Treatment For Knee Pain After A Fall
Treatment must be specific to the pain and the injury. Your doctor might prescribe anti-inflammatory medication for torn cartilage, and rest, ice, compression and elevation for a torn hamstring. Tears of the medial collateral knee ligament require rest, however rarely surgery. Injuries to the anterior cruciate generally require surgical repair. Use rest, ice compression and elevation during the pre-surgical period. Physiotherapists at the Vail Valley Medical Center recommend that you place the pillow used for elevation under the foot, not under the knee. Placing the pillow under the knee keeps the leg in a perpetually flexed position, which might postpone the ability to extend your leg.
You Notice An Obvious Deformity
If you notice your knee jutting outward in a way it never has before, take note. A dislocated or fractured patella can cause injuries like this, explains Brian Schwabe, C.S.C.S., board-certified sports physical therapist based in Los Angeles.
While some deformities occur over time, when the deformity is a result of an injury, it could be the result of a fracture or chronic wear on the knee joint. If you are already experiencing any kind of misalignment in your lower extremities, then you could be more prone to this type of injury.
If you notice a bone deformity after an injury, he recommends seeking the assistance of an orthopedic doctor immediately. The doctor will likely take x-rays as well as perform a visual diagnosis to determine if you need surgery.
What Are The Symptoms Of A Knee Ligament Injury
Cruciate injury
A cruciate ligament injury often causes pain. Often you may hear a popping sound when the injury happens. Then your buckles when you try to stand on it. The knee also swells. You also are not able to move your knee as you normally would. You may also pain along the joint and pain when walking.The symptoms of a cruciate ligament injury may seem like other health conditions. Always see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.
Collateral ligament injury
An injury to the collateral ligament also causes the knee to pop and buckle. It also causes pain and swelling. Often you will have pain at the sides of the knee and swelling over the injury site. If it is an MCL injury, the pain is on the inside of the knee. An LCL injury may cause pain on the outside of the knee. The knee will also feel unstable, like it is going to give way.
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How To Treat A Knee Sprain
This article was co-authored by Jonathan Frank, MD. Dr. Jonathan Frank is an Orthopedic Surgeon based in Beverly Hills, California, specializing in sports medicine and joint preservation. Dr. Frank’s practice focuses on minimally invasive, arthroscopic surgery of the knee, shoulder, hip, and elbow. Dr. Frank holds an MD from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine. He completed an orthopedic residency at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and a fellowship in Orthopedic Sports Medicine and Hip Preservation at the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colorado. He is a staff team physician for the US Ski and Snowboard Team. Dr. Frank is currently a scientific reviewer for top peer-reviewed scientific journals, and his research has been presented at regional, national, and international orthopedic conferences, winning several awards including the prestigious Mark Coventry and William A Grana awards.There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 20 testimonials and 91% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 615,206 times.
Key Points About Knee Ligament Injuries
- Knee ligaments are the short bands of elastic tissue that holds the knee together. There are 4 main ligaments in each knee.
- Knee ligament injuries can be caused by trauma, such as a car accident. Or they can be caused by sports injuries.
- The anterior cruciate ligament is one of the most common ligaments to be injured.
- Treatment may include medicine, muscle-strengthening exercises, a knee brace, or surgery.
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How Can I Prevent Knee Pain
Although you canât prevent all injuries, you can take these steps to make them less likely.
- Stop exercising if you feel pain in your knee.
- If you want to make your workout more intense, always do it gradually.
- Stretch your legs before and after physical activity.
- Use kneepads to prevent bursitis, especially if you have to kneel a lot.
- Wear shoes that fit well and offer enough support.
- Keep your thigh muscles strong with regular stretching and strengthening.
- If youâre overweight, work to drop some pounds so thereâs less stress on all of your joints, including your knees.
What Can You Do For The Pain
Your plan will depend on your specific injury. Mild to moderate issues will often get better on their own. To speed the healing, you can:
- Rest your knee. Take a few days off from intense activity.
- Ice it to curb pain and swelling. Do it for 15 to 20 minutes every 3 to 4 hours. Keep doing it for 2 to 3 days or until the pain is gone.
- Compress your knee. Use an elastic bandage, straps, or sleeves to wrap the joint. It will keep down swelling or add support.
