Knee injuries are quite common and can affect everything from ligaments, to tendons, cartilage, and joint issues. Knee injuries can range in recovery time from a few weeks to months, years, or permanent damage. The recovery and treatment will depend on the type of injury, but there are a few things you can do to speed up recovery from knee injuries.
Immediately after the injury
Within the first 48 to 72 hours, it’s important to stop any activity and rest your knee. Don’t push it and try to keep going on it. This is key to allow the swelling to go down, reduce any internal bleeding, and lower the pain. You should elevate your knee, avoid applying heat, massaging it, or drinking alcohol which can increase bleeding and swelling.
If your swelling and pain go down after this initial treatment, you may just want to monitor it for recovery. If the pain still hasn’t improved after 48 to 72 hours, you should seek medical help. If you continue to use the joint after it is injured, you can actually cause further damage which will only lengthen your recovery time.
When to seek professional treatment
If you heard a popping sound during the incident, you struggle to put weight on the joint or have lost some range of motion, you should seek professional help. An orthopedic surgeon will suggest appropriate measures for recovery including surgery and/or physical therapy.
The sooner you seek treatment, the sooner you can recover and reduce the possibility of additional damage.
At iOrtho, we specialize in knee injury treatment in Staten Island. Our team of orthopedic doctors provide treatment for everything from ACL sprains and tears to joint replacement and knee reconstruction. Contact us to learn more.
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