# Your experiences with knee injury: ER visit or wait? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 29, 2017, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-experiences-with-knee-injury-er-visit-or-wait/797593 "2017-09-29T14:51:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2017, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-experiences-with-knee-injury-er-visit-or-wait/797593/21 "2017-09-30T16:50:57Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Just dropped in to say that this is seriously wrongheaded thinking. > > I’ve been to the ER plenty of times with other people and a few times on my own, and no one ever acted like I was a whiny baby. Usually the ER staff is as relieved and happy as you are when it turns out not to be serious. Of course, you should evaluate for yourself whether an ER visit is warranted, but “not wanting to look like a crybaby” should not be part of that consideration. > > The one thing I NEVER want to hear from any doctor is, “If only you had seen to this sooner… but now it’s going to be much harder to deal with.” I’m usually hesitant about going to the ER unless I can’t stem the bleeding. Mom was an ER trauma nurse and was very 'suck it up, buttercup, don’t clog up the ER unless the bone is sticking out." ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2017, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-experiences-with-knee-injury-er-visit-or-wait/797593/22 "2017-09-30T16:56:08Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > How about an urgent care clinic? I second this. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2017, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-experiences-with-knee-injury-er-visit-or-wait/797593/23 "2017-09-30T17:04:06Z")
> [@Jennshark](#): > > I’m usually hesitant about going to the ER unless I can’t stem the bleeding. Mom was an ER trauma nurse and was very 'suck it up, buttercup, don’t clog up the ER unless the bone is sticking out." Good grief. That’s a hell of a tape to have playing in your head. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2017, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-experiences-with-knee-injury-er-visit-or-wait/797593/24 "2017-09-30T17:27:34Z")
Here’s a handy list of [when to go to the ER](https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000593.htm) vs. urgent care vs. see your own doc. > [@](#): > > **Call 911 to have the emergency team come to you right away if you cannot wait, such as for:** > > Choking > Stopped breathing > Head injury with passing out, fainting, or confusion > Injury to neck or spine, especially if there is loss of feeling or inability to move > Electric shock or lightning strike > Severe burn > Severe chest pain or pressure > Seizure that lasted 3 to 5 minutes > **Go to an emergency department or call 911 for help for problems such as:** > > Trouble breathing > Passing out, fainting > Pain in the arm or jaw > Unusual or bad headache, especially if it started suddenly > Suddenly not able to speak, see, walk, or move > Suddenly weak or drooping on one side of the body > Dizziness or weakness that does not go away > Inhaled smoke or poisonous fumes > Sudden confusion > Heavy bleeding > Possible broken bone, loss of movement, especially if the bone is pushing through the skin > Deep wound > Serious burn > Coughing or throwing up blood > Severe pain anywhere on the body > Severe allergic reaction with trouble breathing, swelling, hives > High fever with headache and stiff neck > High fever that does not get better with medicine > Throwing up or loose stools that does not stop > Poisoning or overdose of drug or alcohol > Suicidal thoughts > Seizures Use of the ER for non-emergency issues is a real problem. ERs don’t want to discourage people from using the facilities legitimately but they do try to get the word out as to what really needs to be seen emergently and what does not. And with the wide availability of the internet, most people can be reasonably expected to be able to access this sort of information now. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2017, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-experiences-with-knee-injury-er-visit-or-wait/797593/25 "2017-09-30T19:59:58Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I’d go to an urgent care facility too, Urgent care would be good; most of the time they have in-house x-ray machines and can make the call of whether to refer you out to an orthopedic surgeon or to conservatively treat it. Plus, they’re not as pricey as just setting up an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon probably is. That said, when I last hurt my knee, I took an ambulance ride straight to the ER\*; I’d completely ruptured my patellar tendon and couldn’t actually get up on my own or really go anywhere on my own steam. Good thing I did; I had reconstructive surgery the following morning and was good as new a few months (and a LOT of physical therapy) later. - the same exact ER that treated(?) Eric Duncan for ebola virus several months later. No complaints from me though; they did a bang-up job on me. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2017, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-experiences-with-knee-injury-er-visit-or-wait/797593/26 "2017-09-30T20:11:20Z")
As Q says - and knows far more than I - ER misuse/abuse is a huge issue. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2017, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-experiences-with-knee-injury-er-visit-or-wait/797593/27 "2017-09-30T22:17:02Z")
Your emergency may be someone else’s booboo. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2017, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-experiences-with-knee-injury-er-visit-or-wait/797593/28 "2017-09-30T22:43:10Z")
I wouldn’t hesitate to see some sort of medical professional about a painful knee, the important load-bearing, complicated, piece of meat, bone and gristle that it is. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2017, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-experiences-with-knee-injury-er-visit-or-wait/797593/29 "2017-10-02T16:05:11Z")
[QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright;20507922There are three menisci, and pain around the kneecap is very rarely correlated with a meniscal tear.[/QUOTE] Huh, not in my personal experience. And [WebMD](https://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/tc/meniscus-tear-topic-overview#1) says: > [@](#): > > A moderate tear can cause pain at the side or center of your knee. I am a rare bird, however! ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2017, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-experiences-with-knee-injury-er-visit-or-wait/797593/30 "2017-10-02T17:22:17Z")
There are plenty of good, sound, sensible reasons NOT to go to the ER. Being afraid of being seen as a “whiny crybaby” is not a good reason. Just sayin’. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2017, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-experiences-with-knee-injury-er-visit-or-wait/797593/31 "2017-10-02T20:31:30Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > IANAD, but I do have experience with knee injuries. So now the truth comes out, Mr “Person Who Has Had Experience With Knee Injuries Jackson”. I suppose next we’ll find out that’s not really you on the twenty dollar bill. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2017, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-experiences-with-knee-injury-er-visit-or-wait/797593/32 "2017-10-03T15:20:56Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > So now the truth comes out, Mr “Person Who Has Had Experience With Knee Injuries Jackson”. > > I suppose next we’ll find out that’s not really you on the twenty dollar bill. Well, it’s actually a composite photo of the 5 of me. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-experiences-with-knee-injury-er-visit-or-wait/797593/33 "2017-10-04T02:21:46Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > There are plenty of good, sound, sensible reasons NOT to go to the ER. Being afraid of being seen as a “whiny crybaby” is not a good reason. Just sayin’. Carry on. OP didn’t start this thread until 2½ days after injury. Does he need to seek medical advice? Absolutely. Does he need an ER at this point? IMO, no. If the OP has been able to live with it for a few days, I wouldn’t call it an “Emergency” at this point. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-experiences-with-knee-injury-er-visit-or-wait/797593/34 "2017-10-04T14:33:01Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > Huh, not in my personal experience. You have more than three menisci? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-experiences-with-knee-injury-er-visit-or-wait/797593/35 "2017-10-04T14:45:34Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > You have more than three menisci? 😃 He probably has jars full of 'em. ---
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-experiences-with-knee-injury-er-visit-or-wait/797593/36 "2017-10-04T15:22:34Z")
So I saw an ortho and had an MRI, waiting on the report. My knee, thankfully, has improved quite a bit (I’m still RICEing at night). ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-experiences-with-knee-injury-er-visit-or-wait/797593/37 "2017-10-05T15:01:50Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > You have more than three menisci? 😃 > [@running\_coach](#): > > He probably has jars full of 'em. I also have my father’s eyes. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-experiences-with-knee-injury-er-visit-or-wait/797593/38 "2017-10-05T15:05:36Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > I also have my father’s eyes. Take those out of your mouth! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-experiences-with-knee-injury-er-visit-or-wait/797593.md?page=1)