It's not the right choice for everyone. Straighten your affected leg with your heel pressed firmly into the ground. Keep doing it for 2 to 3 days, or until the swelling is gone. In some cases, however, a torn ligament is severe enough to require a visit to a doctor and maybe even surgery. Your job might involve assembly work, writing, or other repetitive motions with your hands. I envy those who happen to be young and in good health. The RICE treatment is often used; RICE stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. This results in the inability to pivot, turn, or twist the leg. Many sprains happen suddenly, either from a fall, awkward movement, or blow. She was scheduled for surgery and recently had an operation on her knee. They hurt a lot and may limit what you can do. Raise your knee on a pillow when you're sitting or lying down. But so many people I know end up having to have surgery. What is a ligament? A grade 2 ligament injury may require you to use crutches or a brace for several days. All rights reserved. I think a torn ligament in the leg is probably one of the worst common sports related injuries you can get. It connects the thigh bone to the shin bone. There are four ligaments in the knee that are prone to injury: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is the most commonly injured knee ligament. Avoid putting much weight on your knee if it's painful to do so. In most cases, physical therapy can help to limit problems and speed up your recovery. Wear a knee brace to stabilize the knee and protect it from further injury. One of the most common knee ligament injuries is to a ligament called the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament). Make changes slowly. When a ligament is overstretched or torn, it results in what’s technically known as a sprain. Practice The research is very conclusive. A person who has knee pain or severe instability may choose to have it. There are additional treatments, like physiotherapy, that can help to reduce the recovery time for torn ligaments in ankle injuries. Very serious cases may require a total joint replacement; knee replacement surgeries can take up to a year to heal fully, while hip replacements generally take less time to heal. They will advise you on treatment and a full rehabilitation program. Find out about the causes, symptoms and available treatments. The posterior cruciate ligament can tear if your shinbone is hit hard just below the knee or if you fall on a bent knee. Elevate the injured leg to help swelling and tissue fluids flow away from the site of the muscles strain. When ligaments are damaged, the knee joint may become unstable. @popcorn- I had a friend at school who managed to tear some ligaments in his knees, and, like a fool, he just kept on playing sports, even though he'd been told not to because he could aggravate the torn knee ligament symptoms. Follow the directions exactly. The intensity of treatment needed and estimated knee sprain recovery time are always dependent upon the severity of the injury. The anatomy of the knee includes your thigh bone (femur), shin bone (tibia), outer lower leg bone (fibula), and your kneecap (patella). 2. My cousin is a fairly active soccer player and she even coaches her kid's team. Many times you won’t experience pain in the leg, but in the knee instead. Torn Ligament: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment: Torn Ligament. A grade 1 ligament injury may only take a couple days to heal. stretching A \"dashboard injury\" occurs when the driver's or passenger's bent knee slams against the dashboard, pushing in the shinbone just below the knee and causing the posterior cruciate ligament to tear. Don’t suddenly make your workouts a lot more intense. Like most ligament injuries, the most common cause is sports related. Talk about the treatment options with your doctor. Care for Bumps, Bruises, Sprains, and Strains, Torn ACL: Treatment and Recovery of Eva Nemcova of Cleveland Rockers, ACL Reconstruction Surgery: What to Expect, Swelling within the first 24 hours after the injury, Inability to put weight on the joint without pain, or any weight at all. Many athletes have ligament injuries to their knees. What can a professional therapist do? The manner of Right now she is still recovering at home and it seems like it is taking forever. Sudden lameness in a rear leg is often the first sign of injury. Probably looking to a full knee replacement in the knee and protect it from injury... Movements of the strain will determine how weakened the ligament is a partial rupture, or other repetitive with... Limit problems and speed up your recovery replacement at age 18 it connects thigh! A minimum of 6 weeks bandage, straps, or jump raise your knee is very tense and with... The final one being a full rehabilitation program for an ACL tear your. 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