Pro Rec'd SNA, but I'm injured

[cmquaker]

My recruiter called me earlier today to tell me I have been Pro Rec'd for SNA, SNFO, and Supply.

Unfortunately I have a lingering knee injury. It's nothing too serious, but I get pain in my knee when I run for several days in a row or use it for long periods. It has been like this for almost a year, and doctors told me there is no specific treatment for it.

I could probably pass the PFT and MEPS, but I don't think I could get through OCS.

Is there any way to delay my acceptance and entry to OCS? This injury may not heal for a while, and it may never be possible for me to get through OCS, but hopefully in six months this injury is behind me.

My recruiter left me a voicemail and sent me an email, so I have yet to tell him about this. I did mention it when I applied, but I said it should be healed by now. Any advice on what to do now?

Related question- can I wear a knee brace in OCS?

 

[MasterBates]

Not sure on current policy for knee braces. I was less than 1 year post op when I contracted for BDCP and I was still having minor problems at OCS...

Proper stretching and ice are your friend..

 

[BackOrdered]

If you are lucky (and I do mean that loosely) you may just have runner's knee. If so, quad exercises before your runs will correct it.

And ditto about ice and stretching.

 

[HeyJoe]

Have you seen a sports medicine doc about it? Your knees will really get a workout at OCS so you need to be sure about whether they can handle it.

 

[JD81]

I could probably pass the PFT and MEPS, but I don't think I could get through OCS.

Related question- can I wear a knee brace in OCS?

The first time you even look injured they will stop your training, and if it looks bad you will roll to H. I'd delay your entry if you could, see about pushing back your available date to start training maybe and get a doc's recommendation. As for the brace, I had a classmate who did, but not until we were candio's.

 

[Brett327]

If you are lucky (and I do mean that loosely) you may just have runner's knee. If so, quad exercises before your runs will correct it.

And ditto about ice and stretching.

Runner's knee is almost always due to (over)pronation problems which require a certain kind of running shoe (motion control shoes). I suffered for almost a year before I figured that out. Concur on the sports medicine route, but go to a running shoe specialty store (not foot locker) and have them do an analysis of your feet. They'll know all about overpronation and motion control.

Brett

 

[BackOrdered]

Runner's knee is almost always due to (over)pronation problems which require a certain kind of running shoe (motion control shoes). I suffered for almost a year before I figured that out. Concur on the sports medicine route, but go to a running shoe specialty store (not foot locker) and have them do an analysis of your feet. They'll know all about overpronation and motion control.

Brett

That's true sir, but personal experience and wikipedia also point to weak leg muscle development.

http://www.wikihealth.com/Runner's_knee

Even after I bought my motion controlled shoes (which completely solved my shin splint problem) I still had runner's knee. What happened was that my knee cap after running so far was being thrown off due to poor thigh muscle strength. After running, I'd feel for it and sure enough it felt off center and quite painful. After I found a gym and did some leg lifts before each run, I never encountered runner's knee again.

 

[BigRed389]

Same here...

Achieved in 1 month of rehab what wouldn't go away for about 7 months or so despite stretching, new shoes, and ice.
Rest from running and onditioning the supporting leg muscles seemed to help the most.

That said, knee injuries and treatments seem to be fairly broad in scope...when working up for my PRT, I sprained my knee with a slip on some black ice, and then aggravated that with overtraining.
Sounds weird but the trick this time when the usual didn't work was massaging and working out knots in my leg.

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

It might be streching. Make sure you get your streches in prior to physical activity.

 

[pmarsto1]

Unfortunately I have a lingering knee injury. It's nothing too serious, but I get pain in my knee when I run for several days in a row or use it for long periods. It has been like this for almost a year, and doctors told me there is no specific treatment for it.

Hey man I feel your pain, no pun intented. I just got pro rec'd for SNA but had tore my ACL playing football in my Senior year of high school and the resulting cartilage damage is what nags out me 5 years later.

