Knee Injury Hurts To Straighten

If You Think Youve Sprained Your Knee

Take your weight off the injured knee, rest your leg, ice the injury, and take NSAIDs to control pain and swelling immediately after the injury. Then make an appointment to see a doctor as soon as youre able.

A physician, sports medicine doctor, or orthopedist can examine your knee to determine the extent of your ligament damage and to confirm the knee sprain, if that is indeed the injury you have.

In some cases, what you might think is a sprain may actually be a more severe injury, such as a ruptured ligament or a tear. Severe ligament tears and ruptures may require arthroscopic knee surgery to mend and reattach torn tissue.

Also, sometimes the knee damage may be a sprain plus something else, like a fracture or damage to more than one ligament.

At your visit, your doctor will tell you if you have a Grade I, II, or III sprain, or something else entirely. Then he or she will advise you on how to treat and rehabilitate your knee going forward.

Please contact Coastal Orthopedics located in Corpus Christi, Texas to schedule an appointment if you suspect a knee sprain today at 994-1166.

When I Straighten Or Stretch My Leg I Feel Pain Behind My Knee What Should I Do

Difficulty in stretching your leg may be due to a collection of synovial fluid. If you can also feel a swelling in the back of your leg it may be a Bakers cyst which makes the knee feel tight. This is not serious, but if it does not clear up you should see your doctor. Swelling in the calf may be a blood clot in the popliteal vein which is serious and should be seen by a doctor as soon as possible particularly if the swelling is accompanied by warm/red tender skin. Difficulty in straightening your leg may also be due to arthritis or a tear in a meniscus. You should see your doctor and get a proper diagnosis.

What Is A Knee Ligament Injury

Knee ligaments are the short bands of tough, flexible connective tissue that hold the knee together. Knee ligament injuries can be caused by trauma, such as a car accident. Or they can be caused by sports injuries. An example is a twisting knee injury in basketball or skiing.

The knee has 4 major ligaments. Ligaments connect bones to each other. They give the joint stability and strength. The 4 knee ligaments connect the thighbone to the shin bone . They are:

• Anterior cruciate ligament . This ligament is in the center of the knee. It controls rotation and forward movement of the shin bone.
• Posterior cruciate ligament . This ligament is in the back of the knee. It controls backward movement of the shin bone.
• Medial collateral ligament . This ligament gives stability to the inner knee.
• Lateral collateral ligament . This ligament gives stability to the outer knee.

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Jolting Pain Behind The Knee

Pain in the back of the knee can stop you in your tracks making bending and straightening very difficult at times. The pain can be sharp and jolting or a dull ache. Possible causes of pain in the back of the knee include Bakers cyst, hamstring tendon irritation or inflammation, ligament instability, and posterior horn meniscus injury

You Cant Put Weight On It

If its immensely painful to stand or put any weight on your injured knee, theres definitely something serious going on.

Inability to bear weight after a knee injury could be caused by a fracture, bone contusion, cartilage injury or ligament tear, explains Dr. Brown. Initial treatment includes using crutches or a steerable scooter to take pressure off the injured limb and minimize additional damage to the knee.

If this sounds like you, listen to what your body is trying to tell you. Dr. Brown warns that the old adage of no pain, no gain doesnt apply in this situation.

He advises seeking orthopedic evaluation as soon as possibleeven that same day if you can.

After a minor injury like a twist or fall, you might not be able to put weight on your leg immediately. Thats not necessarily a cause for alarm, but if you dont feel like youve recovered within a few minutes, this could indicate something more serious.

Its similar to when you injure a wrist or ankle. If you fall on your wrist or twist your ankle, you may experience searing pain for a moment or two. When the injury isnt severe, youre able to shake it off and resume your life after a few minutes at the most. However, if youve experienced a sprain, the pain doesnt subside. Instead, it gets worse.

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Pain On The Outside Of The Knee

Pain on the outside of the knee oftentimes is referred to as lateral knee pain. It can be caused by an injury or repetitive activity. The pain can be intermittent or constant. There are many causes of lateral knee pain which include osteoarthritis, meniscus injuries, ligament laxity, and iliotibial band dysfunction.

When To Seek Medical Help

If your injury is mild, you may be able to manage your symptoms yourself, without seeking medical advice. But you should see a doctor if:

• you cant put weight on the affected leg
• you have severe pain, even when youre not putting weight on it
• your knee gives way, clicks or locks
• you cant move your knee
• your knee is hot, red or very swollen or you have a fever

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What’s The Outlook For Teenagers With Pain In Their Knees

Most knee pain in teenagers can be managed with simple treatments. However, many soft-tissue tears and bone breaks require surgery. Most teenagers recover without long-term problems if they follow the recover plan provided by their healthcare providers. Because there are many causes of knee pain, be sure to ask your healthcare provider for specific information on long-term prognosis for your teen’s knee condition.

