What foods to eat for ligament damage

Written by Wang Jing
Pediatric Orthopedics
Updated on September 22, 2024
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After a ligament injury, there often is bleeding at the site of the injury, which can lead to swelling, pain, and other issues. From a Western medicine perspective, there are no special dietary requirements; generally, one can follow their usual diet prior to the injury. However, if you had a preference for very salty or spicy foods before the injury, it is recommended to avoid overly spicy and salty foods afterwards. It may be beneficial to eat foods rich in vitamin C and high-quality proteins to potentially aid in wound healing.

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Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
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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.)

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Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
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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.

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Written by Wang Jing
Pediatric Orthopedics
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How to operate on ligament damage

Ligament injuries that affect joint stability require surgery, and different locations necessitate different surgical methods. Generally, for ligaments within a joint, such as the anterior cruciate ligament or the posterior cruciate ligament of the knee, reconstruction is performed using either autografts, allografts, or synthetic tendons to replace the original damaged ligaments. For ligaments outside of a joint, such as the medial collateral ligament, lateral collateral ligament of the knee, or the anterior talofibular ligament of the ankle, if the joint stability is compromised, suturing is generally performed during the acute phase. For chronic, long-standing injuries that affect joint stability, reconstruction is usually necessary, also using autografts, allografts, or synthetic tendons to substitute their function.

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Written by Wang Jing
Pediatric Orthopedics
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Do ligament injuries fear the cold?

Ligament injuries should not naturally be sensitive to cold; however, due to impaired blood circulation in the damaged area or poor blood supply due to scar repair, the circulation in the injured tendons becomes worse compared to other areas. In cold conditions, this can lead to even poorer blood flow. When circulation is poor, it's hard for metabolic byproducts to be removed from the area, leading to their accumulation, which can stimulate the injured site and cause pain. Therefore, areas with ligament injuries often become sensitive to cold, as the cold causes blood vessels to constrict, leading to the accumulation of metabolic by-products and resulting in pain at the affected site.

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Written by Wang Jing
Pediatric Orthopedics
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Can ligament injuries heal by themselves?

Whether ligament injury can be healed depends on the severity of the injury. Generally, there are four types of ligament injuries. The mildest is a sprain, which is when some fibers of the ligament are torn. The second type is a partial tear of the ligament, the third type is a complete tear of the ligament, and the fourth type is a combined injury, which includes damage to other structures in addition to the ligament injury. If the ligament injury is just a sprain, it can generally heal within two to three weeks with immobilization. However, partial ligament tears that are more severe may require surgical intervention. If the partial ligament injury is not severe and does not affect stability, it can also heal with about three to six weeks of immobilization. However, complete ligament tears or combined injuries often require surgery for suturing or reconstruction in order to heal.