What is a Knee Injury?
Knee injuries can occur when the knee is twisted or bent in an unnatural way when playing sports, falling, or in another accident.
An injury to the knee can mean damage to the ligaments and cartilage around it, which can lead to conditions like arthritis, joint disorders, infections, or overall chronic knee pain.
What are Knee Injury Symptoms?
Symptoms associated with knee injuries can vary, and depend on the source of trauma to the knee. Temporary issues may cause pain, swelling, and bruising, while chronic knee conditions may result in consistent clicking or pain.
You may have a knee injury if you experience:
- Pain in the knee
- Swelling
- Redness or bruising
- Tenderness or a warm sensation around your knee
- Issues bending the knee, or it locking up
- Clicking, popping, or other abnormal sounds in your knee
- Knee instability, or issues bearing weight
When any of these symptoms are affecting your daily life, it’s important to reach out to The Woodlands Sports Medicine Centre to discuss diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
What are Common Knee Injuries?
Knee injuries can range from temporary to more severe and chronic. Common knee injuries include:
- Sprains (injuries to the ligaments that hold the knee together)
- Strains (stretching of tendons or muscles surrounding the knee)
- Bursitis (a fluid-filled knee pouch becomes irritated or infected)
- Meniscus tear
- Joint dislocation
- Bruised knee
- Fractures
- ACL tear
- Runner’s knee or overuse of the knee
- Osteochondritis dissecans (a children’s joint disorder)
- Osgood-Schlatter disease (child knee growing pains and swelling)
Your physician works with you to best diagnose your knee condition and may take on-site X-rays or an MRI, and then move forward with an effective treatment plan.
What are the Available Knee Injuries Treatments?
If your knee injury is more minor, your physician prescribes treatments you can do at home, like rest, icing the area, or anti-inflammatory medicine. It’s best to avoid exerting the knee so that it can heal, and to prevent future injury.
The orthopedic surgeons at The Woodlands Sports Medicine Centre perform an extensive exam before moving forward with any surgical procedures.
If your knee injury involves joint or ligament issues, fractures, or knee dislocations that prevent your mobility, they discuss surgical options. This may include a full or partial joint replacement, or orthotics and bracing that can help stabilize the knee.
The practice always opts for the most minimally invasive surgery possible, including cutting-edge arthroscopy. This allows surgeons to fix the knee without making a large incision.
Rehabilitation is important to the practice, and whether you experience surgery or not, physical therapy is a great tool to use for increased mobility, preventing any future issues, and a speedy recovery.
If you’re experiencing knee issues and would like to discuss treating a potential injury, reach out by phone or book online to schedule an appointment with The Woodlands Sports Medicine Centre.
