Should I See a Physician?

Question: I did some early season turns and hurt my knee when I caught an edge. It’s been 3 days and it doesn’t feel too bad and I am not sure I should spend the time and money to see a knee specialist. How do I know when to see a doctor?

Doc: Most ski injuries that involve the knee are fairly benign. Contusions and minor sprains constitute the majority of these injuries and resolve quickly following the RICE principle: Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. For contusions and minor sprains, I would expect resolution of the problem within 2 or 3 weeks.  Swelling that is tense or does not go down with RICE is a bad sign and changes in circulation and sensation below the knee should be evaluated immediately.

With that being said, there are some warning signs that you need to watch for that might point to more serious injuries: A pop in the knee when injured could mean ligament and/or cartilage damage. A feeling of the knee giving out can mean an ACL injury but a locking sensation could point to meniscal damage.  Inability to weight bear fully on the leg means your body is telling you there is a significant injury and it should be evaluated.

Typically, an X-Ray is done to rule out any fractures and a series of manual tests can reveal ligament or meniscal damage. Sometimes an MRI is needed to confirm the physician’s suspicions.

If you have any of the symptoms above, or pain and swelling that lasts more than 2 weeks and does not improve with RICE, I would recommend that you see a physician.

Dr. Eric Stahl, MD
Panorama Orthopedics & Spine Center
Dr. Stahl is a certified Heli-Ski Guide and a former US Ski Team Physician