So I twisted my knee badly falling at practise on Sunday. I think I've sprained my MCL (ahem...internet diagnosis.. ahem). I spent the rest of Sunday and most of monday with it elevated and iced, took iboprufen and have been wearing a good knee support since then.
It improved a bit on Tuesday and then again on Wednesday, still painful when walking but able to limp less. I took a gentle walk to the shops at Lunch on Wedneday (about a mile round trip, small hill on return journey) which I managed without too much difficulty but throughout the afternoon my knee got really achey and by the evening I was back to elevation again.
Today its feeling better again tho.
I've got CYC practice tomorrow night and then MINIMUMS! on sunday and my question is should I stay off skates entirely and just take mins on the 17th? or is it worth going to CYC to see how I manage on skates and then have a go on sunday?
Has anyone had this kind of injury before?

Help!

Hm... as important as mins are it may be worth giving this week's a miss? If there is a chance you could twist your knee again and reaggravate or do worse damage it isn't worth the risk. Think of things in the long term. It's frustrating that you'll miss mins but at the same time if you do permeanant damage to your knee and either have to be off skates longer or for good it isn't worth the risk.

I'm coming back from a pretty bad injury so I've had to weigh these things up a lot.

If you have the time pop to minor injuries at the Western Gen to be seen? It'll give you peace of mind and advice about what to do.

I would say give CYC a miss to rest it up for a bit longer, and then see how it feels. Try do some stretching & walking and keep up the anti inflammitories. You could try alternate heat & ice treatment - a minute of each for about 20 mins twice a day.

just re-assess on Sat night; your body will tell you what to do!! You can always sit the full mins next Sunday if you miss this Sunday.

hope it feels better soon
xx

I would do as above! Knees are a total pain in the arse and when you hurt them you have to give them time to heal properly or you will just injury yoursel more! Roller derby will always be there, you can always come back to it!

Look after yourself and I hope you heal soon!!

Xxxxxxx

I have done the same thing last night at practice and saw the physio today. He said that a minor MCL strain will take at least 3 weeks to heal and thats for runners (not us derby folks who put our knees through much more strain). So if that's what you have i'd definitely recommend that you rest your knee. You'll get another shot at minimums but if you don't let you knee heal it will just get worse and next time you will damage it even more.

Hope it feels better soon.

Kaos

Totally agree with the advice above! Rest it, you can do mins when you are able. That might be this time or next, but knees are so important and so easily damaged (That's why i'm not skating just now and it may be long term no contact from now on!). If it feels ok, and you are really desperate to get on your skates, maybe try some *very gentle* non contact (skate around in a circle slowly type stuff) at cyc?

Rest it and go and see a Physio if you possibly can. Good luck!!

Thanks for the advice everyone!!

I went to the minor injuries clinic last night and they confirmed what I thought: an MCL sprain. I was told to stay off skates for about 2 weeks but I can do some mild, low impact gym stuff and was advised on some home excercises to do.

So I won't be taking mins on sunday but am keeping my fingers crossed I'll be able to give it a go on the 17th!