The knee is a rather complex joint that most often suffers when a person falls. Therefore, people often experience pain in the knee after even the usual microtrauma, received during an awkward movement or a more serious injury.
Types of Injuries that Cause Knee Pain
Contusion
A fall straight onto your knee normally leads to a contusion, or contusion. Your knee is likely to feel tender and swell a bit. Some mild discomfort when walking may likewise occur. If the pain is serious, you likely have a more extensive knee injury.
Sprain Injury
Four ligaments assistance and support your knee joint, namely the anterior cruciate, posterior cruciate, medial collateral and lateral security ligaments. A fall that involves twisting of your knee can harm one or more of these ligaments leading to pain and joint instability. Overstretching or a partial or complete tear of a ligament is called a sprain. The anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, is particularly susceptible to injury. Other knee damage often occurs with an ACL tear. In addition to pain, knee sprain injuries typically cause swelling, tenderness, reduced knee variety of motion, and difficulty bearing weight or feeling the knee is paving the way.
Meniscus Tear
The meniscus is a cartilage cushion that separates the bones of your upper and lower leg at the knee. A fall on a twisted knee can lead to a meniscus tear. Symptoms and signs vary depending on the place and intensity of the tear and might include a popping experience, swelling, tightness, pain, inability to fully bend or align the knee, and knee buckling or catching. Bad meniscus tears are typically accompanied by knee ligament damage.
Kneecap Dislocation
A fall in some cases causes a partial or total dislocation of the kneecap, or patella. With a partial dislocation, or patellar subluxation, the kneecap usually pops back into put on its own when the knee is corrected. Total dislocations take place less regularly and normally involve damage to the ligament that normally holds the kneecap in place. Patellar dislocations cause instant, serious pain up until the kneecap is back in place. The pain reduces but persists after the dislocation is eased. Other symptoms include swelling and failure to bear weight.
Fracture
A tough fall can cause a bone fracture including the knee joint. Symptoms of a patella fracture include instant pain, swelling, inability to completely flex or correct the alignment of the knee, and inability to stroll. A fall that includes hitting the inside or beyond your knee can lead to a fracture of the large bone of the shin at the knee. This injury, called a tibial plateau fracture, usually triggers pain, swelling, minimal knee mobility and problem or failure to bear weight. The knee may appear warped with an extreme fracture.
Most Common Causes of Knee Pain after Fall
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What to Do if You Fell on Knees
Minor knee pain and bruising not related to difficulty moving your knee or bearing weight after a fall often responds well to home treatment with periodic application of an ice bag, rest and over-the-counter pain medication. If your pain is moderate to serious, you can not completely flex or straighten your knee, or you can not bear weight, seek instant medical examination. Look for emergency medical care if your knee injury is accompanied a cold or pale foot, or numbness or tingling below the affected knee. These symptoms often indicate damage to the blood vessels at the knee, an injury that needs immediate treatment.
