The ligament present in the knees is a short band of fibrous tissues that is tough and connects one bone to other. These ligaments are primarily composed of long and stringy collagen muscles, and they prevent certain movements of the joints. One can injure the ligament through a sharp alteration in direction, landing in a wrong way from a jump or a sudden blunt force to the knee. When the muscle is weakened, or there is lack of coordination, then the person is likely to suffer from a ligament sprain or tear. Regardless of whether you have a dull thud or a sharp pain in the knees, you should consult with an orthopedic expert without further delay.
How much time does it take to heal from sprains caused by knee ligaments?
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When you have a little sprain in the knees caused by ligaments, it will take a few weeks to heal. But regaining the maximal ligament strength would take around six weeks when the collagen fibers will become completely mature. When you have knee sprain, you should take rest, ice the injury and take some anti-inflammatory medications that your doctor has prescribed. You may also opt for physiotherapy which can help in healing the complications.
There are various grades of a sprain caused by knee ligaments.
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Even though sprain is a common outcome of knee ligaments injury, it can range between mild, moderate and severe grades. In case of a mild sprain, the ligaments tend to stretch but they do not tear. While in moderate sprain, the ligament may tear partially causing bruising and swelling. On the other hand, in severe grade sprain, the ligament tears completely which may not only cause swelling but also bleeding under the skin. One should closely follow the instructions of the orthopedic expert to help the ligament heal completely.
Ultrasound and MRI scan can help in detecting the severity of injury to the knee ligaments.
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When you have a knee injury and your doctor is not certain about what may have caused it or the degree of its severity, he may suggest attending tests like an MRI scan or ultrasound scan. These tests help in showing up whether there is any tear or rupture in the ligaments. In some cases, an X-ray of the knee can help in determining whether the bones are affected by the injury. You should not skip these tests if your doctor recommends undergoing them since they are the cornerstone of your treatment.
Draining off some liquid from the knees can help in reducing the swelling significantly.
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When there is a lot of swelling in the knee after the injury, then your doctor may recommend draining off some amount of the fluid which is responsible for causing it to swell. For accomplishing this, a needle is used for piercing the skin around the knee so that the fluid can be drained off with the help of a syringe. You should take special precautions to prevent infections from intruding into the infected area.
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