Knee Sprain

A knee sprain is usually diagnosed after a series of hospital tests, most commonly a range of motion test and x-ray. The first and foremost duty of physicians is to rule out any obvious problems that could mimic the pain and tenderness associated with a knee sprain. Generally this refers to torn ligaments and also fractures. Patients need to refrain from self diagnosing, as it is too simple to mistake a hairline fracture for a knee sprain.

When you experience an actual knee sprain, you will have caused injury to the ligaments that are surrounding the joint of your knee. This is easier done than you may realize. In some cases it takes little more than stepping over the home’s threshold in a manner that provides an unsafe landing for your foot. In other cases it is a sports injury or even a latent predisposition to ligament injuries that cause a knee sprain to occur in a situation where other patients might suffer only mild discomfort.

Signs of suffering from a knee sprain vary, although one common denominator is the swelling of the knee area and the pain associated with placing any weight on the affected leg. Other patients notice that their legs tend to buckle toward the side when they are suffering from a knee sprain. The most serious of these conditions may require surgery to completely repair the ligament damage of the knee sprain.

For more other patients, a knee sprain may be healed with time. The affected leg should be rested and it is best to keep the ice pack handy and a billow ready for elevating the leg. Although the milder ligament injuries are not serious, they still take time to heal, and failure to take it easy on the leg with the knee sprain may actually make matters worse. Patients who would like to temporarily ease the discomfort of pain may rely on over the counter pain killers.

It is crucial to remember that complete immobility is just as harmful to a leg with a knee sprain as overdoing it with activity. In order to heal, the knee needs to be properly exercises to keep the ligaments stretching and accustomed to the exercises that come natural. Some have found that the use of an ace bandage can make a big difference when it comes to walking on the leg with the knee sprain, but at the same time taking it easy.