A couple of months ago when I passed out due to my sleep meds and I hit my dishwasher on the way down I thought I just sprained my knee. Well it hasn't been getting better in fact it has been feeling a bit worse even though I've been doing what you do for a sprain the R.I.C.E. Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate. I went and saw my ortho this morning and after moving my leg and knee around and poking and prodding it he told me that I didn't sprain it I bruised the knee cap. He told me to no longer wear the ace wrap as it will continue to push down on the knee cap and cause it to hurt so I'm just supposed to R.I.E. it. He told me to continue to do my knee exercises and it will heal on its own. So even though its more serious than a sprain I'm thankful that it doesn't require surgery like I was fearing.

Jbug