Can knee injuries recover on their own? It is a popular question among pain doctors` patients. Yes, but it depends on the nature of the injury. Your knee can heal on its own if you just strain or sprain it and you give it enough time to rest and rejuvenate. Surgery may be necessary for severe injuries including ligament or cartilage tears. But frequently, even surgery can't fully remedy the situation, and the knee doesn't get back to how it was before the injury.
Stem cell-based therapy, which regenerates the knee and its functionality at the cellular level, is an alternative treatment. Depending on what specifically is causing your knee discomfort, many treatments may be used. First of all, it is important to remind aid actions for the first 24\48 hours.
- Stop what you're doing right away. Do not "work through" the discomfort.
- First, rest the joint.
- Applying ice packs for 15 minutes every couple of hours can reduce discomfort, stiffness, and internal bleeding.
- Wrap the lower leg in a tight bandage, starting at the knee.
- Lift the hurt leg up.
- Don't heat the joint in any way.
- Alcohol should be avoided since it promotes bleeding and congestion.
- Massage of the joint is forbidden because it promotes bleeding and edema.
- In order to treat the symptoms that are causing your knee pain, such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout, your doctor may prescribe drugs to help with pain relief.
There are many actions and routines that you should be aware of. Here is a list of how to heal your knee injuries so you may resume your regular activities.
Therapy
Your knee will become more stable if the muscles surrounding it are strengthened. Depending on the exact disease that is causing your discomfort, your doctor may advise physical therapy or various forms of strengthening activities. If you play a sport or are physically active, you may need to do some exercises to establish a proper technique for your sport or activity and to modify movement patterns that may be harming your knees. Exercises that increase flexibility and balance are also crucial. Arch supports, often with wedges on one side of the heel, can aid in relieving pressure from the knee's osteoarthritis-prone side. Various braces can be used in some circumstances to support and protect the knee joint.
Knee arthroscopy
A minimally invasive treatment that examines and views the interior of the knee joint using an arthroscope. When necessary, the internal knee structures can be removed, repaired, and rebuilt using microscopic devices.
Mind your diet
Unexpectedly, your diet has a serious influence on how quickly you can heal from a knee injury. Your food has a significant effect on your body's capacity to generate the immunological response required to assist in the healing of your knee. Vitamin C, which helps reduce inflammation in the body, is abundant in fruits and vegetables. High-quality meat, seafood, and nuts contain significant amounts of zinc, a mineral that is crucial for the healing process. Eating high-quality food improves your body's ability to repair itself, boost your immune system, and reduce inflammation. Another important aspect of providing your body with all the resources it needs to repair your knee injury is staying hydrated.
Consider acupuncture
Acupuncture has been successful in relieving pain for some people. Small needles are inserted into your body during acupuncture to treat various diseases. As long as you visit a qualified acupuncturist, the treatment is relatively painless and safe.
Mild exercise routine (yoga)
You can start gradually incorporating a range of motion into your normal routines after resting your knee for a few weeks. By increasing the number of motions you perform, you can strengthen the ligaments and muscles that support your knee. Hold off on putting any weight on your knee until it has healed enough for you to do so painlessly. At this point, you can gradually regain strength by performing hip abductions, bridges, hamstring curls, and lunges. To gradually get your knee accustomed to movement in all directions, you might gradually incorporate sideways jogging and reverse lunges.
Yoga is excellent for improving circulation throughout the body, which speeds up the healing process for your knee. You may strengthen your core while practicing it, which relieves additional pressure from your knees. When healing from a knee injury, stay away from complex positions like the lotus.
The bottom line
Even though minor knee injuries could go well on their own, every injury should be examined and diagnosed by a doctor or physiotherapist. Knee discomfort that won't go away requires medical attention. Any knee injury that receives quick medical attention has a better chance of making a full recovery.