Ever heard of an occult fracture?

I thought you were talking about groups of witches splitting into factions.

Too bad about the knee, but the hockey player in me has to ask: Did you miss any shifts on the ice?

Novas, thanks very much your feedback. When the Ortho explained all of this at my last appointment it sounded so odd, almost rediculous, (and embarassing) that a "bone bruise" could cause this much swelling and pain. It makes me feel better that your explanation of the sutation is almost dead on with his diagnosis. At this point I think I've excepted that the HIM is out and I might as well work on swimming as much as possible while that's about all I can do. I have a follow up next week. I'm really hoping that he says I can get back to riding. It's funny, I've worked so hard for the last couple of years to learn the proper swimming technique. Now all of the sudden I've got to teach myself to swim without kicking since my knee doesn't really bend. Guess it should making learning a two beat kick much easier when I can finally start kicking again.

@ChicagoMan65 - I gimped back to the bench, drank some gatorade, rubbed some dirt on it, and assumed that it was no big deal. Next shift I hopped over the boards and upon landing my knee flopped out to the inside again. It was then that i decided I'd better work the door for the rest of the game. We ended up losing and falling out of the playoffs. Might be the first time I've ever been excited for an off season

I'm kind of confused as to if they dx'd it as a fracture or a bone bruise.  I have watched radiologists change their nomenclature of these injuries over the last few years and its been intersting to watch the primary care guys first completely dismiss the bone bruises and then completely freak out over the 'fracture' nomenclature when they look exactly the same on MRI.  I usually don't call it a fracture unless there is a fracture line.  Part of it is a nomenclature issue but regardless to what they call it you had an injury to the bone.  Since MRI technology is ever evolving and we didn't have it as it exists today 30 years ago no one can really tell you the long term meaning of the injury.  We know lateral compartment bone brusies and ACL injuries typically go hand in hand. 

At any rate certainly a period of non  weightbearing is in order and a longer period of no running is in order.  These are not visualized on plain films so I would get a new MRI about 6-8 weeks after your injury to be sure its resolving.  They can take up to a year to heal.  (I know you don't want to hear that)  You MAY be running in 3 months.  Swim, bike aqua jog.

Find out where it is and report back   Hope you feel better soon