Knee Injury Facts: All You Need to Know
A knee injury can be something serious or nothing to
worry about. The only issue is knowing the difference. Since your knee is a
shock absorber and also aids in supporting your body weight, it is critical for
you to know when to go to our emergency room in Baytown.
Definition of a Knee Injury
The knee is a hinge joint that causes your leg to
bend back and straighten, so as you can walk. The knee also allows some small
amount of rotation. It is a joint that is vulnerable to repetition and
traumatic injuries.
Knee injuries are usually defined by the mechanism
which they affect and the affected anatomy. Here are the different types of
knee injuries:
- Knee
sprains: These are injuries that affect the ligaments that hold your knee
- Knee
strains: These occur when muscles or tendons that surround the knee get
stretched
- Knee
bursitis: This occurs when the bursa (fluid-filled pouch) gets irritated
- Meniscus
tears: Occurs when there is damage in the inside of your knee
- Knee
fractures: Caused by direct hits to the knee
- Overuse
injuries
- Knee
joint dislocation
Knee Injury Symptoms and Signs
The symptoms and signs are usually related to the
type of injury. However, here are the main symptoms of knee injuries:
- Heat
- Knee
pain
- Swelling
- Tenderness
- Redness
- Difficulty
bending the knee
- Popping
or clicking sounds
- Problems
weight-bearing
If you experience acute pain, rush to our 24-hour emergency clinic so as our doctor can treat it.
How Do Emergency Room Physicians Diagnose a Knee Injury?
When you get to our ER in Baytown, TX, our physician
will take a physical examination and check your history. Depending on the
injury, our doctor will also perform specific tests that involve bending your
knee and rotating it.
These tests are designed to test your knee’s
stability and isolate the injured part of the knee.
At times, an MRI or X-Ray will be used to check the
condition of the knee.
What Is the Recovery Time for a
Knee Injury?
The recovery time is dependent on the severity and
type of injury. If your injury is severe enough for you to need surgery and
physical therapy, then your recovery will be longer.
Simple sprains and strains can last for two weeks.
If the injury is extensive that it needs arthroscopic surgery, it may take
three months to heal.
At times, traumatic injuries can take up to a year
for the knee to heal. Physical therapy is usually used to
help speed up your recovery.
Knee injuries can be treated if caught early. Call our ER near you, and our physician at Altus Emergency in Baytown will help you get better.
Find More Interesting Topic:
When to Seek Medical Care for Your Sick Child - Click Here...
Comments