You already know that old age and repetitive bending can wreck your knees. That’s why you see so many people using mobility aids when they shop the superstores or hit the mall. While wear and tear is perhaps the biggest cause of knee issues, accidents can also hurt your knees, sometimes seriously. Front-end vehicle collisions, falls and other mishaps can do serious damage to your ACL and/or joints, making walking difficult. Without the right treatment, you could find yourself riding a scooter instead of using your own two feet when you are out in public.
Types of Knee Injuries
Your knees can sustain a surprising number of injuries that may limit your daily activities. Some of the most common issues are as follows:
- Meniscal Tears: The knee contains two pieces of cartilage called the menisci. An accident or aging can cause this cartilage to tear, creating pain, swelling and decreased mobility. When you injure your meniscus suddenly, you can often hear a disturbing pop.
- Fractures: A severe blow to the knee can fracture your kneecaps and/or surrounding bones. A hard fall, particularly for the elderly, or a car accident can cause this injury.
- Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury: If you are a sports fan, you know that an ACL injury is serious and sometimes can end a career. Non-athletes can also incur this injury during a fall or other accident. A quick change in direction can easily tear this ligament, causing intense pain and the inability to walk.
Knee Injury Treatment
Some knee injuries are obvious immediately after an accident. Some, like cartilage tears, may worsen in the days after the injury. If you hurt your knee during a collision or fall, you should immediately seek medical treatment to prevent exacerbating your injury. Treatment for these problems ranges from ice, heat and massage to surgical interventions. Some of these procedures are:
- ACL Reconstruction – Patellar Tendon Graft Technique replaces the damaged ligament with a piece of tendon.
- Arthroscopic Chondroplasty – The doctor “cleans out” damaged cartilage using minimal incisions and the aid of a small camera.
- Cartilage Repair – The doctor stimulates the cartilage to encourage new growth.
- Meniscus Repair – The surgeon uses an arthroscope to access the knee and either tacks or stitches the torn cartilage.
Your recovery may include physical therapy and specially tailored exercises to strengthen your knee.
Regional Medical Group
Walking on a damaged knee only makes the problem worse. The physicians at Regional Medical Group know how serious knee conditions can be. They offer prompt assessment of your injuries and can perform the advanced repair procedures that some knee injuries require.
The cost of health insurance can be prohibitive, encouraging you to avoid needed doctor’s visits. At RMG, you do not need to worry about the lack of insurance or paying anything out-of-pocket. They receive their fees from your legal settlement, so all you need to do is work on your recovery. In the Atlanta area, call 404-943-9996 when you need medical attention after an accident.
Knee injuries can turn you from an active person into someone who needs help accomplishing the simplest tasks. If you are the victim of an accident, seek medical help and follow your doctor’s instructions. Do not let financial difficulties stop you from getting the most advanced treatments possible.
A very informative article on the possibility of knee injuries during car accidents as well as the different types of knee injuries. Thank you for sharing this post.