Healing Timeframe On average simple knee sprains and strains usually recover within 1 – 2 weeks. If you are using a brace or splint, gradually discard it over 3 – 6 weeks as pain settles. If there is a sense of instability or lack of “trust” in your knee, see your GP for advice.
Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation
Resting the affected ligaments, tendons, and muscles, gives the knee time to heal. Your doctor may provide a cane or crutches to help you keep weight off the affected knee for about a week. After the swelling starts to subside, most people can walk while wearing a knee brace.
If a knee ligament is slightly stretched, you will probably need only home treatment. You may need a splint or brace (immobilizer) for a partly torn ligament. A complete tear may need surgery. A minor knee sprain may take up to 6 weeks to heal, while a severe sprain may take months.
Knee strains or sprains can cause swelling, pain and tenderness in the affected knee, as well as buckling and trouble bending the knee. While many strains and sprains can be treated at home, you should call your doctor immediately if your knee pain is so severe that you cannot walk or bend the knee.
Seek immediate medical attention
Ask someone to drive you to urgent care or the emergency room if your knee pain is caused by an injury and is accompanied by: A joint that appears deformed. A popping noise at the time your knee was injured. Inability to bear weight.
A twisted knee is an injury that can range from mild to severe and is usually painful, even debilitating, depending on the extent of injury and damage to the knee joint.
Stretching the knee, thigh, and leg can gradually restore your range of motion to pre-injury levels, while strengthening thigh and leg muscles can help to support the knee. As your knee and muscles grow stronger, your physical therapist guides you in returning to more vigorous activity.
Do use "RICE." Rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) is good for knee pain caused by a minor injury or an arthritis flare. Give your knee some rest, apply ice to reduce swelling, wear a compressive bandage, and keep your knee elevated. Don't overlook your weight.
Place pillow under both legs to elevate the knee above the level of the heart. If there is swelling in the knee, the elevation can help to reduce it. If you have knee stiffness, it is usually best to keep the knee straight while sleeping.
Tip #1: Avoid Sitting With Your Knee Bent Or Cross-Legged
To give your knees relief, limit the amount of time you spend with your knees bent or crossed. Try to have them straight whenever possible. If you have to sit with your knees crossed or bent, limit it to 20 minutes at a time before getting up and moving around.
So, in summary, what have we covered today? When you twist your knee, the meniscus may become torn, which can cause pain, locking and giving way of the knee. A great test to give you an idea of if you've damaged your meniscus.
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the most common ligaments to be injured. The ACL is often stretched and/or torn during a sudden twisting motion (when the feet stay planted one way, but the knees turn the other way). Skiing, basketball, and football are sports that have a higher risk of ACL injuries.
The most common way it is injured is when the foot is fixed to the ground, the knee is slightly bent and the knee twists suddenly, either as you change direction or as you are tackled.
If your knee hurts, you might want to stay off of it. But resting too much makes your muscles weaken and often makes knee pain worse. Find a way to get moving without hurting your knee. Some good exercises for people with knee pain include walking, swimming, and water aerobics.
If you try to wait out your pain and it doesn't seem to go away, a doctor can help. Generally, athletes should see a healthcare provider for pain lasting more than 48 hours and other adults should see an expert if there seems to be no change for three weeks.
Sudden severe pain with no apparent cause can indicate a serious knee injury. This could include a meniscus tear, torn ligament, fractured bone, or a dislocated kneecap. Seek immediate professional help if the sudden severe pin limits your movement or ability to bear weight on the affected knee.
Collateral ligament injury
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.
You might develop the following signs and symptoms in your knee: A popping sensation. Swelling or stiffness. Pain, especially when twisting or rotating your knee.
Over-the-counter medications — such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve) — may help ease knee pain. Some people find relief by rubbing the affected knee with creams containing a numbing agent, such as lidocaine, or capsaicin, the substance that makes chili peppers hot.
If the MCL or ACL tears, the result is usually pain, swelling, stiffness, and instability. In most cases, the injured person can still walk with the torn knee ligament. But the movement will be severely limited, not to mention painful. Surgery may be the best route to a pain-free life, with amazing success rates.
Injured Knees Continue Degenerating If Untreated
Often when the cause of bad knee pain is left untreated it can lead to further injury and serious complications. Your knee may swell, become unstable, lock up, and/or develop a deformity. Unbearable knee pain will not go away until you finally seek treatment.