The knee is an intricate body part, comprising tendons, ligaments, bones, and muscles. Knee injuries are overwhelmingly painful, depending on the severity. Additionally, serious injuries may, to a great extent, restrict your mobility.
Knee injuries are quite common in the workspace, regardless of the occupation. However, high-risk professions include construction workers, fast food employees, nurses, and warehouse workers.
Common knee injuries include sprained knee, repeated stress injury, torn cartilage, and shattered kneecaps. Below are helpful tips following a knee injury.
Rest
Upon a knee injury, you should immediately take a break from your regular schedule. Resting reduces the effects of repetitive stress and strain.
While resting, avoid staying or long periods without any knee movement whatsoever. You could try moving the knee for about 20 seconds each hour, but gently. Less severe injuries take approximately two days of rest to heal.
Self -Check
Self -checking entails running your fingers and palms over the affected knee. Make sure not to press very hard or too lightly.
Through self-checking, you establish whether or not you have any broken bones. With a broken bone, the pain will be extreme upon pressing. Also, you can determine the exact position of the affected ligament or bone.
Elevate
The other crucial step is keeping the knee in an elevated position. Sit on a recliner, or use pillows for popping the injured knee or leg.
Raising the knee enhances blood circulation, increasing blood flow back to the heart. Therefore, excess blood flows away from the knee, re-circulating throughout the body. Knee elevation minimizes the resultant swelling and inflammations significantly.
Ice Packs
Ice is a renowned reliever, particularly for short-term pain. Ice packs consist of ice cubes in a plastic pack or a ready-made pharmacy package.
Begin by rubbing a small quantity of oil where you’ll place the ice. If you have stitches, use a plastic bag instead to cover the area from becoming wet.
Once you position the ice, ensure to check your skin color within five to ten minutes. Leaving the ice pack for over 20 minutes poses hazardous skin damage.
Heat Packs
Heat is another common treatment for pains and aches. For effective heat treatment, you could apply a deep heat cream, hot water bottle, or heat pads. Wheat bags and heat lamps are convenient too.
Make sure to use gentle and bearable warmth. You risk scalding and burning if you employ extreme heat.
Similar to ice packs, you shouldn’t apply heat packs for more than 20 minutes. Most importantly, don’t use a heat pack for a very fresh injury.
File for Compensation
Suppose you suffer the injury while at work, consider filing for a knee injury claim. Compensation covers you if the accident is out of negligence, and not your fault.
The workers’ compensation plan is crucial for payment of financial loss due to the injury. Where you can no longer work in a specific field, compensation caters for occupational training.
Seek a Doctor’s Appointment
Visit a doctor within 24-48 hours after the accident. The workers’ compensation comes in handy, covering the incurred medical expenses.
For a physical examination, the doctor will inspect the knee for swelling and bruising. Checking the security of the knee joints is also critical.
Imaging tests include ultrasounds, X-rays, MRI, and CT scans. Real-time images from these scans produce a better view of the injured knee. They primarily determine the best form of treatment.
Medication
Following a diagnosis, your doctor will prescribe medication, particularly pain relievers. Additionally, medication is necessary to treat underlying conditions, including arthritis.
Common prescriptions include non-steroidal inflammatory drugs to cease the swellings and inflammations. Rub-on painkillers help to avert the pain.
Therapy
Doctors recommend physical therapy depending on the severity of the injury. Typically, physical therapy strengthens the muscles near the knee.
Such exercises enhance your balance and flexibility. Your therapist may suggest taping the kneecap for proper alignment. Knee braces are useful too, especially for knee joint support.
Surgery
In other cases, the doctor may inject medication directly to the knee joint. However, injections only work for specific knee problems.
Knee replacement surgery entails using metal or plastic to replace the damaged knee portion. This surgery can either be a partial or complete replacement procedure. Arthroscopic surgery encompasses the repair of destroyed cartilage and torn ligaments
About the Author:
Kim Hemphry is a passionate expert in the areas of Legal Matters, learning and education. She has been featured on over 50 leading Legal and education sites and is a modern thought leader in the field. More about her interests and articles on her site – http://kimhemphry.com/.