- Elevate your knee with a pillow under your heel when you’re sitting or lying down to cut down on swelling.
- Take anti-inflammatorymedications. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or naproxen will help with pain and swelling. Follow the instructions on the label. These drugs can have side effects, so you should only use them now and then unless your doctor says otherwise.
- Practice stretching and strengthening exercises if your doctor recommends them. You may want to do physical therapy, too.
Make an appointment with a doctor if you still have pain after 2 weeks of home treatment, if the knee becomes warm, or if you have fever along with a painful, swollen knee.
Some people with knee pain need more help. For instance, if you have bursitis, your doctor may need to draw out extra fluid from the bursa in your knee. If you have arthritis, you may need an occasional corticosteroid shot to settle down inflammation. And if you have a torn ligament or certain knee injuries, you may need surgery.
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Wondering How To Treat Knee Injury
If you feel that the conditions are severe, consult a doctor immediately for knee injury treatment. Your doctor will likewise do a physical test of the knee.
You will be approached to twist and fix your leg as the specialist feels for any dislocation of the kneecap or different indications of a physical issue to the bones, tendons, or ligaments in the knee.
Imaging may likewise be necessary as well.
X-beams can reveal about the damage to the knees. An MRI can help to uncover harm to the bones, ligament, and delicate tissue .
So, next time you scrape your knees, make sure its just a minor boo-boo and nothing serious.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries
The anterior cruciate ligament runs diagonally down the front of the knee, providing critical stability to the joint. Injuries to the ACL can be serious and require surgery.
ACL injuries are graded on a scale from one to three. A grade 1 sprain is a mild injury to the ACL, while a grade 3 refers to a complete tear.
Athletes who participate in contact sports such as football or soccer often injure their ACLs. However, contact sports are not the only cause of this injury.
Improperly landing from a jump or quickly changing the direction of motion can lead to a tear in the ACL.
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What Is A Meniscal Tear
Sudden meniscal tears often happen during sports. Tears in the meniscus can occur when twisting, cutting, pivoting, or being tackled. Meniscal tears may also occur as a result of arthritis or aging. Just an awkward twist when getting up from a chair may be enough to cause a tear, if the menisci have weakened with age
What Are The Types And Causes Of Knee Injuries
While direct blows to the knee will occur, the knee is more susceptible to twisting or stretching injuries , taking the joint through a greater range of motion than it was meant to tolerate.
If the knee is stressed from a specific direction, then the ligament trying to hold it in place against that force can stretch or tear. These injuries are called sprains. Sprains are graded as a first, second, or third degree based upon how much damage has occurred. Grade-one sprains stretch the ligament but don’t tear the fibers grade-two sprains partially tear the fibers, but the ligament remains intact, and grade-three tears completely disrupt the ligament.
Twisting injuries to the knee put stress on the cartilage or meniscus and can pinch them between the tibial surface and the edges of the femoral condyle, potentially causing tears.
Injuries to the muscles and tendons surrounding the knee are caused by acute hyperflexion or hyperextension of the knee or by overuse. These injuries are called strains. Strains are graded similarly to sprains, with first-degree strains stretching muscle or tendon fibers but not tearing them, second-degree strains partially tearing the muscle-tendon unit, and third-degree strains completely tearing it.
There can be inflammation of the bursas of the knee that can occur because of direct blows or chronic use and abuse.
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What Is A Dislocated Knee
A dislocation occurs when the bones of the knee are out of place, either completely or partially. For example, the femur and tibia can be forced out of alignment, and the patella can also slip out of place. Dislocations can be caused by an abnormality in the structure of a person’s knee. In people who have normal knee structure, dislocations are most often caused by high energy trauma, such as falls, motor vehicle crashes, and sports-related contact.
Possible Causes Of Knee Injuries That Can Occur After A Fall
Here are some most common knee injuries from falling from minor to extreme that can happen after a fall.
1.Abrasion Or A Scrape
Abrasion is another term for a scratch. It is one of the most common knee injuries that can occur after a fall. This happens when the skin rubs against a harsh surface, for example, black-top or concrete.
A minor abrasion takes off only the external layer of skin and can be treated at home. Serious abrasion areas that include bleeding and more layers of the skin may require a medical consultation to recover steadily.
