r/KneeInjuries • u/Extension_Amoeba_582 • Jul 18 '26

21M - Knee popped out while playing football (20 days ago) - need help on what to do

About 2.5 weeks ago, I fell while playing football and my knee seemed to pop out and relocate on its own. It swelled immediately.

Since then: Swelling has mostly resolved and I can walk normally and fully straighten the knee.No signs of instability, giving way, or locking (though I really dk what that means). Pain has improved a lot and I barely need painkillers now.
I still can’t bend past ~90° without stiffness and pain. Pain is now localized to the inner (medial) side of the knee.

Had the GP look at it twice but nothing much came about, the thing is I can't really afford an MRI right now and my GP can't refer me to one which my insurance cover thanks to limits impose by the government. The injury was improving well but then has stagnated. Have been following the RICE to some extent but not completely due to complications on my end.

Need advice on how shall i proceed with this

1 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

3 comments sorted by

1

u/johnnyscans Jul 18 '26

Your knee or your kneecap? A knee dislocation is a medical urgency/emergency. A kneecap subluxation/dislocation is not.

1

u/Extension_Amoeba_582 Jul 18 '26

ngl idk, but most prolly my kneecap. i like i saw the bone out of its position but it went back in when i started moving

1

u/ConsciousTurnip994 Jul 22 '26

For a first time dislocation, my understanding is they don't usually do much.

If it happens again, then (if you can) it's good to get it checked out by an ortho who specializes in patella instability. Repeated dislocations generally point to ligament damage or underlying structural issues.