Daughter Banged Knee Cap

[Anonymous]

Hello soccer parents, looking for some sports injury advice.

My daughter banged her knee cap hard on the crappy field which has ground like cement. Limped through game and following days game. This was 3 weeks ago. We have been icing, like crazy and giving rest days. Unfortunately this happened right before tryouts (2012) so we prioritized one team that was her first choice, they were familiar with her and fortunately she was offered their top team and accepted (GA). During the 3 weeks since injury we have had days of minimal pain, and then days of much soreness playing. I think it is a bone bruise and was hoping it would be healed as she just had 4 days off traveling to Florida with her mom where she was not playing.

Returned from Florida and it was worse then before while playing and her play is visibly effected. I am waiting on call backs from orthopedic doctor now, but as we know these can be tricky to get instant appointments.

Dilemma comes from she is supposed to practice on Friday to start getting used to new team, a bit reticent to say hey thanks for inviting her she is already hurt. The whole getting in the coaches dog house or even worse they go with one of the other zillion kids at tryouts who were solid and are going to be cut. We also have the drama of current team knows she is leaving, did not respond well and if I shut her down for games I am sure will be given much grief. I just bought a patella band and plan on seeing if that relieves any pain. But question I really have is, if it is just a bone bruise, and it just hurts should she just play through it and wait it out? I know google says a few weeks off is good, but google also caters to the lowest denominator of non athletes and we all know sometimes you play dinged up & that is part of it.

appreciate any advice in this situation (not from DC but love forum)

[Anonymous]

Let the doctor make the decision and not parents on an anonymous forum. "Hey Coach, Larla has a persistent knee injury. While we are waiting for an orthopedic appt, we are going to hold her out of soccer. She'll be at Friday training but only as an observer."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let the doctor make the decision and not parents on an anonymous forum. "Hey Coach, Larla has a persistent knee injury. While we are waiting for an orthopedic appt, we are going to hold her out of soccer. She'll be at Friday training but only as an observer."

+1

I hate these posts. OP be a god dammed parent and take your child to a medical professional. What is wrong with you?

[Anonymous]

Switch to total rest and (as mentioned above), let the doctor make the decision. Coach should not be surprised in the least that a new player picked up an injury finishing out their current season.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let the doctor make the decision and not parents on an anonymous forum. "Hey Coach, Larla has a persistent knee injury. While we are waiting for an orthopedic appt, we are going to hold her out of soccer. She'll be at Friday training but only as an observer."

+1 Attending practice (and maybe doing some light exercises while there) but not pushing herself too hard shows she's committed to the team but is also wisely letting her injury heal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let the doctor make the decision and not parents on an anonymous forum. "Hey Coach, Larla has a persistent knee injury. While we are waiting for an orthopedic appt, we are going to hold her out of soccer. She'll be at Friday training but only as an observer."

+1 Attending practice (and maybe doing some light exercises while there) but not pushing herself too hard shows she's committed to the team but is also wisely letting her injury heal.

Agree. And absolutely shut her down in terms of playing for the team she is leaving.

3 weeks seems a little long for it to just be a bruise. You could take her to her pediatrician (assuming you can get in there more quickly) and they might order an x-ray, just to at least rule out a fracture/hairline fracture, etc.

[Anonymous]

Yes, DCUM is always the first choice for medical advice

[Anonymous]

OrthoVirginia has a walk in window at Fair Oaks Hospital. Urgent care is another option for at least an X-ray. You dropped the ball on this one. My non-medical opinion is NOT to ice it. Icing slows healing and recovery. RICE is old science.

[Anonymous]

We have a child transitioning to a new ECNL team and if they had an injury I would not worry in the least what the new coach thought. Re read your post. You are making the drama.

[Anonymous]

Caffeine and Motrin always do the trick.

But seriously, just communicate the situation to the new Coach while ensuring she can heal up.

