Knee Injury Treatments

From an accidental bump here and there to more serious injury, the knee is possibly more prone to be wounded than any other body part. Be it swelling due to fluid collection in the knee membrane, inflamed tendons or dislocation, there are a number of treatment methods for knee injuries, some of which can even start at home.

Care at Home

• In case you think it is a sprain or fracture in the knee, call for professional help. But until they arrive, take care to rest the injured knee in order to avoiding further hurting it. Keeping the knee elevated, applying an ice compress and taking a pain killers, such as ibuprofen, will reduce the pain and swelling.

Medical Treatment

• At the clinic, a doctor will order an X-ray, and if a break or fracture is found, the knee will be put in a cast. If your knee is swollen because of fluid retention, the doctor might insert a needle to drain the fluid. When the pain and swelling reduces, the doctor might ask you to go to the clinic a second time for a better examination of the cartilage and ligaments. Depending on how badly the knee is injured, you might be prescribed strength pain medication. Crutches and plastering maybe recommended along with rest for a few weeks, based on the severity of the injury.

Arthroscopic Knee Surgery

• Sometimes a doctor will prescribe an arthroscope or a fiberoptic device with lenses and light to be inserted into the knee cavity through small incisions. This will provide a clear idea of the trouble spot in the knee after which a doctor might suggest reconstructive surgery for correction of the problem. The entire knee might require a transplant as well. After the arthroscope procedure, the knee is bandaged, and sometimes crutches might be recommended to take some of the weight off. These days, physiotherapy is advised strongly to get the knee back into action slowly and encourage faster recuperation.

Knee Braces

• To bring down the strain on the knee, a doctor can recommend the use of knee braces. Built with firm carbon fibers or other polymeric substances, a big brace, advised after surgery, aims to restrict motion of the knee in order to let it rest and recover from the shock of injury and surgery. The patient might be advised to use new age elastic pull-on bandages, which aid the body to be aware of the knee's position at all times. This goes a long way in protection of the knee by helping to avoid risky movements or positions.