Distinguishing Between Bone and Muscle Pain in the Lower Leg
Pain in the right tibia of the lower leg? 1. I have a bruise on the front side of my calf and would like to know how to differentiate between a bone contusion and a muscle injury, as I have not seen this type of bruise before. The swollen area has a skin color resembling hives an...
Dr. Li Yongheng Reply:
Hello Ms. Hsu: You have a bruise on the front side of your calf. If you can move without any significant pain, it is unlikely that you have injured the bone. However, there is a small raised bump below your knee that is painful to the touch, and you may need to get an X-ray to ru...[Read More] Distinguishing Between Bone and Muscle Pain in the Lower Leg
Understanding Post-Surgery X-Ray Changes After Tibial Plateau Fracture
The X-ray taken on the day of the surgery shows a dark area that differs from the X-ray taken before the injury? Hello Dr. Shi, this is A-Cai, who consulted you about the tibial plateau fracture a while ago. I have been discharged for nearly a month, and I will be going for my se...
Dr. Shi Guozheng Reply:
The description of the X-ray findings is insufficient to determine any conditions; if there are doubts, it is advisable to seek clarification. Typically, X-rays are taken immediately after surgery, and it is reasonable to have another X-ray approximately one month post-operativel...[Read More] Understanding Post-Surgery X-Ray Changes After Tibial Plateau Fracture
Managing Knee Pain on Rainy Days: Alternatives to Surgery
Knee pain on rainy days? Hello Doctor, I had a car accident last year and fractured the area between my calf and knee. After surgery, my attending physician mentioned that there was no need to remove the steel pins. However, on rainy days or when the weather is damp and cold, my ...
Dr. Shi Guozheng Reply:
You can use heat therapy for rehabilitation, and take some medication to relieve pain when it is severe.[Read More] Managing Knee Pain on Rainy Days: Alternatives to Surgery
Knee Injury: Understanding Meniscus Tears and Ligament Sprains
Knee meniscus and/or ligament injury? I have an internal knee injury. The results of the ultrasound examination indicate a partial tear of the left medial meniscus. The MRI results show a severe MCL sprain with a possible partial tear (the tests were conducted at two different ho...
Dr. Shi Guozheng Reply:
Different examinations may reveal different findings, but both indicate that you have injuries to the meniscus and the medial collateral ligament.[Read More] Knee Injury: Understanding Meniscus Tears and Ligament Sprains
Understanding Knee Injuries from Squats: A Guide for Athletes
Injury during weight training squats? Hello, doctor. About a month ago, I was doing squats with a weight of 100 kg during weight training when I heard a popping sound on the outer side of my left knee. After standing up, I experienced severe pain in my hamstring, making it imposs...
Dr. Shi Guozheng Reply:
You can consult a sports medicine specialist in orthopedics for a re-evaluation to check for any locking phenomenon, which is often a symptom of a meniscus tear.[Read More] Understanding Knee Injuries from Squats: A Guide for Athletes
Understanding Coccydynia: Managing Tailbone Pain During Exercise
Coccygeal protrusion Hello doctor, I have a protrusion issue with my coccyx, so I can't sit on hard floors for long periods and need to frequently change positions. Doing sit-ups is uncomfortable, and I can't lie on a hard surface. However, during gym class yesterday, t...
Dr. Shi Guozheng Reply:
When experiencing pain, apply cold compresses or ice packs initially, and after two days, switch to heat therapy. Avoid putting pressure on the protruding area to help reduce pain.[Read More] Understanding Coccydynia: Managing Tailbone Pain During Exercise
Understanding Recovery from Leg and Wrist Fractures After a Car Accident
The car accident resulted in a femoral fracture and a comminuted fracture of the wrist? In mid-March, I was involved in a car accident that resulted in a fracture of my left femur and a comminuted fracture of my right wrist. I would like to ask the doctor some questions that the ...