Knee Pain And Problems

Knee pain is a common complaint among adults and most often associated with general wear and tear from daily activities like walking, bending, standing and lifting. Athletes who run or play sports that involve jumping or quick pivoting are also more likely to experience knee pain and problems. But whether an individuals knee pain is caused by aging or injury, it can be a nuisance and even debilitating in some circumstances.

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You Experience Greater Than Normal Movement

If you feel like your range of motion in the knee is higher than usual, something might be out of place or injured. This is known as joint instability.

You may feel like your knee will buckle or fold with walking, twisting, or weight-bearing.

The sensation of the knee giving away may occur with simple daily activities or upon return to sport following what was thought to be a minor injury, explains Dr. Brown.

Additional episodes of joint instability may worsen the condition of a knee after an injury. Tears of the ACL or MCL and patellar dislocations could also create joint instability, he says.

Hundreds of thousands of exercise injuries occur each year. Among these, knee injuries are the most common.

The best plan of action is to make an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon.

Wear a compression-sleeve-type brace or a knee brace with hinges in the interim, says Dr. Brown.

This may provide some comfort or level of support. Use crutches if you feel like you could fall and suffer additional injury because of knee joint instability.

Another type of hypermobility can occur when the kneecap moves out of place. This condition is called a patella dislocation. Its usually painful when it happens, and it might be sore the next day. If it pops back in by itself, the injury might not be serious. The true test is whether you feel confident that you can resume regular activity later that day or the next day.

Natural Ways To Get Rid Of Knee Pain When Straightening Leg After Sitting

Natural ways for treating knee pain can be used to get relief from pain, swelling, and stiffness of affected knee joints.

1.Hydration

It is important to drink plenty of water and fluids to flush out toxins from the body and keep yourself well hydrated.

2.Diet

It is important to maintain a well-balanced, healthy diet. In women after menopause, it is necessary to maintain a good intake of calcium and vitamin D. In people suffering from gout, it is important to avoid protein-rich foods since uric acid is a by-product of protein metabolism.

3.Exercise

This is important to maintain joint mobility. Weight loss is essential to prevent osteoarthritis of knee joints. It should however be restricted and done under supervision if you have a meniscus tear or ligament injury since exercise can make the pain worse.

4.Limb Elevation

In case of swelling and inflammation, the affected leg can be elevated to reduce pain and swelling.

5.Ice Packs

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Causes Of Knee Sprains

Like all sprains, a knee sprain is an overstretching or tearing of a ligament. Usually, this type of injury is the result of a sudden movement or force.

• Over-extensions can damage your ACL. This type of injury may occur when you kick with force. A direct, forceful impact to the lower leg may have a similar effect.

• Sudden compressions or forceful impacts. Sideways blows to the outside of the knee can cause MCL sprains.
• Quick and sudden twists, pivots, and changes in direction can sprain the ACL. Wrenching your knee can also damage the MCL.

• Landing on your feet after a big jumpfor example, when making a basketball shot, sticking a gymnastics landing, or leaping over a ski mogul can sometimes sprain the ACL.

• Falls and accidents. A hard blow to the outside of the knee or to the lower leg can twist and wrench the knee, damaging the ACL. Landing hard on a bent knee can damage the PCL. The PCL can also be damaged by any hard blow to the front of the knee, such as striking it against a solid wall or sustaining a blow from a baseball bat. The MCL may sprain if you fall with your lower leg twisted away from your body.

My Knee Hurts When I Straighten It And Put Pressure On It

Written By Mich Torres on May 30, 2021 Medically Reviewed By Kristopher Ceniza

If youre here, youre probably asking: My knee hurts when I straighten it and put pressure on it. Why? Well, we come across this question fairly often and there are at least 9 possible reasons for this.

Some of them are harmless and could resolve on their own with some rest, like patellar tendinitis.

Others need physical therapy and maybe surgery to get better, like a ligament tear.

Whatever the case, this list has you covered with 9 common conditions so you know what to do next.

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When Should I Be Concerned About Not Being Able To Straighten Knee

A single episode where you cant straighten the knee that is not associated with other symptoms typically does not warrant concern or further evaluation. Multiple episodes of not being able to straighten your knee warrant further evaluation. Who should evaluate the clicking in your knee? Bypass your surgeon and schedule a consultation with a physician trained in Interventional Orthopedics. Surgeons provide surgical solutions that are not always in your best interest. What is Interventional Orthopedics? It is a board-certified physician in PM& R or anesthesia with advanced orthopedic training with nonsurgical treatment options. They use orthobiologics to heal injured orthopedic tissue. Orthobioligcs are biological substances naturally found in the body that are used to promote quicker healing of muscle, tendon, and bone injuries. To learn more please click on the video below.

