Knee Injury Treatment: Cost and Side Effects

Knee injury treatment is required when a person is suffering from pain, swelling and instability in the knee. The ligaments in the knee help stabilize your knee by holding the bones in that area together. Knee injuries are common as the soft tissues, ligaments and cartilages in this area get hurt often. Different kinds of injuries can take place in your knee which needs immediate attention or the condition may worsen.

Mostly a knee problem starts with an injury but knee injuries can be a result of other causes like recreational activities, sports, or other diseases like osteoporosis and arthritis as well. A direct blow or an abnormal twisting or falling can be a reason for an acute knee injury. In such a case your nerves or blood vessels may be pinched or damaged. When this happens, your lower leg may feel numb, weak or cold. It may start appearing pale and blue as well. Overuse injuries of knee happens due to a repeated activity or prolonged pressure on the knee. You may see inflammation of the knee, thickening or folding of the knee ligaments and even pain in that area. Your general physician may ask you of any history of injury or damage in this area to diagnose the problem.

Different methods of treatments are available for a knee injury which depends on the time and severity of the damage on your knee. There are a number of self help methods which you can resort to while treating your knee injury. The treatment starts with protecting your injured knee and making sure that it is not exposed to any further danger. You need to make sure to get enough rest for the first two three days after the injury. Using crutches may also be helpful if the matter becomes serious. Using compression and ice have also been helpful in a majority of knee injury cases. Your doctor may advise you to elevate your leg by raising it above the level of your heart for the knee to recover faster. Taking hot baths or drinking alcohol during this time is strictly not allowed as it may have an adverse effect on your recovery.

Over the counter medications like Paracetamol may also be prescribed. Other anti inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen is also used to reduce the swelling and inflammation. This drug also helps in relieving the pain. If the injury is more serious you may need physiotherapy as well. For more severe cases, a knee surgery may also be needed. A surgery is usually recommended if the medication treatment has not worked or when you have an injury on your medial collateral ligament.

Look for symptoms like hurting limb and your joint may look odd. The skin on top of the injury is broken or when you see signs of nerve or blood vessel damages like numbness or a tingling feeling or not being able to move your limb as these symptoms make you eligible for the treatment of knee injury.

Any individual who does not see any symptoms of knee injury is not eligible for the treatment.

If you have a knee surgery then you may have to deal with post operation complications like Reflex Sympathetic dystrophy, skin complications, stiffness, phlebitis, infection and hematomas among others.

Patients need to be very careful about not exposing the injured area to any kind of danger. Proper rest is required for as long as the injury does not completely heal. You should not put weight on the hurt limb. Trying to straighten the hurt limb is strictly not allowed as well.

The recovery period for a knee injury varies depending on the type and severity of the condition. A minor injury may heal on its own within a few weeks, however, a major injury may take weeks or even months to recover completely.

A total knee replacement surgery may cost you anything from Rs 2 lakhs to 5 lakhs. A knee ligament surgery charges may range between Rs 75,000 to Rs 1.5 lakhs as well. The doctor’s fee, hospital charges and the tests required may additionally charge more.

The results of the treatment for knee injury is permanent. However, patients need to be careful about not hurting the affected area and wait till the injury is completely healed.

A minor injury can be treated at home with simple rest ice, compression and elevation method. Other methods of Thai Chi may also prove to be helpful. Ginger extract, willow bark, chondroitin sulfate and herbal extracts can also come in handy in such a situation.