Dr. Shi Guozheng Reply:
Following medical advice, it will take approximately one to one and a half years for the left leg's poor bending to recover, and rehabilitation is necessary. The removal of the metal screws will also occur in about one to one and a half years.[Read More] Understanding Recovery from Leg and Wrist Fractures After a Car Accident
Understanding Stress Fractures: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment for Athletes
Fatigue fracture Hello Doctor: I am an athlete. I had a bone scan in early February that revealed a stress fracture in my right tibia, but there were no abnormalities on the X-ray. I continued training and competing. However, during competitions, I repeatedly hit my right tibia a...
Dr. Shi Guozheng Reply:
Fatigue fractures sometimes do not present any symptoms and are only discovered during X-ray examinations or bone scans. Numbness in the foot is unrelated to the fracture, and it is advisable to consult a physician for evaluation.[Read More] Understanding Stress Fractures: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment for Athletes
Understanding and Managing Tibial Pain: Insights for Young Athletes
Tibial pain in the knee? Hello Doctor, a while ago I had to go for a physical examination for military service, and I took the opportunity to check on my long-standing issue with right knee pain. The symptoms include a protrusion just below the knee on my right calf, and I experi...
Dr. Shi Guozheng Reply:
Osgood-Schlatter disease may be related to tibial tuberosity inflammation. It typically occurs in youth and usually alleviates pain in adulthood without causing long-term complications. If the pain is severe, it is essential to stop exercising, rest, apply heat, and consider medi...[Read More] Understanding and Managing Tibial Pain: Insights for Young Athletes
Should You Tighten Your Bandage After Swelling Reduces Post-Fracture?
After the swelling from a fracture has subsided, should the bandage be tightened again by oneself? Hello Doctor, a few days ago I asked you about the potential risks to bone healing after a tibial plateau fracture combined with knee depression, and whether stepping on the ground ...
Dr. Shi Guozheng Reply:
The bandage should be wrapped at an appropriate tightness that allows for self-adjustment; if it is too tight, it may cause swelling, while if it is too loose, it will not be effective. The appropriate tightness is one that maintains normal circulation in the foot without excessi...[Read More] Should You Tighten Your Bandage After Swelling Reduces Post-Fracture?
Can I Still Grow Taller at 19? Understanding Height Growth Potential
Height growth issues Hello, doctor: I am currently 19 years old and attending university. My height has been consistently 161 cm. Do I still have a chance to grow taller?
Dr. Wang Shouji Reply:
Hello: If the growth plates in the knee have fused, the chances of further height increase are minimal.[Read More] Can I Still Grow Taller at 19? Understanding Height Growth Potential
Understanding Tibial Plateau Fractures and Knee Pain After Surgery
Tibial plateau fracture with knee depression? Hello, doctor. I was involved in a car accident on March 18, 2017, which resulted in a fracture of the left tibial plateau along with a depression in the knee area. I underwent surgery on March 19 at 7 PM, which lasted until 2 AM the ...
Dr. Shi Guozheng Reply:
After fracture surgery, fixation with steel nails is usually not that fragile, and you can wait until your follow-up appointment for the doctor to examine it. If there is sudden displacement, it can cause severe pain, or pain due to joint deformity is inevitable and will take som...[Read More] Understanding Tibial Plateau Fractures and Knee Pain After Surgery
Understanding Pain Below the Knee: Tibial Tuberosity Issues and Recovery
Pain upon palpation of the tibial tuberosity and discomfort after squatting and standing up? Previously, when I was kneeling on a stone bench with one leg, I pressed on the bony prominence below my knee (I found online that this area is called the tibial tuberosity). A day or two...
Dr. Hong Ximing Reply:
Excessive pressure on the tibial tuberosity can cause pain, which is normal. However, if there is insufficient rest or frequent stair climbing, it can lead to overuse of the hip ligaments and hip cartilage, resulting in persistent pain. It is recommended to reduce stair climbing ...[Read More] Understanding Pain Below the Knee: Tibial Tuberosity Issues and Recovery
Understanding Post-Operative Sounds and Sensations After Knee Surgery
Minimally invasive cartilage surgery for joints I underwent cartilage removal and knee arthroscopy on my right knee at the hospital on the 14th of last week. However, it has been 10 days since the surgery, and I still hear clicking and popping sounds when walking on that leg. Som...
