Knee injury - help!

Lone Star

Lone Star

5-Year Member
Joined
Apr 8, 2013
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Last week, while playing pick-up basketball, I jumped and landed badly on my right knee. It's been hurting ever since - minor pain most of the time, but if I bend it too far in or too much to the sides, it hurts pretty good. I talked to the athletic trainer here in town and he wasn't sure what it was, though he thought it might be an ACL sprain (he also thought if it was that it should be better by know, which it isn't). I've not yet seen a doctor about it.

I'm not here asking for a medical diagnosis, however. What I am asking is, how exactly should I handle this with R-Day coming up in two weeks? There's really no time for much to be done as far as the knee goes if it's anything more serious than a sprain or something that can heal by then. Is something like this grounds for separation from CBT if I can't do the physical activities like I should? Will they make allowances for injuries?

I'm pretty worried, so any information on this would be really appreciated.
 
Just be honest and report it to USMA. It might not be nothing but go to the doctor to be on the safe side.
 
Two questions on that:

Report it where/to whom?

When reported, how will this affect me for CBT?
 
Also, do a TON of band exercises. Do not give it 100% rest. The injury needs to be mobilized. I am not a doctor, but I have sustained enough sprains/tears to know that the old "rest up" method is not exactly the best option. Your body needs rest, but too much of it without mobilizing the muscles/ligaments will cause prolonged pain which can be avoided.
 
cadet85 said:
Also, do a TON of band exercises. Do not give it 100% rest. The injury needs to be mobilized. I am not a doctor, but I have sustained enough sprains/tears to know that the old "rest up" method is not exactly the best option. Your body needs rest, but too much of it without mobilizing the muscles/ligaments will cause prolonged pain which can be avoided.
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I am sure that Cadet85 means well, but please do not take medical advice from the Service Academy Admissions Forums website.

Go to a Doctor and get a diagnosis. If it is serious, report it to West Point as that would be a change in your medical condition. I believe that West Point provided guidance that any change in a medical condition should be reported to the Admissions office. Only a doctor can determine how serious it is.

If it is serious (meaning it would negatively affect your physical performance during Cadet Basic training or worse) than it could mean medical disqualification and a withdrawal of your offer of admission. I know you do not want to hear that, but you need to know everything. I would go to the Doctor ASAP.
 
GoArmyBeatNavy said:
I am sure that Cadet85 means well, but please do not take medical advice from the Service Academy Admissions Forums website.

Go to a Doctor and get a diagnosis. If it is serious, report it to West Point as that would be a change in your medical condition. I believe that West Point provided guidance that any change in a medical condition should be reported to the Admissions office. Only a doctor can determine how serious it is.

If it is serious (meaning it would negatively affect your physical performance during Cadet Basic training or worse) than it could mean medical disqualification and a withdrawal of your offer of admission. I know you do not want to hear that, but you need to know everything. I would go to the Doctor ASAP.
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Sorry everyone, I was not trying to act as a doctor. I agree completely with @Goarmybeatnavy !!! Definitely see a doctor and go to physical therapy. I don't trust the internet with my injuries either. haha sorry but I am no doctor :cool:
 
Got to see a doctor. If its bad, you need to tell DoDMERB and your admissions officer. If you show up on R Day limping, they are going to do a medical check right there and might send you home (at your cost). If you worsen an injury in Beast, they could send you home as well.

So why tell them...the difference is that if your RC knows before hand that a injury will keep you out of Beast, they might be able to work a deal for you next year.
 
Thanks for the advice. I'll definitely go and see a doctor as soon as I can.

As far as CBT goes, what if it's just a minor injury that's causing slight problems to begin with but will be healed up shortly after (say, a week or so) the start of CBT? How do they handle that?
 
My son tore his meniscus about 5 weeks prior to INDOC at the Merchant Marine Academy while playing soccer. He got to the surgeon within the week and was fine by INDOC. here's what the Medical folks told him...show up...be quiet about it...(note he did speak with the Academy folks prior to INDOC). If you can make it through INDOC with no problems...you are good to go. If not and it swells and keeps you from participating in ALL activities during INDOC, you will be sent home!

