A bruised knee is a serious injury that many people take rather lightly. Because of this, the consequences can be dire. From an unsuccessful fall, you can stop walking or suffer from severe pain. That is why it is impossible to let this disease take its course. Unfortunately, there is no effective prevention of the described injury. Therefore, in order to prevent unpleasant consequences, it is necessary to avoid falls. If they still appear, then you need to see a doctor in a timely manner.
In the article, we will consider diagnostic measures, treatment rules (conservative and alternative methods), as well as the consequences that may arise if therapy is not followed. It must be remembered that a bruise can lead to serious complications that are much more difficult to cure.
Description of injury
A knee injury is an injury that is considered closed. It is characterized by the absence of problems with intra-articularstructures. The disease can manifest itself in patients of any age and gender. At risk are children and those people who lead an active lifestyle. Injuries always occur if a person falls or hits a heavy object.
Most often this is damage of a domestic nature. At the same time, there are more victims among adults in winter, which is explained by the presence of ice. If we are talking about injuries in children, then problems are most often observed during the summer holidays. A knee bruise may not be an isolated injury that appears along with damage to the chest, fracture of the pelvis, spine, and so on. In order to carry out treatment, you need to contact a traumatologist.
What is the danger of injury?
When a person hits the joints and muscles, they are affected by negative factors. Because of this, a strong load can appear. In order to understand how serious the consequences can be, it is necessary to pay attention to the processes that occur during a bruise. The harder the person hit, the higher the risk of complications.
Most of the time, when you fall, your muscles relax. The response will be a spasm. Even with the fact that the soft tissues are quickly restored, the pain will persist for several days. Cartilaginous tissue, which takes almost the entire blow, can suffer greatly. If it is deformed, then problems with physical activity begin. Therefore, it is important to start treatment for a knee injury on time.
Impact Complications
Given that inthere are few soft tissues in the knee area, most often the main load falls on the bones. Because of this, microcracks may appear, respectively, inflammation will begin. If we are talking about a severe bruise, then the ligaments can break partially or completely. Therefore, it is important to comply with all prescriptions as part of the treatment of a knee injury. A fall can result in serious injury. The affected area will hurt to such an extent that it will become difficult to raise or lower the leg. In severe cases, rupture of blood vessels can occur, due to which hemorrhage into the joint is observed. If we are talking about a weak blow, then little blood is poured out, no more than 30 ml. However, this figure can sometimes increase to 100 ml.
Diagnostic measures
If a knee bruise occurs during a fall, then you need to pay attention to the symptoms. With a non-serious problem, the pain will pass pretty quickly. However, sometimes patients notice that the condition of the injured area either begins to worsen, or the symptoms remain unchanged even after a week. You need to go to a traumatologist or orthopedist if the hematoma has not resolved, the pain does not go away, severe swelling has appeared that has not passed within a day. That is why it is important to start treating a knee injury right away. When falling, ruptures of tissues and ligaments could occur.
Also a disturbing symptom is that the knee is difficult to bend and unbend. At the appointment, the doctor should examine the place where the blow fell, clarify the causes of the injury. This is necessary in order to understand howdamage can be severe. When diagnosing, the main thing is to examine the entire injury. This will prevent the development of serious problems. It should be noted that soft tissue bruising and cartilage troubles have the same symptoms as meniscal injuries.
Tangential strike
You should pay attention to the fact that if the blow fell on a tangent, then the front area of the knee may be severely affected. The cartilage will usually remain intact. To accurately make the correct diagnosis, it is necessary to perform arthroscopy, ultrasound, and computed tomography. Thanks to such studies, you can find out the complete picture inside the joint, understand the condition of the muscles and confirm or refute information about injuries of the ligamentous apparatus. Here's how to treat a bruised knee at home.
First Aid
Not everyone has the opportunity to see a doctor. That is why you need to know what to do as first aid. You should sit or lie down, put your foot on the surface, which will be above the level of the body. If the injury occurred on the street with a passerby or relative, then it is necessary to move the victim and put a splint on his leg. You can use a book, a stick, a board, and so on. Thus, you need to use any improvised items. The limb should be immobilized so as not to aggravate the injury.
The same should be done if a person treats a knee injury at home. The tire should be bandaged above and below the knee, on the injured areanothing to put on. It is impossible to squeeze the damaged area, as this will result in poor blood circulation, increased swelling, and in case of dislocation or fracture, such a bandage can cause complications.