2. Laceration
A laceration is a cut or a type of puncture wound that causes a tear or opening in the skin. On the off chance that you fall and land on something sharp like a nail, you can end up with a laceration. Like abrasion spots, laceration can be minor with almost no bleeding or can be severe that requires immediate medical treatment.
Laceration brought about by rusty items, for example, a nail, may likewise put you in danger for tetanus. Look for an immediate medical consultation if that happens by chance.
3. Contusion
A Contusion or wound is a very common issue if you fall on a hard surface by chance. A contusion is another knee injury that can occur after a fall.
The impact of contusion can cause a blood vein or capillary in the skin or muscle underneath to leak blood in its surrounding region and can cause that area to become blue-black in color.
4. Sprain
5. Torn meniscus
6. Ligament tear
7. A torn in the ligament
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How Is A Knee Ligament Injury Diagnosed
Your healthcare provider will ask you to have your health history and do a physical exam. You may also need one or more of these tests:
- X-ray. This imaging test can rule out an injury to bone instead of a ligament injury. It uses energy beams to make images of internal tissues, bones, and organs on film.
- MRI. This test uses large magnets, radio waves, and a computer to make detailed images of organs and structures within the body. It can often find damage or disease in bones and a surrounding ligament, tendon, or muscle.
- Arthroscopy. This procedure is used to diagnose and treat joint problems. The healthcare provider uses a small, lighted tube put into the joint through a small cut . Images of the inside of the joint can be seen a screen. The procedure can assess joint problems, find bone diseases and tumors, and find the cause of bone pain and inflammation.
When To See A Doctor
If knee pain becomes chronic, is severe, or lasts for more than a week, a person should consult a doctor. It is important to see a doctor if there is a reduced range of motion in the joint or if bending the knee becomes difficult.
In cases of blunt force or trauma, a doctor should be seen immediately after an injury has occurred.
Treatment will vary based on the cause of the knee pain and the specifics of the injury. In cases of strain or overuse injuries, rest and ice will typically allow the knee to heal over time.
Treatment may also involve managing pain and inflammation with medication. In most cases, a person will need to rest for a period of time.
Tears or other trauma-induced injuries may require bracing, popping the knee back into place, or surgery. In the case of surgery, a person will likely not be able to use the knee after the procedure and may need either crutches or a wheelchair while recovering.
In some cases, physical therapy may be needed to help a person regain movement and strength in their knee and leg.
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How Is Knee Pain Treated After A Fall
Treatment for a knee injury caused by a fall usually involves rest and if necessary, a brace to stabilize the joint. In most cases, anti-inflammatory pain relievers, such as ibuprofen , may be helpful.
Minor knee injuries can often be treated at home. However, its important to see a doctor if symptoms worsen or if the pain is accompanied by:
- significant joint swelling
- an inability to bear weight
- a feeling of giving way
- other signs of ligament or tendon damage
When the injury is serious, surgery may be necessary to restore function and eliminate pain.
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There arent many injuries more debilitating than a knee injury. Trust me, I know from experience.
In my mid-twenties I tore my ACL during a basketball game. Eight months of rehab got me back to full strength, but three years later I tore it again, this time while snowboarding.
My second injury was more serious than the first. The ACL was torn, as was my meniscus, and I had created a hold in my cartilage that the surgeon described as being about the size of a nickel. The prognosis wasnt what I wanted to hear: No more sports, and no more running if I wanted my knee to hold up.
Before you continue reading this article, I want to stress that you should always seek professional help when diagnosing, treating, and rehabbing any injury, especially when it comes to your knees. I have worked with countless medical professionals over the past decade to help me rehabilitate my knee to the point it is at today.
And what has been the result?
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Applying Additional Treatment Methods
Preventing Soft Tissue Knee Injuries
There are several things that you can do to prevent soft tissue knee injuries, and theyre all easy steps you can implement into your daily routine.
First, always warm up before participating in any type of physical activity. Warming up will help to loosen the muscles and tendons around your knee and prepare them for an activity.
You should also wear the proper shoes when participating in physical activity. Worn-out shoes that dont fit properly can increase the risk of a soft tissue knee injury.
Lastly, stretch properly before and after participating in any physical activity. Stretching will help to keep the muscles and tendons around your knee flexible, further reducing your risk of an injury.
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