Hello. I recently injured my knee- I simply turned my leg to stand up out of a chair and I felt a cracking/ popping sensation with lots of pain. For the next 10 days, I was unable to bend my knee without pain so I avoided doing that. I iced it 20 minutes on/ off for a few of those days (after speaking with a physical therapist friend of mine). It started feeling a bit better, gaining a bit more range of motion until the same thing happened at work- getting up out of a chair (more gingerly that time since I was paranoid about the pain from the initial injury). This time my knee locked in a roughly 90 degree position and I felt the severe pain again when trying to straighten or bend it. I immediately went to an orthopedic urgent care but unfortunately, as I just started a new job and my medical coverage hasn't begun, I have yet to get an MRI. Meanwhile, I have been wearing a hinged brace and taking Alleve.

My question right now is this: wearing the brace certainly gives me security that I won't twist my knee or bend it too far. BUT my leg and hip are so stiff and tense from keeping it straight. Without the MRI, I understand that a true diagnosis cannot be given but should I be trying to bend at all? My leg is so stiff and the psychological aspect of knowing that I could possibly experience that pain again is making me even more tense. I also now fear that keeping my leg so tense and straight will do further damage than good- like weakening of the muscles, etc.

Am I doing the right thing for now until I can get an MRI? Should I remove the brace here and there to ice the knee? Currently, I only remove it to shower and immediately put it back on.

Thank you in advance for your time and any advice/ info you can provide.