I 2nd the idea that she attends the new team practice anyway, with a visible bandage on her knee just to observe. The general consensus from Coaches is that they love that dedication when an injured player still shows up to practice, even just to observe. We've had two lesser skilled players (i.e. bubble players who could be moved down) show up to practice with a foot brace and arm cast on for practices...and they were praised by the Coach for their dedication and kept on the team when an argument could be made to move them down otherwise.

Coincidently, we are leaving our current team also and guess which kid didn't receive a Memorial Day tournament invite? Yes, Coaches can be A** H**** at times.

Regardless, hope your kid heals up fast! It can be frustration when they aren't at their best!

[Anonymous]

Wow.. and the best dad of the day goes to... YOU!

Just reading this post makes me pity your daughter. She's been in pain for 3 weeks? Forced her to play games and attend tryouts and now on to DCUM to ask for advice?

Anonymous wrote:Hello soccer parents, looking for some sports injury advice.

My daughter banged her knee cap hard on the crappy field which has ground like cement. Limped through game and following days game. This was 3 weeks ago. We have been icing, like crazy and giving rest days. Unfortunately this happened right before tryouts (2012) so we prioritized one team that was her first choice, they were familiar with her and fortunately she was offered their top team and accepted (GA). During the 3 weeks since injury we have had days of minimal pain, and then days of much soreness playing. I think it is a bone bruise and was hoping it would be healed as she just had 4 days off traveling to Florida with her mom where she was not playing.

Returned from Florida and it was worse then before while playing and her play is visibly effected. I am waiting on call backs from orthopedic doctor now, but as we know these can be tricky to get instant appointments.

Dilemma comes from she is supposed to practice on Friday to start getting used to new team, a bit reticent to say hey thanks for inviting her she is already hurt. The whole getting in the coaches dog house or even worse they go with one of the other zillion kids at tryouts who were solid and are going to be cut. We also have the drama of current team knows she is leaving, did not respond well and if I shut her down for games I am sure will be given much grief. I just bought a patella band and plan on seeing if that relieves any pain. But question I really have is, if it is just a bone bruise, and it just hurts should she just play through it and wait it out? I know google says a few weeks off is good, but google also caters to the lowest denominator of non athletes and we all know sometimes you play dinged up & that is part of it.

appreciate any advice in this situation (not from DC but love forum)

[Anonymous]

Appreciate all of the advice here, I will be following it! We have appointment Tuesday, will talk to new Coach on Friday. Some people on these forums seem to forget as parents we do not have all the answers, and it is ok to look for perspective.

My daughter is one of those who is always “fine” and ready to play. So navigating these things can be difficult because until yesterday I was under the impression it was improving a bit each day.

I also like to ask as my experiences playing were many years ago, coaching was much different and in the ncaa program we were always pushed towards playing and it you did not play expect to be called soft and lose your spot. I played the majority of my college career as a keeper with a torn labrum. So again I ask for advice as I know my experience and what was driven into me can impact how I think of things.

Concerned parent who does not have all the answers, not a monster whipping my child to play.

Again appreciate all the non snarky advice and thread can be over now.

[Anonymous]

Last year I had two kids with wrist fractures during tryouts. This year I have 1 with a broken arm (can't swim) and 1 with a bad ankle sprain possible fracture. All sports related.

Here is what I have learned (having not read through all the responses):
Take her to a pediatric ortho. I recommend Pediatric Specialists in Fairfax. You need imaging.
Then you listen to the doctor's restrictions. Believe me, my kids are begging me to go back to their respective sports right now. It is painful to tell them no. But the reality is if you don't rest and heal, the injury will continue to be an issue. So you have to stand up and be the parent.
Once you have the restrictions from the doctor, you tell the coach what the dr. said. The coach will say OK. She can return when she is cleared by ortho.
In a month or two, you will forget that this even happened. Let her rest so that she is healed for the Fall season.

[Anonymous]

Can she straighten the leg completely? If not, that is indicative of a torn meniscus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can she straighten the leg completely? If not, that is indicative of a torn meniscus.

yes only seems to hurt once real running starts