Bump near my left knee?

Heard a popping sound in my knee in Jiu-Jitsu class?

• Last night I was live sparring and I went to take my partner down, who out weighs me by 50 lbs, and I did the traditional take down with my leg wrapped around her foot like to use it as a speed bump so she would fall over it. She fought the take down and I continued to drive forward but my knee popped and I don't remember if I was at a weird angle or not when this happened. I grabbed my knee and went down in pain. The back of my knee hurt for about 1-2 minutes then there was no pain at all. I was able to stand on it and walk on it right away but while standing it started to feel dull & achy until I repositioned it then it was better. It was weird driving home, since it was my right knee and I needed that leg to drive with I felt every single time I used that tendon or whatever it may be. It wasn't painful but I felt it being used to push on the gas pedal. Then I got home, and the back right of my knee was sore to the touch, barely any swelling but swelling was still there and the skin was a little red. This morning I am sitting at work and the pain in my knee is dull & achy. When I bend my knee all of the way it's a little uncomfortable. Now I feel it in the right side, left side and back of my knee. The pain is very minimal though. I don't know if it's a strain or a tear. Any ideas. I am going to the doctor soon but I don't know how to treat it in the mean time.

• Answer:

  ICE (for 10 minutes every 30-60 minutes) and Avil are probably best ASAP to prevent swelling and limit further damage. Seeing a doc is great but insist on an MRI- it's the only way to really know what is going on, otherwise s/he will minimize it (to keep costs down) and tell you it is "likely" only a sprain (code for they have no idea). They will advise RICER (google it) and to give it time. If it does not feel better, come back and after months of probably making it worse, they might order an MRI and then send you for P/T. I hope you are not even thinking about taking another class again- those combat sports will ruin your health and can leave you in constant pain- for life. I hope you get lucky "this time" but if you keep at it, mark my words, you will live to regret it. Life in pain is no way to live.