all that will help it.  One month at 2 times per week then another month at home on my own.  He said that it will probably take 3 months to heal.  That bummed me out as I have a quite active lifestyle with 4 kids and with summer coming, etc.  We love to camp and hike for example.  He said no walking or aerobics.  I'm okay to swim, do water aerobics or to bicycle.  The bad thing is that all of those options involve childcare for my 3 yo.  Walking is always a good fallback, toss him in the stroller and go.  If I ride my bike I need a trailer.  And I'm not even sure if that would be a good idea with my knee and all. 

Anyone have any ideas on how to arrange childcare when I have a dh who travels pretty much all weeK?  I have 4 children and relatively non-helpful family in the area.

Is there a YMCA in your area?  My YMCA has free child care at certain times of the day, the membership is reasonable, and part of that membership is water aerobics, which rocks!

Yes, we do belong to the  Y.  My son sometimes has issues in the childcare and they have to come get me.  I'm not sure how that will work if I'm soaking wet in the pool.  Guess I'll never know until I try.

Oh, I bought a bicycle trailer today for my son.  I found it on Craigslist for $30.  So I'm going to try that tommorrow too.

Coming in a bit late to pitch in...

Fluid can also mean bursitis (inflammation of the bursa, which are fluid sacs in the knee joint). This also makes sense, if you are always on your feet: it's a result of a lot of recurring pressure put on it. (It's also been nicknamed "Housemaid's Knee" for that reason.)

I suspest this is what I had a couple of years ago, as my symptoms are pretty consistant with it, and I regret not getting an MRI, because what I ended up getting was a recurring injury that tortured me for a whole summer, and now that I've gone back into sports it's threatning to do it to me again. :P Hopefully a knee brace will stop it from happening, though.

Good luck with anything you do, though, and hopefully yours will not come back!

-Julie

I had the same issue not long ago.  I was so scared.  I had 90cc's of fluid drawn off one knee and cortisone and marcaine injections into both knees two different occassions within a couple of months.  I also did PT like crazy and did exactly what she told me to do (the PT).  

Then I started lifting weights and working out on the elliptical machine like she suggested when I got better.

My knees have still been painful, but I can walk and most importantly is STRENGTHING THE MUSCLES THAT SURROUND AND SUPPORT THOSE KNEES!  Leg presses, leg curls, calf raises, hip adductors and abductor muscle strengthing.....   These help so much!

Stay positive and focused on HEALING.  ICE REST ELEVATION and then strengthing those muscles.  :)
Kitkat

Just an update, I'm doing so much better now!  The physical therapy has made a huge difference and I can start exercising again!  Thanks for teh support everyone.  : )

Jenny