Joint Pain Due to Knee Injury, Handle Immediately

A knee injury can occur in one of the constituent structures of the knee, namely the ligament, cartilage, or hard bone. A knee injury can hamper daily activities because it causes difficulty walking. Injuries that afflict the knee generally occur during exercise. ACL or anterior cruciate ligament is the most frequently injured part.

What happens when you have a knee injury

An injured knee can cause pain, bruising, or swelling. These three things can appear a few minutes after someone has a knee injury. Pinched nerve tissue, displacement or fracture of the knee bone, to tears in the veins in the knee, are conditions that generally occur and cause pain. Another common result of knee injuries is numbness in the lower limbs. In addition, the lower limbs or legs can feel weak, cold, tingling, bruised, or pale. A knee injury that occurs suddenly, or called an acute injury, can be caused by a direct impact on the knee. In addition, knee injuries can also occur due to being a pedestal when turning, falling, or bending the knee.

Different Types of Knee Injuries

Because the knee is composed of various tissues, the knee injury is also divided into several types, based on the damaged tissue. Below are various conditions of knee injuries that often occur:

• Sprain

A sprain is a knee injury that afflicts a ligament. The ligament itself is a connective tissue that functions to unite all parts of the knee. A knee injury due to a sprain is divided into three, based on the level of damage to the ligament.
• Level 1 sprain: Ligaments in the knee stretch and cause pain. However, the knee is still stable and there are no tears in the ligament.
• Level 2 sprain: There is instability in the knee, because some ligament fibers have torn.
• Level 3 sprain: There is a severe ligament tear.

• Bursitis

Another knee injury is bursitis, which is inflammation due to irritation or infection, in a sac filled with knee fluid called the bursa. The bursa itself serves as a pressure reducer to minimize friction between the tissues that make up the knee, such as the muscles and tendons around the joint. There are two main exchanges in the knee, which are above the kneecap and which is located at the tip of the shin (tibia).

• Damage to the meniscus (meniscal tears)

Meniscus is a crescent-shaped disc of cartilage which has the function to reduce friction. Apart from being a silencer, this part also functions as a soft cushion for the femur or femur. This type of knee injury can occur due to overuse or due to natural processes as we get older.

• Knee muscle tension

Tension in the knee occurs when the muscles and tendons around the knee are stretched due to being too deep to bend or too wide when stretching. Besides causing extreme pain, this condition can also cause disruption of knee function, especially in the freedom of movement.

• Dislocation of the kneecap

The kneecap or patella can move to the side of the knee. Often this condition is caused by injuries due to accidents or sports. Although very painful, dislocation of the kneecap is not life threatening. To restore the condition of the knee, physiotherapy is needed.

• Joint dislocation

If the knee has a strong impact, the possibility of dislocation or joint displacement is very high. Collisions can occur during sports or when accidents occur. This type of knee injury causes severe damage to all components of the knee. Damage can also affect the nervous system and blood vessels in the knee.

• Knee fracture

Fractures or broken bones in the knee are usually caused by a direct hit to the knee bone. This can happen if when falling, the kneecap becomes a barrier to body weight. Fractures can also occur on the shin because of sudden pressure to the knee, especially in people who already suffer from osteoporosis.

Other injuries that can afflict the knee are patellofemoral pain syndrome or commonly referred to as runner's knee disease. There is also a condition called chondromalacia patella. The second cause of this type of interference with the knee is repeated damage to the knee structure based on genetic factors and by the wrong way to move the knee during activity.

What to Do when Having a Knee Injury

When suffering a knee injury, things to do within 2-3 days of the injury are:

• Immediately stop whatever physical activity is being undertaken.
• Compress with ice water for 15 minutes every two hours to reduce pain due to swelling and internal bleeding.
• To prevent worsening injuries and pain, bandage the knee when injured.
• Lie down with your knees above your body.
• Do not apply hot water or balm to the injured joint.
• Do not consume alcoholic beverages because they can make swelling and bleeding worse.
• Bleeding and swelling can get worse if the massage is done on the injured area. Therefore, do not massage the location of the injured joint.
• Do not use knee joints. Because by resting the joints, it can have a good effect on reducing pain.

If the injury is severe and is not likely to heal on its own, contact a doctor. Some things a doctor may do with a knee injury include:

• Open operation

If the knee is seriously injured and requires a thorough overhaul, open surgery may be performed.

• Arthroscopic surgery

Usually this operation is performed on cartilage injuries. Arthroscopic surgery is done by making a small incision in the knee then inserting the surgical instrument through the incision.

• Withdrawal of fluids or aspirations

This action will be done if the knee joint experiences severe swelling, so the fluid in it must be removed through the needle. This is a method used to increase the ability of motion and strength of the knee. This method is also used to reduce pain due to injury.

• Physiotherapy

This is the method used to improve the ability of motion and strength of the knee. This method is also used to reduce pain due to injury.

A knee injury can happen to anyone and at any time. Take the first step of treatment so that the injury does not get worse. To reduce the risk of injury, do not carry items or put too much weight on your knees, warm up before exercising, and use comfortable shoes for every activity. If there is severe knee pain that makes you unable to move and have difficulty walking, consult a doctor immediately.