United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Well Frankie took a fall a few weeks ago on the stupid skate board. Since he can't break his falls with two hands his knee took a hard bang the doctors at the time said just a bruise but the pain continued the xray yesterday showed fluid in the knee we see the ortho tomorrow I guess they will drain it, but I hope not. The PCP said they would usually give you crutches and say stay off it but thats out.Its his left knee same side as his bpi so even one crutch won't keep him slightly off it. Has anyone else had fluid on the knee? Is it always drained? Sounds so painful. Mare

I've had that happen a few times. I have not hd to have it drained, but it deends on how bad it is...
Good luck to Frankie!
Marieke (32, LOBPI)

Sorry no advice or words of wisdom but I wanted to wish Frankie good luck and I hope they dont do anything too painful!
Hugs,
Amy 20 years old ROBPI from MN

All went well, the ortho said the fluid will go away on its own (This Time), but he must start wearing knee pads when he skates. Of course he has them but refuses to wear them. He watches the pros skate and do tricks without them and thinks its uncool to wear pads. He does wear his heelbos and wrist splint always. I've decided that since he refuses to protect himself he must pay any out of pocket costs to me for medical treatment like co pays or bandades. He has just got a job so I'll hit him where it hurts a teen the most his wallet. So far I collected $40 2 pcp visits one xray and one ortho visit. I sure hope this works he gave up the money pretty easy (This Time.
Mare

Glad that all went well and that it was nothing serious. Boys will be boys so getting him to wear the pads might not happen. Good luck though!
Hugs,
Amy

Amy so wise... boys will be boys... even at 35 or 65!

Sorry about Frankie's knee and I'm glad to hear your making him pay. Teens hate to part with "their" money.
Our money is another story... LOL...

Did Frankie ever have to use crutches?
I broke a small bone in my foot and had to be on crutches in my 30's.
That was when I discovered I could not put that crutch under my arm without extreme pain.
I also found out I could not/did not have the strength to support my self.
So we tried a walker and again I could not weight bear.
I was unable to get around without hopping.
It drove me crazy and I was lucky that I was an adult when it happened.

Hope he is well soon
Kath

MAre,
I was twelve years old andn had a softball accident. My dad was a sports fanatic, so even though it hurt, I finished the game. Four weeks later, I couldn't walk, no matter how hard I tried, my right knee was hurt, I thought geyond repair. I could hardly fit a pair of pants over that knee, that is how much water was on the knee. The pain was EXCRUCIATING, and I have a huge tolerance for pain. So off to the othopedic surgeon I went. I loved it when he drained my knee. He did it 1-2 a week for the longest time, probably about 4 months, till they finally figured out what was going on. (They didn't want to do exploratory surgery, since I was a "GIRL" I think the doctor was afraid to work on someone so young, he was a doctor for the Chicago Bears and was always afraid to hurt me. LOL) Truly, the relief from the pain was worth it. I used to sit and watch them drain it time after time, they laughed at me. If there wasn't enough for them to do it, I would beg and plead because it felt so much better when they were done. To this day, when my knee starts to get water on it, off I go and the pain relief is SUBSTANTIAL !!!! GAYLE

Sorry, didn't read the whole thing and then I realized that you had been to see the doctor.

I am glad things went well, keep an eye on that knrr though.
Tell Frankie, he needs to be kind to his knees, it really is the pits when you get older and they start to ache.

GAYLE

Gayle
He has to go back in two weeks for a recheck and no gym or skateboarding for that two weeks. Thankfully no draining. Mare

Kath
Frankie would not be able to use crutches his elbow is contracted to far and his wrist is flaccid so no weight bearing or it breaks so I guess if needed to get around he would have to use a wheel chair of course he says Jazzie. Then I'll be on cruthches after he drives over my foot. Mare