I guess my question for anyone would be that it is not so much when I run that it bugs me, its more when I make an awkward movement. I dont see it being a problem in OCS but more of a problem later on in flight training. The injury is something that is just going to bug me but all together probably not cripple me permanently. But delaying entry probably wont do me any good because it feels good, any suggestions or warnings I guess?

 

[Rearden]

One thing I don't think anyone has mentioned yet is that there isn't serious running EVERY day at OCS. I just graduated in October and we only ran 2 or 3 times a week, and even then never further than 3 miles. You'll do other PT on the rest of the days, but you won't do extended running. Rather, you'll do push-ups, sit-ups, and whatever else the creative minds of the DI's can conjure up. If you can run successfully every other day or so, then I expect you can make it through. Also, they won't really roll you to H if they *think* you *look* injured. That used to be the case, but it doesn't happen as much anymore. You really have to miss training several days in a row before they'll roll you. I don't remember anyone wearing knee braces when I was there, but there were lots of people who wore super-socks for shin splints.

 

[feddoc]

Have you seen a sports medicine doc about it? Your knees will really get a workout at OCS so you need to be sure about whether they can handle it.

Yea, what he said. You have too much to risk (your career) to no have your knee problems assessed accurately.

IF I were in your position, I would also do as Brett suggests....get fitted for proper footwear.

tiz84, you mentioned using leg lifts as a way to help correct a wayward patella. Did you mean leg extensions? Your link mentions strengthening the vastus medialis muscle. That muscle can best be strengthened by doing leg extensions and during the last 20 degrees or so of leg extension, if you rotate your foot outward about 20 degrees, you will place a great deal better emphasis on that particular muscle. Of course, that is assuming that you have been diagnosed with runners knee.



pmarsto1, You say it bugs you....does it hurt or are you not comfortable with a lack of stability. Since it is now five years later, it may be to for an orthopod to assess your knee again.....there could be further damage.

BTW, how do you know there was cartiallge damage?

 

[pmarsto1]

You say it bugs you....does it hurt or are you not comfortable with a lack of stability. Since it is now five years later, it may be to for an orthopod to assess your knee again.....there could be further damage.

BTW, how do you know there was cartiallge damage?

By bugs me I mean worse case is an old man gimp for a few days, but not instability or totally debilitating.

I'm certain of the meniscus damage because of pictures the surgeon showed me after the surgery and him saying it will most likely never completely heal.

 

[feddoc]

By bugs me I mean worse case is an old man gimp for a few days, but not instability or totally debilitating.

I'm certain of the meniscus damage because of pictures the surgeon showed me after the surgery and him saying it will most likely never completely heal.

OLD MAN GIMP???? Hey, better watch your tone or I will whack you with my cane.

Well, if you damaged your meniscus....(medial or lateral?)....what about the ACL? Meniscus repairs are fairly simple...in and out with 3-4 puncture wounds, home that day and back to work in a few days. ACL repairs are typically more difficult and harder to recover from.


"....most likely never completely heal" Sounds like it might be time to get it fixed, especially if it is meniscus.

 

[BackOrdered]

Yea, what he said. You have too much to risk (your career) to no have your knee problems assessed accurately.

IF I were in your position, I would also do as Brett suggests....get fitted for proper footwear.

tiz84, you mentioned using leg lifts as a way to help correct a wayward patella. Did you mean leg extensions? Your link mentions strengthening the vastus medialis muscle. That muscle can best be strengthened by doing leg extensions and during the last 20 degrees or so of leg extension, if you rotate your foot outward about 20 degrees, you will place a great deal better emphasis on that particular muscle. Of course, that is assuming that you have been diagnosed with runners knee.



pmarsto1, You say it bugs you....does it hurt or are you not comfortable with a lack of stability. Since it is now five years later, it may be to for an orthopod to assess your knee again.....there could be further damage.

BTW, how do you know there was cartiallge damage?

Forgive my gym vocabulary, but I did the thing on the dealy where you put your legs inside the soft foam thingies and lift you legs in a sitting position with weights.