what is a ligament problem in the knee?and what is the remedy?

Question

My wife has a problem in the right knee and she complaints of the pain.After a visit to doc he suspects that there may be a problem in her ligaments...what does that mean...I am not able to see her pain...what can be done to stop the pain...serious answers please

Answer 1

There are 2 sets of ligaments in the knee and treatment can range from rest, ice, etc to physical therapy or surgery. 13 months ago, I ruptered my ACL and I'm still going thru physical therapy. It's healed but now I'm having tracking problems.


The cruciate ligaments are located inside the knee joint and connect the thighbone (femur) to the shinbone (tibia). They are made of many strands and function like short ropes that hold the knee joint tightly in place when the leg is bent or straight. This stability is needed for proper knee joint movement.

The name, cruciate, derives from the word crux, meaning cross, and crucial. The cruciate ligaments not only lie inside the knee joint, they crisscross each other to form an "x". The cruciate ligament located toward the front of the knee is the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), and the one located toward the rear of the knee is called the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL).
ACL injuries

The ACL prevents the shinbone from sliding forwards beneath the thighbone. The ACL can be injured in several ways:


Changing direction rapidly

Slowing down when running

Landing from a jump

Direct contact, such as in a football tackle

Recognizing an ACL injury

If you injure your ACL, you may not feel any pain immediately. However, you might hear a popping noise and feel your knee give out from under you. Within 2 to 12 hours, the knee will swell, and you will feel pain when you try to stand. Apply ice to control swelling and elevate your knee until you can see an orthopaedic surgeon.

If you walk or run on an injured ACL, you can damage the cushioning cartilage in the knee. For example, you may plant the foot and turn the body to pivot, only to have the shinbone stay in place as the thighbone above it moves with the body.

Diagnosing an ACL injury

A diagnosis of ACL injury is based on a thorough physical examination of the knee. The exam may include several tests to see if the knee stays in the proper position when pressure is applied from different directions. Your orthopaedist may order an X-ray and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or, in some cases, arthroscopic inspection.

A partial tear of the ACL may or may not require surgical treatment. A complete tear is more serious. Complete tears, especially in younger athletes, may require reconstruction.

Treating ACL tears

Both nonoperative and operative treatment choices are available.

Nonoperative treatment:



May be used because of a patient's age or overall low activity level.

May be recommended if the overall stability of the knee seems good.

Involves a treatment program of muscle strengthening, often with the use of a brace to provide stability.



Operative treatment (either arthroscopic or open surgery): Uses a strip of tendon, usually taken from the patient's knee (patellar tendon) or hamstring muscle, that is passed through the inside of the joint and secured to the thighbone and shinbone.

Is followed by an exercise and rehabilitation program to strengthen the muscles and restore full joint mobility.

PCL injuries

The posterior cruciate ligament, or PCL, is not injured as frequently as the ACL. PCL sprains usually occur because the ligament was pulled or stretched too far, a blow to the front of the knee, or a simple misstep.

PCL injuries disrupt knee joint stability because the shinbone can sag backwards. The ends of the thighbone and shinbone rub directly against each other, causing wear and tear to the thin, smooth articular cartilage. This abrasion may lead to arthritis in the knee.

Treating PCL injuries

Patients with PCL tears often do not have symptoms of instability in their knees, so surgery is not always needed. Many athletes return to activity without significant impairment after completing a prescribed rehabilitation program.

However, if the PCL injury pulls a piece of bone out of the top of the shinbone, surgery is needed to reattach the ligament. Knee function after this surgery is often quite good.

Collateral ligaments

The collateral ligaments are located at the inner side and outer side of the knee joint. The medial collateral ligament (MCL) connects the thighbone to the shinbone and provides stability to the inner side of the knee. The lateral collateral ligament (LCL) connects the thighbone to the other bone in the lower portion of your leg (fibula) and stabilizes the outer side.

Injuries to the MCL are usually caused by contact on the outside of the knee and are accompanied by sharp pain on the inside of the knee. The LCL is rarely injured.

Collateral ligament injuries

If the medial collateral ligament (MCL) has a small partial tear, conservative treatment usually works. Remember the acronym RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation.

Rest the knee to give the ligament time to heal. Ice can be applied two or three times a day for 15 to 20 minutes each time.

Compress the injury to limit swelling. You may have to wear a bandage or brace for a while.

Elevate the knee whenever possible.

You should also consult your physician about a course of rehabilitation exercises for good healing.

If the collateral ligament is completely torn or torn in such a way that ligament fibers cannot heal, you may need surgery. Repair may bring good results, with a return to good knee stability. After satisfactory rehabilitation, many people resume their previous levels of activity.

A rehabilitation plan is needed if you have a cruciate or collateral ligament injury. Most rehabilitation plans include:



Passive range-of-motion exercises designed to restore flexibility.

Braces to control joint movement.

Exercises to strengthen the quadriceps muscles in the front of the thigh. (Muscle strength is needed to provide the knee joint with as much support and stability as possible when weight is placed on it.)

Additional exercises on a high-seat exercise bicycle, followed by more strenuous quadriceps exercise.

Your progress and the ability of the knee to function as a normal knee will determine how long you must use crutches and a brace.

Answer 2

There are several bands of tissue that hold bones together, called ligaments. There are several important ligaments that hold the bones of the knee (tibia and fibula in the lower leg, and the femur in the thigh). These can be injured by being torn completely or incompletely after sustaining an injury to the knee. The doctor can test the motion of the knee and determine if there is too much laxity of the knee joint. Knee ligament injuries are serious and often require a consultation with an orthopedic surgeon. Good luck

Answer 3

Dubya described the reasons best. Having had knee injuries I have found that the "RICE" method (Rest, Ice, Compress, and Elevate) and anti-inflammatories as needed, have helped alleviate minor issues. If that does not help, she needs to consult her doctor and request a referral to a specialist (if she's not already seeing one). There are a lot of non-surgical options she could seek out, in addition to surgeries. These all depend on her pain level, tolerance, injury, etc and a doctor would be best equipped to discuss these options with both of you.

Answer 4

WOW!!! The ligament in your knee helps bending and if it is inflamed or torn that is excruciating, does your knee swell when you stand or walk for long periods of time? I would recommend a knee brace without iron rods. I am not a doctor, but it helps me.

Answer 5

usually it's the acl and the remedy is surgery

Answer 6

torn cartilage(knee bandage and soft physiotherapy)will help.