A tad many anxious moments for sure, but all went well and he is now a graduate of the Academy.

So, bottom line...as most told you...get to a doctor and get there fast! Find out what it is, be honest about it with the folks at the Academy and all will work out. One way or the other, but you will know that you handled it properly...as any member of any Academy should.

Good luck to you. Prayers for your speedy and full recovery and for success during your Academy years!
 
If you have a legit pain in your knee and something doesn't feel right, you need to see a doctor and get an MRI. I've had multiple knee injuries and they do not get better with time. A knee injury that is not properly treated for will follow you for the rest of your life.
 
Several months ago, I sustained a knee injury during a varsity football game. I got results back saying that I had torn my ACL, so I had to get surgery. Even though I had already received an appointment by the time I reported the injury and all related medical files to DODMERB (the first folks who need to hear about it) and, in my case, an admissions officer, AND my own doctor had cleared me for any strenuous activity that Beast would entail, my appointment was revoked due to the high risk of reinjury--if I blew it again during Beast, the Army couldn't use me at all, ever. Bad news, sure, but it was followed up with a medical LOA, which is a guaranteed spot in next year's class provided I don't go and re-tear it or anything. That might not be what you want to hear at this point, but it is very important that you do report your injury (first to DODMERB, then anyone who asks). A year isn't all that long compared to the possibility of losing the rest of your career as an officer to another injury. Besides, your case might not be as bad; it was like my knee was like Jello after the injury and before the surgery.
 
It's thankfully not as bad as yours, EPH. The knee's still solid, just painful at times.

Well, I went to the clinic today and got an X-ray done (which didn't show anything) and ordered an MRI for tomorrow or the next day. The follow-up appointment on Wednesday should tell me something. I don't guess there's any point in trying to report anything before I know what I'm reporting.

If it's just a sprain it should be healed (or at least well enough to get along with a little teeth-gritting) by R-Day. I suppose until then it's just waiting.
 
Just to be clear-have your knee checked out by a physician first before you report anything since after seeing the doc you may have really nothing to report.
 
I'd intended to. I'm getting an MRI done in about an hour and then after the follow-up appointment tomorrow I'll know if there's anything to report or not. Hopefully not.
 
Good luck, man. I am hoping for nothing but good news!
 
Well, not the greatest of news.

The MRI showed that my meniscus is torn. The doctor here wasn't able to tell me whether it would prevent me from meeting the physical demands of Beast, so I have an appointment with a specialist on Monday to figure that out. The doctor here said it was "iffy" but didn't want to make the call since it's not his niche. He also said there were bone contusions/bruising which was causing most of the pain and probably wouldn't heal for six weeks or so (that's just pain, though - the meniscus was unlikely to just heal, but could potentially be postponed for a while).

So, all in all, I'm not in a super great place at the moment, though I suppose it could be worse. If someone could tell me where exactly I'm supposed to call to report this to West Point and figure out what my options, that would be appreciated. Also, would it be better to report this right now with just the MRI or wait until I get advice from the specialist on what I'll be able to do?
 
I would wait to meet with the specialist (hopefully the specialist is an orthopedist?). After you meet with the specialist and if he decides your knee is in bad shape, then I would follow the advice from 845something earlier in the thread. He said you need to report the injury to DoDMERB and your admissions officer.

Make sure you follow all of the care instructions you were given. I think I would also ask the specialist's office to put you on their waiting list to be called in case they have a cancellation this week. It would be nice to know something sooner.
 
By 'admissions officer' do you mean the Congressional district coordinator? That's the only person listed on my liaisons on the portal, and I think I've called him a grand total of once, and could have gotten by without doing that. I've never really talked to any admissions reps.

And thanks for the advice about the waiting list, Dixieland. I'll do that.
 
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