Prompt first-aid care can reduce pain and swelling immediately after an injury to your knee. Follow the R.I.C.E (Rest – Ice – Compression – Elevation), modle of self-care at home:
Rest: General rest is necessary for healing and limits weight bearing on your knee.
Ice: When you’re awake, try to ice your knee at least every two hours for 20 minutes at a time.
Compression: Wrap an elastic bandage or compression wrap around your knee.
Elevation: Lie down with your knee propped up on pillows.
To visit to a hospital to undergo a screening test:
Offten the diagnosis can be made on the basis of the physical exam alone, but you may need tests to rule out other causes and to determine the severity of the injury. There tests may include:
X-Ray: X-rays may be needes to rule out a bone fracture. However, X-Rays don’t show soft tissues, such as ligaments and tendons.
MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging): An MRI uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field to create images of both hard and soft tissues in your body. An MRI can show the extent of an anterior cruciate ligament injury and signs of damage to other tissues in the knee, including the cartilage.
Ultrasound: Using sound waves to visualize internal structures, ultrasound may be used to check for injuries in the ligaments, tendons and muscles of the knee.
Anterior cruciate ligament ultrasound reconstruction method at 199 hospital.
