A knee injury can be caused by a lot of factors. It can be from a sports injury, a personal accident, chronic pain that was ignored, or wear and tear with age. However, the effect can be the same no matter the cause such as experiencing excruciating pain, inability to move, and even being prevented from doing your daily activities. In worse cases, you may need to stop working and undergo a surgery to get it fixed. If this is the case, you should find a reliable orthopedic knee doctor. After a successful surgery, you should be able to get back the normal function of your legs and become mobile again.
What Does It Feel Like?
If you have this kind of injury, you can observe the following:
1. You may feel an extreme pain that can be sudden then goes away then comes back again
2. You may hear a loud pop on your joints when moving
3. You may see swelling in the injured area occurring in the next 24 hours after the incident
4. You may feel the joints are loose or are not in the right place
5. You may find it difficult to stand or walk
6. You may find it impossible to apply any weight on the injured area
7. You may feel a certain imbalance when standing up or you may not be able to do that at all
If you experience any of these things, it might be best to seek medical attention. Injuries like this should not be ignored because it can lead to irreparable and irreversible damage. Moreover, you might not be able to perform normally with these issues.
Going to the Hospital
When you visit a specialist, the first thing they will do is to subject you to a physical exam. They will check the injured areas from swelling with blood, which if this is the case, will require the use of a needle to remove the swelling and avoid infecting your leg. The area will also be checked to see if it is very tense and how you would react if it were subjected to slight pressure. You may also need to undergo an X-ray exam to verify that there are no broken bones. If there are broken bones, then surgery is on the table. You might even be subject to an MRI to see other injuries.
What to Do Next?
Once the cause of the injury has been determined, the next thing is to find a suitable treatment. This can be through medications, surgery, or both. To speed up the healing process, you should:
1. Rest
Resting is one of the easiest solutions for injury. By avoiding putting stress or pressure on it, the area can start healing. This is also recommended after a surgery. A significant recovery time is needed to fully heal. You may need to be assisted when moving. In some cases, you will need the help of crutches until you can walk again on your own.
2. Ice
Apply cold compress to it to prevent it from swelling.
3. Support
If needed, they may recommend that you wear a brace while healing. This can ensure stability to speed up the healing process.
Ready to Get Started?
Request a consultation with one of the knee specialists at the Orthopedic & Sports Institute. Call (920) 560-1000 or request an appointment online.
OSI has convenient locations to serve you. The campus in Appleton includes clinics, a surgery center, MRI, physical therapy, and a skilled nursing facility, as well as a walk-in clinic that provides care for new orthopedic injuries.
OSI has outreach clinics in New London, Ripon, Shawano, Waupaca, and the newest location serving the Green Bay area, inside the NOVO Health Clinic in De Pere.
OSI is a founding member of NOVO Health.