Most knee injuries are the result of the joint bending or twisting in a way that it was not anatomically designed to. Along with a sports injury, knee problems can occur from a fall or an accident. The injury typically damages the ligaments and cartilage inside the joint to a varying degree. High-force injuries, such as those from a motor vehicle accident or intense sporting event, can damage multiple parts of the knee’s anatomy.
Signs of a knee injury include pain, swelling, redness and tenderness. You may also have difficulty bending your knee or placing weight on it. This will make it difficult to get around and negatively affect your quality of life.
When you experience a knee injury, you should seek medical advice as soon as possible. Depending upon the severity of the injury, it may be treated at home using certain measures, such as resting, ice, compression and elevation. If these conservative home care treatments are ineffective, our doctor may recommend immobilizing or splinting to keep your knee from moving. This will decrease the chance of further injury while stabilizing the knee.
Chronic knee injuries involving bursitis and inflammation may require the use of anti-inflammatory medications. The most severe knee injuries may require surgery to repair torn ligaments as well as fractures and dislocations. The surgery may be done by arthroscopy, which eliminates the need for large incisions.
After the operation, physical therapy exercises can help strengthen and stretch the muscles around the knee as well as stabilize the joint. Even if surgery is not required, physical therapy can allow for better mechanics of the knee and leg, which helps prevent future injuries. The length of recovers from a knee injury depends upon the type and severity of the injury as well as the level of care required.
If you have experienced a knee injury, schedule a consultation at Angelo Mattalino, MD. We can diagnose the severity of the injury and recommend the course of treatment that will get you back on your feet as soon as possible. We proudly offer a number of services for knee injuries, including knee arthroscopy, meniscus repair, Visco-supplementation and treatment with the Continuous Passive Motion (CPM) machine. Our office is conveniently located in Phoenix. Contact us today to book an appointment to learn more about your treatment options.