Receovery after knee injury?

[plumeria]

I twisted my knee on Sunday at Berkeley Marina. The wind was about 20 mph and I used the smallest sail they had - 5m2. It was certainly the most challenging conditions I had been out in... pretty new at the sport (uphauling and no foot straps) but loving it.

Anyway at one point I fell backwards and sideways and my foot stayed locked on the board - strange considering I had no foot straps. My knee got badly twisted and is hurting quite badly on the medial side (inside). Might be a torn meniscus or something, but am seeing the doc tomorrow.

Anyone else have a knee injury and how long did it take before you were back on a board? I am sure I could get back up winsurfing tomorrow, but Im worried about falling again and making it even worse.

thanks

peter

[prozac]

I pulled that lig too. I forget what it is called - the one on the inside that runs along the knee. Its the common one that ski bums rip. I knew this Doctor that windsurfs and the day I ripped mine he was there and came to my rescue. He also looked at it after the swelling went down,( I was at the beach whinning that I could not sail). He told me to give it six weeks and start doing leg stretches and really light leg raises. About nine weeks later, I remember riding this swell at Waddell Creek and I missed putting my rear foot in the footstrap. My foot got caught in the water and I began to do the splits stretching the _uck out of my knee. I had enough board speed and my other foot was in the foot strap that I was able to pull my leg back up on my board. I was in pain and had to kicked back on the beach for an hour. Stretching does avoid injuries. Be careful of the mechanical braces. I did not like them and stayed off the water the six weeks. I was cheap and used an old mast pad with cut battons taped on the outside to prevent my knee from bending. I felt ready to sail in six weeks but the wind did not blow for another three and it was ocean sailing. That is when I did the splits gig and kick myself for not doing the stretches like the Doctor/sailor told me to do.

take it easy

[plumeria]

I think it is the medial meniscus - see
http://www.stoneclinic.com/menca.htm
for lots of details.

I saw the doc yesterday and he doesnt think it is too bad - hope not since I just signed up for an ABK clinic in 3 weeks

best

peter

[artofwindsurfing]

Yes, I had ripped a ligament in my knee quite awhile ago while in Margarita. First day of the vacation! Well, being a hard core idiot I duct taped the knee, and sailed the whole trip! Definitely not recommended, but I survived. Then when I got back I talked to some specialists and they told me to stay off it (no windsurfing) for about 6 weeks. Well after about 6 weeks, I got destroyed in the Shore pound at Cabrillo beach (LA), and crawled up the beach moaning, while the locals watched from the their cozy blankets. I had really screwed it up, but luckily not ripped 100%. Then I started a long rehab process, more like 6 months. Eventually the lig healed, and through exercises (gentle ones) I regained the full motion and strength. So lessons learned, (a). always carry duct tape..no seriously, sail for the conditions! overpowered and novice means...possible injury, (b). continue to learn all you can about sailing correctly, taking lessons early on helps a lot, and videos.

So I always remember those times of pain, and respect the forces of the sport.

I do recommend the new light weight knee braces, they work really well, and help guard against more damage. I had a cool one that velcrod on pretty quickly.

-Noel

[hotairboard]

I had a medial meniscus tear some years ago. Landed wrong on a gym floor and it buckled. The tear was small and I used a Tru-Fit neoprene velcro brace with the hole for the kneecap and stays on the sides. The knee held up fine till after the sailing season(Nov.) and got it fixed.
Good luck
Walt