It should be noted that displacement with other injuries is quite difficult to cure. It is necessary to attach something cold. It can be ice, frozen food, freezer water, and so on. It is necessary to cool the problem area only through the tissue. Otherwise, it can get very cold. At the same time, it is necessary to impose cold substances not only on the bruised area, but also on the places around it. Thus, it will be possible to prevent the development of puffiness. You can use painkillers if the pain is too sharp with a severe bruise.
Means and next steps
You need to use pills such as Nurofen, Pentalgin and others. You should carefully read the instructions for them in order to understand at what interval and what dose you are allowed to drink. If we are talking about severe pain, then you can take a few pills.
The bruised place must be lubricated with a gel or ointment, which will allow the hematoma to resolve, improve blood circulation and relieve swelling. They will allow you to effectively treat a knee injury at home. However, before using the drugs, be sure to read the instructions. It will allow you to understand whether this gel can be used for abrasions or scratches.
If during the fall the knee was scratched, then hydrogen peroxide can be used. Next, you need to apply the balm "Rescuer". Giventhe product can be used even with open wounds.
After first aid has been provided, it is imperative to assess the condition of the victim. If the above methods did not ease the torment, then you need to call an ambulance. Before the arrival of doctors, you should relax the person by giving him a sedative or painkiller.
Injury treatment at home
If the patient went to the doctor, then he was most likely prescribed ointments, creams that allow hematomas to dissolve and relieve pain. The damaged area should be lubricated about 5-6 times a day. In this case, you should act as gently as possible and not put pressure on the injury. A knee injury is treated at home if there is no serious damage in the form of a meniscus tear. The patient must fully adhere to the methods prescribed by the doctor and follow the rules of conduct.
It is imperative to ensure the rest of the problem area until complete recovery. You can also apply home formulations that allow soft tissues to heal quickly. They also prevent inflammation of the joints and cartilage. The main thing is to use recipes only for those products that delicately affect tissues with edema. Considering that many of these recommendations are made on the basis of natural remedies, allergic reactions appear much less frequently. The main thing is to follow the recipe correctly, then you can forget about bruises and pains, even if the question arises: "I hurt my knee: what should I do?"
Recipes fromchamomile, plantain and cabbage
- You can use a compress of chamomile and calendula. This tool will help against puffiness, also relieve inflammation. The infusion should be prepared from 0.5 liters of boiling water, to which you need to add a spoonful of a mixture of herbs. After you need to wait 45 minutes until the mixture is infused, then strain. This herbal decoction should be moistened with gauze and applied to the bruise.
- Plantain gruel helps well. Several leaves of the plant should be used. They need to be soaked and crushed. Then apply to the affected area. If the knee injury occurred in nature, then it is necessary to wrap the damaged area with leaves. The pain will gradually begin to subside, swelling will decrease.
- Cabbage leaf is also good for injury. The thickened area should be removed and gently applied to the swollen area. Next, you should bandage. However, you can't push too hard. Every hour you need to replace the dried leaf.
Additional folk methods
- With a severe bruised knee, a compress with apple cider vinegar will help. It is necessary to take olive oil, in which add boiled water. Next, use a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. You need to take a flannel fabric, lower it into a liquid and attach it to a sore spot. Next, the knee must be wrapped in cellophane, covered with a towel and fixed. Wash off after 4 hours.
- Aloe juice will also help. This is a fairly simple recipe that will get rid of pain, swelling and bruising. It also helps relieve inflammation. Lots of people have aloehousewives. You need to take a thick leaf, cut it and lubricate the painful area with it about 4 times a day. There is no need to cover the knee. In order to enhance the effect, you can add thick honey, keep it for 30-40 minutes, then rinse off your feet.
- Many people make homemade ointment. You need to take 3 tablespoons of birch tar, the same amount of spruce resin and uns alted fat. These components should be combined in a blender, and after a day they can already be used. This tool should be applied twice a day and lubricate not only the sore spot, but also the areas around it.
Consequences
If you neglect the treatment of a bruise, then quite serious complications can occur. Able to accumulate fluid in the joint, torn or stretched ligaments, often there is a dislocation or fracture of the patella. Prepatellar bursitis may also occur. Other types of complications are also common, so when such an injury occurs, you should immediately contact a specialist in order to prevent pathological processes.
