Knee injury: 4 weeks after - can not bend knee, still swollen - what is going on?

4 weeks ago a dog ran into my left knee. He hit from behind and the side and the major force was slightly above the knee but also on the side of the knee. It felt like I was standing on my left legt and the upper part of the leg rotated out (like a dislocation). The MRI shows that all cartilages and ligaments are fine.
The knee however still 4 weeks after is swollen, especially when I move it a bit more than normal. I can not bend it - although I can stretch it. I have strange sensations with the muscles above the injured knee. The doc says the MRI shows also liquid in the knee and something which could be a bone bruise.
He however thinks I should wait, it may get better on it's own and he wants to se me back in a few weeks/months. I wonder whether there could be injuries to the tendons or muscles or other which the MRI does not show.

Does someone know? Is it comon to not be able to bend the knee even 4 weeks after the injury?

Thank you very much! - Sylvia

If there was a major injury it would have shown up on the MRI, and it sounds like you have fluid on your knee, this is probably what is causing the swelling, if it does not improve they can drain the fluid off, if you are still having swelling you should alternate ice and heat treatments several times thru the day, a bag of frozen peas works well and you can put them back in the freezer and refreeze them, Elevate the leg off of the floor when applying the treatments. Doing each treatment for a bout 15 minutes. Like the ice treatment early morning and heat maybe around ten in the morning and so on and so forth. Do not over do it with the knee, you may also want to get a knee brace as this will help with any pain. It will take some time but it should get better.

Part 2:
Since the leap on her back was unexpected, she crashed her G/F's knee hard into a porcelain sink near the bottom of the ramp ( end part 2) Report It

(Part 3) A b*tchfest from the gf began as her partner flew off her back to the ground, writhing and screaming in pain. Before fainting from agony, she heard her gf yell (end part 3) Report It

(part 1 didn't post) Upon reading about your dilemma, it seemed like a torn ACL. Those were big in 2000. My son, a best friend, a very close friend, and a friend's child all had the same injury (End part 1) Report It

( The rest of part 1) by snowboarding, skiing, or piggybacking on her (former, thank God!) girlfriend's back when walking down a ramp ( end of the rest) Report It

PART 4: "How DARE you embarrass me?I am a woman of dignity and honor; not a PIG! Apologize to me or I'll closurize our relationship!" instead of asking her, "Are you ok?" My friend suffered a torn ACL, surgery, a hot summer in a cast, then a brace.
END OF PART 4 Report It

PART 5: Her selfish g/f claimed toxic jealousy, triggers that "could've made her drink", and repeated failed attempts at closure with her hurt partner.
It sounds like you have (END OF PT. 5 ) Report It

PART 6: "water on the knee". I have "Tennis Elbow" or "Popeye Elbow". Remember his elbows stuck out like giant corks? Perhaps a ligament is stretched also. You feel minor discomfort when you apply pressure to your knee? Can you digitally move the water around under the skin? ( END 6 ) Report It

PART 7: Icing it with bags of frozen veggies is accurate. If the swelling doesn't flee, your Dr. might suggest another method; the water drawn out by (ewww!) the hypodermic! END PART: 7 Report It

PART 8 : In truth, 4 weeks isn't bad. I've had water on my ankle for 12 yrs; a volleyball injury (is what I tell people. I missed the sidestep of my husband's suburban on an icy winter night of bar hopping. I twisted it - uh huh. It DID happen on a volleyball night - really! END 8 Report It

PT. 9 : Good luck with the knee. Once it's healed, don't be skittish; get back to your activities. You might need to wear a brace. Try one of the hip ones in a farout design. You'll be the CQQLEST there is, shredding the slopes in your mod brace! END 9 Report It

I fell off my bike onto my right kneecap, and treated it at home. It seemed like forever. I just remembered, as a kid I tore some ligaments in my foot. I was on crutches for about 2 months - 8 weeks.

I think you are doing ok, especially since the doctor has seen it. Sometimes they have to wait until the swelling goes down to really know what is going on in there.

I have had several knee injuries and many surgeries over the last 30 years. One thing I've learned is that things take time and the most conservative care is usually the best. Try not to use the knee too much but gentle range of motion non-weight bearing would be best. Doing this in a pool is wonderful and feels great too. If you do have fluid on that knee, bending is going to be hard. I wouldn't let it go for months but another 2-4 weeks would give it time to heal itself if it's going to. Good luck.