Three Reasons Your Knee Hurts When Straight But Not When Bent

Your knees are complex joints that bear a lot of your body weight and power your legs for a wide range of activities like walking, running and jumping. Its important to take care of your knees so you can live out your normal daily life and enjoy physical activities. However, despite your best efforts, injuries and conditions can affect your knees, which can limit their use.

Some conditions cause pain that only affects your knees when trying to straighten them but not bending them. Common conditions that cause this kind of pain include:

1. Torn meniscus

The meniscus is a small, flat piece of cartilage that rests between the thighbones and shinbones on each side of your knees. There are two menisci in each knee. They exist to absorb shock in the knees and keep the bones from grinding against one another.

A traumatic injury that causes the knee to violently twist can cause a meniscus to tear. A torn meniscus might fold on itself, which can keep you from fully straightening your leg and cause knee pain when you try to do so.

2. Runners knee

Runners knee is the common term for pain around the kneecap. This is a condition in which the tendon that connects your kneecap to your shinbone becomes inflamed from repetitive motions. This can make it painful around the kneecap when you try and fully straighten your leg.

3. Strained muscles

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Will My Knee Pain Go Away

This depends on the underlying cause of the knee pain. If it is a result of injury, the pain can go away in 1-2 weeks with proper treatment and rest. If it is a result of arthritis, you will most likely have to live with this pain for the rest of your life. If you had a serious trauma, it can be up to one year until you are fully recovered.

How Do Doctors Diagnose Knee Injuries

The initial evaluation by the health care professional will begin with a medical history. Whether the evaluation is occurring immediately after the injury or weeks later, the physician may ask about the mechanism of injury to help isolate what structures in the knee might be damaged. Is the injury due to a direct blow that might suggest a fracture or contusion ? Was it a twisting injury that causes a cartilage or meniscus tear? Was there an injury associated with a planted foot to place stress and potentially tear a ligament?

Further questions will address other symptoms. Was swelling present, and if so, did it occur right away, or was it delayed by hours? Did the injury prevent weight-bearing or walking? Does going up or down steps cause pain? Is there associated hip or ankle pain? Is this an isolated injury, and have there been other occurrences?

Past medical history and information on medications and allergies will be helpful information to learn about the patient.

Sometimes X-rays of the knee are required to make certain there are no broken bones, but often with stress or overuse injuries where no direct blow has occurred, plain X-rays may not be initially needed and imaging of the knee may wait until a later date. Standing X-rays of the knees are used to assess the joint space and compare the injured knee to the uninjured one. An MRI might be considered to evaluate the ligaments and cartilage within the knee joint.

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Brief Anatomy Of The Knee

The knee is a vulnerable joint that bears a great deal of stress from everyday activities, such as lifting and kneeling, and from high-impact activities, such as jogging and aerobics.

The knee is formed by the following parts:

• Tibia. This is the shin bone or larger bone of the lower leg.

• Femur. This is the thighbone or upper leg bone.

• Patella. This is the kneecap.

Each bone end is covered with a layer of cartilage that absorbs shock and protects the knee. Basically, the knee is 2 long leg bones held together by muscles, ligaments, and tendons.

There are 2 groups of muscles involved in the knee, including the quadriceps muscles , which straighten the legs, and the hamstring muscles , which bend the leg at the knee.

Tendons are tough cords of tissue that connect muscles to bones. Ligaments are elastic bands of tissue that connect bone to bone. Some ligaments on the knee provide stability and protection of the joints, while other ligaments limit forward and backward movement of the tibia .

How To Prevent Knee Pain

There are several recommendations to help you maintain proper knee health and avoid pain. For instance, it is suggested to avoid any repeated stress or activities which put pressure on your knee caps. If you have to spend a long time on your knees, you can use knee pads.

Additionally, make sure you exercise and strengthen the muscles around your hips and knees. If you have flat feet, increase the arch by using shoe inserts. Lastly, having a normal body weight will decrease the pressure on your knees and the chance of having runners knee.

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Knee Ligament Injury Care At Uw Medicine

Choosing UW Medicine for your orthopedic and sports medicine care means getting access to some of the most experienced physicians and surgeons in the country, many of whom have spent years caring for elite and high-level athletes who have ligament and meniscus injuries. The UW Medicine team helps care for athletes from the Seattle Seahawks, Washington Huskies and many youth sports leagues.

Treatment plans for most knee injuries rely on making an accurate diagnosis with a focus on managing pain and rehabilitation to regain function. Surgery may also be necessary to lead to full, functional recovery. Our goal is to restore and optimize the function of your knee so you can get back to the activities you enjoy.

Knee and other sports injuries can be evaluated at any of our sports medicine clinics or orthopedic surgery locations across the Puget Sound region. Physicians and surgeons at the Sports Medicine Center at Husky Stadium are specifically trained in treating elite and high-level athletes of all ages. Most UW Medicine physicians train the next generation of doctors, so you can expect to receive care from doctors who have a wealth of experience and also drive future research and education within sports medicine.