How to take care of a torn ligament in the knee of about 4 months old?!
Question:
How to take care of a torn ligament in the knee of about 4 months old?
I fell very badly about 4 months ago and received a knee injury. I experienced intense swelling, instability, and was not able to stand up and walk or even bend the leg by itself—I had to move it with my hands. The doctor who saw my X-Rays told me that everything was fine and how to take care of the injury—ice, anti-inflammatory pills, elevation…
I did all of those things and stayed in bed for 2 weeks until I was able to walk but with some pain after doing so all day. Now after playing ball on the beach, I’m having terrible pains each day and even more at night. The pain is always at the left side of my knee and feels like it extends to the mid-thigh and to the middle of the leg; the left side of the knee front bone (patella) also hurts at the same time. I
I always believed that it was a torn ligament in the knee what I had but since the doctor didn’t give any follow-up to my injury, I was not able to receive any medical care.
Please, if you have come to a possible diagnosis of what may be happening to me, please let me know. Especially what I can do to take care of my knee now that 4 months have passed and regardless of all my care my knee still hurts and doesn’t allow me to enjoy life.
Answers:
I had ACL surgery about 10 years ago and every so often it gives me trouble like your describing. I have always kept a knee brace (pick one up at your local drugstore) just for some support for a few days until it passes. Also, wear it for additional support during sports. It takes an extremly long time for ligament injuries to heal and doing very little can irritate it or damage it again.....all your life.