Dr. Shi Guozheng Reply:
A short period of observation is still required after the surgery.[Read More] Understanding Post-Operative Sounds and Sensations After Knee Surgery
Understanding Growth Plate Closure: Can You Still Grow Taller?
Closure of the growth plates? A few days ago, I had an X-ray, and the doctor said that the growth plates in my knees have closed, but the ones in my pelvis have not. He mentioned that there is still a chance for me to grow taller. Is this true?
Dr. Shi Guozheng Reply:
Around the age of 15, it is still possible to grow a little more. However, if the growth plates are completely closed, then no further height increase will occur.[Read More] Understanding Growth Plate Closure: Can You Still Grow Taller?
Understanding Knee Injuries: Healing and Range of Motion After an Accident
Knee contusion? Hello doctor, I was in a car accident two weeks ago, and I had a laceration on my knee that required two stitches. The stitches were removed after 10 days, and the external wound looks mostly healed with scabs formed. However, I am unable to fully bend my knee, an...
Dr. Shi Guozheng Reply:
A knee contusion may only be a skin laceration, but if there is significant swelling, it could indicate internal bleeding in the joint. You can try applying a warm compress to see if it reduces swelling or alleviates tightness. Delayed healing of the wound is also a contributing ...[Read More] Understanding Knee Injuries: Healing and Range of Motion After an Accident
Impact of ACL Injury on Growth Plates and Future Surgery Considerations
Ligaments and growth plates? Hello Doctor: Currently, I have a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in my right knee, with a displacement of more than 1 centimeter. I can feel my knee sliding while walking, but there is no pain, only pain when I squat all the way down, making it...
Dr. Shi Guozheng Reply:
Surgery for ligament reconstruction involves drilling through the bone and growth plates, which may affect strength gains; however, it is still possible to engage in physical activity afterward.[Read More] Impact of ACL Injury on Growth Plates and Future Surgery Considerations
Understanding Patellar Cartilage Softening: Causes and Treatment Options
Patellar chondromalacia Hello, I have been experiencing occasional mild knee pain in both legs since I gave birth 3-4 years ago. However, over the past six months, the pain has worsened and become more frequent. When I squat and then stand up, my knees cannot fully extend immedia...
Dr. Shi Guozheng Reply:
Typically, rehabilitation will lead to improvement; if that is not sufficient, medication treatment may be necessary. One can also take supplements such as glucosamine. If these measures are still ineffective, one might consider intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid or pl...[Read More] Understanding Patellar Cartilage Softening: Causes and Treatment Options
Managing Muscle Cramps and Atrophy After Fibula Fracture Recovery
Fracture-related muscle cramps during walking? I would like to ask, if I have a fibula fracture and my cast has not been removed for a month, and my foot is still not completely de-swollen, the doctor said I can use a crutch to walk, but I find that the affected limb easily cramp...
Dr. Shi Guozheng Reply:
It is normal to perform localized muscle activities and to move the knee joint, as well as to elevate the lower leg.[Read More] Managing Muscle Cramps and Atrophy After Fibula Fracture Recovery
Should Young Patients with Herniated Discs Consider Surgery?
Is surgery recommended for young individuals with a herniated disc? I read your response, Doctor, regarding lumbar disc herniation. You mentioned that it can compress the sciatic nerve, causing symptoms not just in the lower back but also pain in the buttocks that radiates down t...
Dr. Shi Guozheng Reply:
Conservative treatment for six weeks is recommended, and if there is no improvement, surgery is suggested. The outcomes of the surgery are quite favorable, the risks are low, and recovery is typically rapid.[Read More] Should Young Patients with Herniated Discs Consider Surgery?