{"id":7150,"date":"2019-06-06T05:57:28","date_gmt":"2019-06-06T05:57:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=7150"},"modified":"2021-04-12T17:41:32","modified_gmt":"2021-04-12T17:41:32","slug":"14-symptoms-of-sprained-knee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/14-symptoms-of-sprained-knee\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Symptoms of Sprained Knee"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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A sprained knee means that an injury has occurred around the knee joint. There are four major ligaments <\/a>that cause the stability of the knee. The smaller ligaments will be in pain when there is an injury. When you have a sprained knee, there are eight symptoms to look out for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A sprain is different from a strain. They both get confused at times. A sprain is when there is an injury to the ligaments, whereas a strain is an injury to the muscles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ligaments are important because it connects our bones. It allows our joints to move. When an injury occurs, the joints become unstable because of your ligaments. Depending on the severity of the knee sprain, it can take up to a year to get relief. If it\u2019s minor, you should be able to use your knee in two to four weeks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The more you rest your knee, the quicker it will heal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Knee pain is one of the symptoms of a sprained knee. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The pain may be felt in the back of the knee as well as in the front. When you touch the knee, it will feel tender. In order to get relief from knee pain, you need to stay off of it as much as possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elevate your knee and take over-the-counter pain-relieving medication, such as Tylenol. When you need to get up, use crutches. That way you won\u2019t have to put any extra pressure <\/a>on your knee. It is a good idea to try not to walk on the side that is injured. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people figure if they walk on it, it\u2019ll get better, but a lot of the times it\u2019ll get worse. If you do try to walk, you won\u2019t be able to keep your balance for long. You\u2019ll end up falling down and causing more damage than you already have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. The swelling of the knee is a symptom you will experience with a sprained knee. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The swelling <\/a>occurs fast when you have knee pain. When it comes to swelling it may not be noticed at first until you touch it. You\u2019ll notice that one knee is bigger than the other one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Putting a cold compress or ice on the knee will help the swelling to go down. While it\u2019s swollen, you will experience pain as well. The cold compress should help with both issues until you\u2019re able to get to a doctor who can examine your knee and give you prescription medications. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While it\u2019s swollen, you don\u2019t want to do any physical activities. The swelling will get bigger if you try to work out on it. It\u2019s best to leave it alone, elevate it as much as possible, and rest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you do those things, you\u2019ll be back on your feet in no time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Stiff joints are a symptom of a sprained knee. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you have stiff joints, it will be painful to even move. It is as if you have arthritis<\/a>. The joints and ligaments work together to help you move. When there is an injury, the ligaments and joints are unable to do their job. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are unable to move because if you try to, it\u2019ll be painful. In order to get your joints and ligaments working together again, you\u2019ll need to see a chiropractor who will do exercises to strengthen your joints and ligaments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It will take time to get your knee back to where it was. In addition, massaging the knee with analgesic cream will work as well. In order to get your knee back to where it was, it is important to do knee exercises at home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The more you strengthen the knee, the quicker it will get back to normal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Instability is one of the main symptoms of a sprained knee. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A sprained knee will cause you to be unable to move the way you\u2019re supposed to. When you do try walking, your knee will give out. This can be frustrating if you are at the grocery store and your knee gives out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll have to call someone to come and get you because you\u2019re unable to walk. You may even have to call an ambulance because you don\u2019t want to live with a sprained knee. The sooner you get help for it, it will be better for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the emergency room, the doctors will examine your knee and take blood <\/a>tests and X-rays. Once it\u2019s determined you have a sprained knee, you will be given crutches and medication. In addition, you will have to go to rehabilitation to strengthen your knee, so you can walk correctly again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. The popping sound is heard when you have a sprained knee. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The popping can be felt as well. When it pops, you will experience pain. The reason for the popping sound is that the joint and ligament are injured. In order to stop the popping, a doctor would need to check your knee out by giving you X-rays. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The X-rays will tell the doctor how severe <\/a>the sprain is. Some sprains have to be operated on if rehabilitation alone doesn\u2019t work. Rehabilitation is still done after surgery to help strengthen the knee. Some people can pop their knees and not feel any pain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They may feel that their knee is just stiff from not stretching it. That isn\u2019t the case. There is a sprain present. No pain may be felt and the sprain could heal on its own. The sprain may become evident when the person works on it and suffers pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Bruising is a symptom of a sprained knee. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The bruising <\/a>will change color as the knee pain goes away. The colors it can change to are green, lime, and yellow. When it comes to bruising, icing it will help it to go away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A lot of times when it comes to bruises, the blood isn\u2019t circulating properly. Once the ice starts doing its job, the bruise begins to clear, which means the blood is freely flowing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There may be a bruise when you have a sprained knee because when you injured it, you could have fallen or bumped it against something. For instance, if you were playing basketball and when you landed, your knee landed on the floor hard. That will cause a bruise to show on your knee. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is no need to try and do any physical activity while your knee is bruised. The bruise won\u2019t go away by doing so. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. The buckling of the knee is a symptom of a sprained knee. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Whenever you walk, your knee will buckle. By putting weight <\/a>on the leg, it will cause it to buckle. The direction in which the knee buckles is an indication as to which ligament is injured. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It will be painful and embarrassing, especially if you are away from home. You will need assistance when you are away from home when the knee buckle. If you\u2019re home alone, you can at least lean on something, so you can sit down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pain will still be there though. When you go to rehabilitation, you will be given exercises to do at home and at the office, which will help strengthen your knee and to keep them from buckling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may be given a walking device to help you while you are going to rehabilitation to help you to get around better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Limited mobility is another symptom you will experience when you have a sprained knee. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The ligaments and joints will become weak and make it difficult to move around. An athlete won\u2019t be able to practice or play their chosen sport because it will be difficult for him or her to move. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are able to walk, there will be a limp. Limping is a cause to seek medical attention because you shouldn\u2019t be limping to get around. Some coaches will allow their players to play while they have a limp<\/a>, which can cause the player to jeopardize their careers just to play in the game. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once limping is apparent, the player needs to sit down and rest their knee. Placing ice and elevating it will help a lot. Rehabilitation will help the athlete get back in the game again by making him or her do strengthening exercises for the knee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9.    Inability to Handle Loads<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People who are dealing with the effects of a sprained knee are unable to support loads on the affected leg. If the individual does carry a load, they run the risk of worsening their condition. If you sprain your knee, you need to take plenty of time to rest. Rest is the only effective treatment<\/a>, along with the use of OTC painkillers and anti-inflammatories.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you fail to get the necessary rest to heal the joint and decide to carry something substantial, then you may cause further damage to the joint. When our foot makes contact with the ground, it sends a vibration through the lower limbs, known as \u201cfoot strike.\u201d Foot strike is not a problem for people with healthy knees. However, if you\u2019re dealing with a knee injury, the foot strike may cause symptoms of severe pain, especially when carrying a heavy object.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People with a sprained knee should avoid carrying loads for at least three to four weeks after the injury to prevent re-injury or worsening of their condition.
