How to Treat a Chronic Knee Injury
Hurting your knee is no fun. Even worse is when it is a chronic injury, one that will be there for a long time, if not for life. Since the knee if one of the most important joints in the body, it is important to care for it and make it last as long as possible. Follow these steps to care for your chronic knee injury.
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Instructions
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If you have an old injury that gets re-injured, begin with R.I.C.E.: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. Rest the knee, apply ice at 20-minute intervals, compress it with an athletic wrap and elevate it so that it is higher than your heart.
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Make sure you know how to wrap your knee properly. It is best if you have a brace. After you ice your leg, put the brace on and wear it for support. This will serve as your compression. Be sure and put the leg up to at least waist level if not above whenever you are resting, to avoid swelling in the joint.
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You can also alternate between hot and cold therapy. Ice the leg for 20 minutes, then get in a hot bath and massage the joint. Follow this with another round of icing and elevation.
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Rest the knee well. If you have re-injured a chronic knee problem, then you need to avoid whatever activity caused the stress. Ideally, you should avoid it permanently. If that is not possible, at least avoid it until the pain is gone, and then modify the way you do the activity as much as possible to prevent re-injury.
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Finally, if all else fails, and the injury is not improving, seek an orthopedic specialist. Surgery is not always the first thing they try. Often, orthopedic doctors will exhaust every avenue before trying to fix the joint with surgery. A good physical therapist assigned to you from an orthopedic doctor is worth her weight in gold.
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Tips & Warnings
Always use the R.I.C.E. method with a knee injury.
Always consult a doctor if the injury appears severe.
