Mountain Biking First Major WipeOut, Need Advice

[sleepyles]

Hi,

Well I have been Mountain Biking for years in the trails with my crew, and this past week, I took my first serious wipeout. I was going downhill clocked at 26km/h on my bike computer, and I had forgetten about a log/ tree root coming out from the ground, in the middle of the downhill, and low and behold I hit it, and went head over handle bars. I landed on my left side of my body and ate some really "good" dirt. Now I have purple and red marks / "Black and Blue" on my left side ribs, left side knee and left upper thigh. Oops forgot to mention the black eye I got, and cracked helmet.

I went to the doctor got a few x-rays, and thank god nothing appears to be broken. But for some reason my left knee feels very weak. I cannot put too much weight on it. Almost a week has past, and most of the pain is gone, but my knee still feels very weak. When I walk, I am walking with a limp still.

Does anyone have any suggestions on a weak knee after a wipeout such as this? I have been taken Ibprofen (Advil) for the pain.

Any feedback will be great, at this point my doctor isn't giving me anything, and I miss doing my cardio for workouts. I have been doing VERY light cardio, but it doesn't feel the same.

[engr]

Hey sleepyles, did your doc check your knee at all besides X-rays? Without knowing what contortions you went through (the endo sounds likd one for the ages though!!) it is difficult to tell if you did any soft tissue (ligament, tendons, meniscus) while hurtling through the air to meet the ground. If you doc hasn't been able to indicate anything he can find wrong with it, I would go see an sports orthopedist and get his opinion. Knees are not something to mess around with.

[sleepyles]

Hi engr, thanks for the reply. Yeah my doc did check it out for besides x-rays but can't find anything wrong. Well I am going to get a second opinion through another doc, my buddy is referring me to the Toronto Maple Leafs sports doc here in T.O. I am going to get it checked out by him later this week.

Oh yes, it was a wipeout for the ages. But hey, that ain't going to stop me from biking. Plus this knee that I have injured, I have injured many years ago playing Rugby and Football, so it was already tendure to begin with. Hope this new doc can find what is wrong. Hopefully I only need physio-therapy. Keeping fingers crossed.

[eljamis]

Good move! Go to a doc that is into sports (not just on TV) he will understand why you were out there in the first place and why you want to get back out there without looking at you like you are crazzzzzzzzzy.

Other tests like MRI are expensive but can give details about your knee and what is wrong like nothing else.

New bike or MRI? Tough choice but if you cant ride the bike is not needed.

[sleepyles]

Hi eljamis, you are correct. Well I did get an MRI done, but haven't received the results as of yet. I am trying to take every precaution since this was my "bum" knee to begin with.

Funny you said "New Bike or MRI?". I just got my new bike this year, and ended up having an MRI done. This doctor is really good, one of the best in town, my buddy had knee surgury on both knees and he is fully recovered. Too bad my own personal insurance doesn't cover surgury if I need it. Crossing fingers once again!

Cheers!!!

[eljamis]

well good luck with that knee. Take it slow for now and then get back on the horse.