while i wouldn't rule out a partial lcl tear it sounds more like a meniscal impingement. basically a tear of your meniscus that rolled onto articular surfaces of the knee. the snap you felt would've been where the flap of meniscus either broke off completely from the rest or rolled back into place. depending on which portion of the mensiscus is torn there can be very little to no swelling, especially at your age, due to the lack of vascularity of the meniscus (only the posterior third actually has a blood supply, the rest basically absorbs the blood from that third). i would visit your doc and get an ortho referall or seeing how you mentioned duke, if you feel like coming to bragg i'll take a look at you myself. theres a few tests i'd have to do to confirm anything.[/quote]panthersix wrote:
I might have to come down to Bragg as I can't get into the VA Ortho for a consult. My primary care PA has been battling with them to get me an appt, esp since I've already seen them for this once before, but there is a PA over all consults in Ortho that says since I'm being seen by Rhuematology that I can't be seen by Ortho. Now I've gotten the OIF case worker involved and everyone but this one Ortho PA realizes its and injury and not an illness. I even went to the emergency room at the Durham VA and all I got was a tube of capsacin ointment.[/quote]
if you come to bragg let me know. shoot me an email jaosterhoudt@yahoo.com. i'm not a doctor (im a socm medic who's currently in sfms) and cant give xrays, mri's, etc but i can do a complete physical exam on your knee so that you can go to your doctor and tell them "hey, this is what's wrong with me, treat this...."