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10.    Deep Aching<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re dealing with the effects of a sprained knee, you may find that you experience a deep aching sensation from within the joint. This symptom typically occurs for the first 48-hours after the injury<\/a>. The knee is a complex joint, with tendons and arteries compacted into a small space.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After experiencing a knee sprain, the tissues in the knee inflame, increasing the pressure inside the knee joint. As a result of the edema and swelling associated with a strain, the patient may find that their knee feels tight and starts to throb. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This pain increases if the patient tries to climb a flight of stairs. The pressure inside the knee may cause pain when flexing the joint and applying pressure as you transfer your weight to the affected leg. A deep ache may also be a sign of a meniscus tear. This cartilage is easy to injure, especially if the patient experiences a shearing force on the surface of the meniscus during the injury.
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11.    Feeling Warm to the Touch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some patients <\/a>that experience a knee sprain may find that the joint swells, and starts to emanate heat. This symptom occurs due to bleeding in the joint. As a result, the inflammation and swelling associated with the sprain may be more intense than what you would typically expect from this type of injury.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Icing the injury may help to provide some relief. However, if you are prone to bleeding, you may need to visit your doctor\u2019s office for an assessment of the knee. If your physician does diagnose internal bleeding, they may prescribe coagulant medication to stop it and start the recovery process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the treatment is successful, you should notice a significant reduction in pain overnight, and the joint will stop emanating heat. The joint may still feel tight and painful for another few weeks until the edema starts to subside. Your doctor will issue prescription-strength anti-inflammatories to reduce the swelling and speed up the healing process.
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12.    Muscle Spasms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some people that experience a knee sprain may notice that they develop symptoms of muscle spasms after the injury. Any strain to the muscular or skeletal system results in adverse stimulation of the central nervous system. As a result, the patient may find that they start to experience spasms or cramps in the calve, quadriceps, or hamstring. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spasms<\/a> start to show up, they range in intensity and duration. Some patients may experience mild muscle twitches, while others might have to deal with painful spasms that last for hours on end. After diagnosis, your doctor will prescribe you with anti-inflammatory medication to bring down the swelling in the joint. These anti-inflammatory medications also help to reduce the chances of receiving muscle spasms as well.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you experience frequent spasms with intense pain, speak to your physician., They may require you to take an MRI to examine the extent of your injury further.
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13.    Ligament Strains<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Knee sprains<\/a> typically involve the ligaments of the knee. The injury may strain one or multiple tendons in the joint, including damage to the ACL, MCL, LCL, or PCL. With ACL sprains, the patient has trouble with supporting their weight, and they may also notice a popping sound as the injury occurs. ACL injuries are the most common type of damage to the ligaments of the knee.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you sprain your PCL, it may cause symptoms of pain and swelling in the back of the knee, as well as the development of a \u201cBakers cyst,\u201d a golf ball-sized cyst that may protrude from the rear of the knee, under the surface of the skin. This cyst makes the knee feel tight when flexing, and you may experience pain if you try to kneel, even on a soft surface like a bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patients with LCL and MCL sprains may experience issues with the structural integrity of the knee, and the joint may feel like it wants to buckle toward the opposite side of the injury.
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14.    Risk Factors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People who sprain their knee have exposure to situations and circumstances that bring about the injury. If you find yourself mentioned in the high-risk group below, then make sure you increase your preventative measures to reduce your risk of sustaining this injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Participation in sports \u2013 People who actively engage in sports that involve sudden changes in direction, such as football, hockey, and tennis, are at a higher risk of sustaining a knee sprain. Sudden changes in direction provide a shearing force toward the knee joint, and if the patient does not move their foot in time, they may tear the ACL. ACL injuries are the most common form of knee injury in professional and amateur sports. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Age \u2013 People over the age of 65 may experience a slow decline in the structural integrity of the knee joints. As a result of this gradual degeneration, the joint is at a higher risk of sustaining a sprain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sedentary lifestyle \u2013 People who don\u2019t exercise may experience atrophy of the ligaments and supporting muscles in the knee joint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Obesity <\/a>\u2013 People who are overweight or obese place a tremendous amount of pressure on the knee joint, increasing the risk of a sprain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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