Can ankle ligament injuries heal by themselves?

Written by Wang Jing
Pediatric Orthopedics
Updated on September 25, 2024
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Ankle ligament sprains vary in prognosis depending on the severity of the injury. This type of ligament damage generally falls into several categories: the first type is partial fiber damage to the ligament, the second type is partial rupture of the ligament, the third type is complete rupture of the ligament, and the fourth type includes additional injuries. For partial fiber damage and partial ruptures of the ligament, immobilization is often used, and generally after six to eight weeks, the ligament can repair itself. However, if there is a complete rupture of the ligament or additional injuries are involved, surgery is often required for healing.

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Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
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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.)

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Written by Wang Jing
Pediatric Orthopedics
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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.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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How to recover from collateral ligament injury of the knee joint

The knee joint has important ligaments on both the inner and outer sides, known as the medial collateral ligament and the lateral collateral ligament. In sports injuries, collateral ligament damage of the knee is very common. If there is an injury, the first step is to conduct a series of examinations to determine the stability of the knee joint. The damage to these ligaments can range from tears to complete ruptures. If there is only a contusion or a tear, the knee can recover its function through the use of supportive braces and the natural healing of the ligament. However, if the collateral ligament is completely ruptured, surgery is necessary for repair. The specific extent of the damage needs to be determined by MRI and physical examinations to decide the best treatment approach for the patient's recovery.

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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.

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Written by Wang Jing
Pediatric Orthopedics
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What are the symptoms of ligament injury?

Ligament injuries may exhibit different symptoms depending on whether they are acute or chronic. Acute ligament injuries generally occur within one to three days after the injury. At this time, the main symptoms are caused by blood drawn from the injured ligament, leading to swelling, bruising, pain, and corresponding joint movement disorders at the injured site. Severe ligament injuries can even cause avulsion fractures. Chronic ligament injuries usually result from acute injuries that have not been properly treated. At this point, the main issues are joint instability and pain in the joint caused by long-term damage to the cartilage.