Question
i have this problem with my left knee i was playing soccer and as i ran to go for the ball i put y weight on my left leg and then i felt something pop but it wasn't my knee. Right after that i almost fell because pains shot up my leg and it hurt bad. It started to swell and after it stopped swelling i felt pains under my knee cap like when i move my leg into certain positions.

Answer
Hello Steven,

Glad to hear you are physically active and playing soccer instead of exercising your thumb playing video games.

To Re-cap: You felt a >pop< , but it was not your knee, then you feel pains under your kneecap and it swells.

First of all, you should get to your local family Doctor of Chiropractic for an evaluation.  A >pop<, swelling, pain, 'leg hurt bad', could all mean a serious injury.  Your Chiropractor or an Orthopedic Doctor should evaluate this.  X-rays, MRI, perhaps other tests could be necessary to fully evaluate your condition.  Appropriate treatment could save you weeks, months even years of pain and dysfunction with osteoarthritic degeneration resulting as well.

Well, I am a little confused.  A >pop<, in the knee? not in the knee?, In the quadriceps (anterior thigh), hamstrings (posterior thigh), calf (lower leg posterior), shin (lower leg anterior) ?

Your knee and kneecap seem to be where your swelling and pain are taking place.  Your sports injury Chiropractor should evaluate your leg and knee.  As stated, imaging and other tests may be ordered.

Certainly "P.R.I.C.E." treatment must have been started already. Protection of the involved area, Rest, Ice over the involved painful swelling area, Compression- perhaps an ace bandage, Elevation- raising the leg:  You should have done all of this.

Perhaps it is one of the cartilage or ligaments in or surrounding the knee.  Perhaps it is the kneecap.  Perhaps it is the muscles around the knee in the upper or lower leg.  Your description makes it difficult to ascertain. The "PRICE" steps described above should help regardless of the exact injured area, but an exact diagnosis and appropriate treatment would certainly be preferred.

Anti-inflammatory nutrition like proteolytic enzymes, omega 3 essential fatty acids should help short and long term.  Glucosamine, chondroitin, SAMe, MSM should all help th joint and or muscle repair.

This Staten Island Chiropractor works with a local high school football team.  Sometimes I am able to treat the student-athletes in my office, sometimes they have to go to the orthopedic surgeon for surgery, medication, or just further evaluation.  Our team is 25 - 1 in the last two years (losing in the finals last year (our only loss) and winning this year- NYC Champions ). The kids laugh when I say 'sprains and strains R us'- meaning if it is broke = go to the orthopedist, if it is bumped or bruised, sprained or strained = see your Doctor of Chiropractic.  Only proper in-person evaluation can determine the appropriate treatment for you.

I hope this helps, good luck.

As always, this article is for discussion purposes only.  For information and education, not prescriptive, diagnostic nor evaluative.  Only in person evaluation by the treating health professional can give appropriate DX, TX, RX, PX specific to this specific patient.

Wishing you good health naturally!

Victor Dolan, DC
http://www.DocDolan.net
http://www.GoodHealthNaturally.info
http://drvictordolan.chiroweb.com   (email newsletter)