Subscribe
Ligament injury
The difference between ligament damage and tears.
For doctors, the damage or tearing of ligaments actually means more or less the same thing, but for ordinary people, there always seems to be a difference between the two, feeling that the range covered by ligament damage is broader than that of ligament tearing. From a medical perspective, ligament damage is divided into four grades. The first grade is a sprain, which is a partial fiber break. The second type is a partial ligament rupture, the third type is a complete ligament rupture, and the fourth type involves a complete rupture of the ligament with damage to other parts as well. This is the four-category classification of ligament damage. Ordinary people might think that ligament tearing refers to either a partial or complete rupture of the ligament, which is the more serious kind. Therefore, though these two concepts are relatively similar in meaning, ordinary people might feel that ligament tearing is relatively more severe, consisting of either a partial or complete rupture of the ligament.
What is the best way to recover from meniscus injury and ligament tear with conservative treatment?
For a meniscus injury and ligament tear in the knee joint, if the condition is not very severe, we can manage it with conservative treatment. This means using immobilization, physical therapy, heat application, and anti-inflammatory pain relief. If the knee has been immobilized for a period, say two months, it will obviously become somewhat stiff. In this case, if rehabilitation is to be performed, the first step should be to seek guidance at a formal rehabilitation medical institution. If a therapist is available to assist with training, that would be the ideal best case scenario. If no therapist is available, care must be taken during activities not to excessively tear the healed ligaments or meniscus. During the rehabilitation process, when performing bending and flexing exercises, it's crucial to be mindful of the extent of movement. Additionally, it's important to consistently strengthen the quadriceps muscles.
Can ligament damage be treated with a block injection?
After ligament injury, the acute phase management mainly involves protection, elevation, avoiding the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving drugs, compression, and patient education, and, of course, appropriate use of cold compresses. In the subacute phase, when there is no pain, some load can be added appropriately, maintaining an optimistic attitude, engaging in aerobic exercise to improve local blood circulation, and early activity should focus on practice as well as exercise in muscle strength and proprioception. Of course, in severe cases where the ligament injury is completely ruptured, affecting stability, consideration must be given to ligament repair or reconstruction. But for acute cases, there is definitely no need for cortisone injections. For chronic ligament injuries, with long-term chronic pain around the joint, conservative treatment and other methods are ineffective, local injections may be considered. However, it is advisable not to inject the injured ligament itself but rather the synovial sheath or other soft tissues surrounding the ligament, as this can reduce the damage of the injection drugs to the ligament. (Use of specific medications should be under the guidance of a physician.)
What should I do if I have a knee ligament injury?
Ligament injuries in the knee are commonly seen in two areas: the first is the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, and the second is the medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury. The treatment for these two ligament injuries is the same; for instance, in cases of just a simple ligament tear or partial tear, it only requires the use of a plaster cast for external fixation, and immobilization for three to four weeks can achieve recovery. If there is a complete tear, surgery might be needed. There are two types of surgeries: the first one involves direct repair of the ligament, the second involves using autologous tendons to reconstruct the ligament, restoring the stability of the entire knee joint. To determine whether you have a tear, complete tear, or partial tear, it is necessary to undergo an MRI of the knee to confirm.
How to recover from ligament damage
For patients with ligament injuries, it is first necessary to determine the severity of the ligament damage in order to establish an active treatment plan to promote rapid repair of the ligament. If the ligament injury is relatively mild and joint stability is good, it is entirely possible for such patients to choose active conservative treatment. It is necessary to strictly use plaster casts or supportive external fixation. During this period, treatment can include oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving medication as well as drugs that promote blood circulation and disperse blood stasis. For those with more severe ligament injuries and poor joint stability, it becomes necessary to actively proceed with surgical treatment, which might involve repairing or reconstructing the damaged ligament. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)
Can a ligament injury cause the knee to make noise?
Whether the knee will make noise after ligament damage depends on the condition of the ligament damage. If it is an anterior cruciate ligament injury, generally the knee will not make noise. However, if the anterior cruciate ligament injury is combined with damage to the meniscus or cartilage, forming loose bodies, popping noises in the knee joint can occur. If there is damage to the medial or lateral collateral ligaments of the knee joint, which causes instability in the knee joint, this can also lead to popping sounds. If instability of the patella is caused by damage to the patellar ligament of the knee joint, changes in the alignment of the patellar joint during movement can also cause popping noises in the knee joint.
Can I drink yogurt with a ligament injury?
After a ligament injury, the treatment varies depending on the severity of the injury. However, in the acute phase, the main treatments include immobilization and elevation of the affected limb. As for what medications to take or what foods to eat to promote healing of a ligament injury, currently, there are no foods found to have a significant promoting effect on ligament recovery, nor are there common everyday foods that hinder ligament repair. Of course, we still recommend avoiding spicy foods. Therefore, after a ligament injury, it is okay to drink yogurt. There are no contraindications with yogurt, nor is there evidence that yogurt has any beneficial effects on ligament repair.
Symptoms of femoral head ligament injury
The clinical symptoms of a femoral head ligament injury mainly manifest as significant local pain. Severe cases may affect the patient's joint mobility and normal ability to move about, which are the clinical manifestations of a femoral head ligament injury. Usually, within a recent period, it is necessary to strictly rest in bed to protect the area, reducing local stimulation, which is the best condition for patient recovery. If the patient is not allergic to plasters, topical plasters that invigorate blood and dissolve stasis can be used, along with oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving drugs, and drugs that invigorate blood and dissolve stasis for treatment. After 48 hours post-injury, local heat application should be actively performed. Most patients will gradually recover through these active treatment methods. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a professional doctor.)
How long will it take for a ligament sprain and soft tissue injury to fully heal?
Ligament strains or soft tissue injuries are common in everyday life, and they also typically require grading. Some minor ligament strains or soft tissue injuries generally heal after about three weeks of rest and immobilization. If a ligament strain or soft tissue injury is very severe, such as when the ligament has reached the level of tearing, or if there is significant bleeding, edema, and swelling at the time of the injury, this indicates a very serious soft tissue injury. In such cases, the duration of immobilization might be much longer, possibly around six weeks. The recovery time for such soft tissue injuries or ligament strains can also be very lengthy, sometimes extending up to three months or even six months.
Symptoms of fibular ligament injury
The symptoms of fibular ligament damage include, first, pain, especially noticeable tenderness or pain around the fibula when bearing weight, which can further affect weight-bearing walking. Second, swelling can occur, particularly after prolonged weight-bearing walking, leading to localized swelling that gradually subsides with rest. Third, joint instability can also occur as the stability of the entire joint deteriorates after ligament damage, resulting in instability during prolonged weight-bearing activities, and in severe cases, affecting joint mobility and damaging the joint cartilage.