Whats the Treatment for a Knee Ligament Injury?
Happily, a mild to moderate knee ligament injury may heal on its own given time. To speed the healing, you can: • Rest the knee. Avoid putting excess weight on your knee. You may need to use crutches for a time. • Ice your knee to reduce pain and swelling. Do it for 20-30 minutes every 3-4 hours for 2-3 days, or until the pain and swelling is gone. • Compress your knee. Use an elastic bandage, straps, or sleeves on your knee to control swelling. • Elevate your knee on a pillow when you’re sitting or lying down. • Wear a knee brace to stabilize the knee and protect it from further injury. • Take anti-inflammatory painkillers. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like Advil, Aleve, or Motrin, will help with pain and swelling. However, these drugs can have side effects and they should be used only occasionally, unless your doctor specifically says otherwise. • Practice stretching and strengthening exercises if your doctor recommends them.
