How to Treat Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tears
Rest your knee., Ice your knee., Apply a compress., Take over-the-counter painkillers., Go see your doctor.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Rest your knee.
Start by sitting down to take any weight off of your knee.
Sit on a comfortable chair or lie down with your knee elevated above your waist on a pillow or another, higher chair.
Elevating your knee will help the swelling to go down.Try not to move your knee at all or be up on your feet.
Ask a friend or relative to help you reach for items and prepare any food so you do not have to stand or walk. -
Step 2: Ice your knee.
Wrap an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas in a towel.
Place it on your knee every two hours for 20 minutes at a time.
Doing this can help to reduce any pain or soreness and keep the swelling down.Do not leave the ice pack on for longer than 20 minutes at a time as too much cold can aggravate your knee joints. , Take a compression band or an elastic bandage and wrap it around your knee.
Wrap the compression band around your knee several times, protecting the joints in your knee.
Make sure the compression band is snug but not cutting off circulation to your knee.
You may need someone to assist you in wrapping your knee, depending on how severe the ACL tear is. , If the pain is severe due to your torn ACL, take OTC painkillers as needed.
Follow the dosage directions on the label and never take more than the recommended dose., Once you do immediate care of your knee and take painkillers, you should reach out to your doctor or get driven to the nearest medical center.
The doctor will start with X-rays to evaluate the bone structure of the knee and then get an MRI to get a detailed view of the ligaments and tendons of the knee.This will help determine how severe the tear is on your ACL.Ask someone to drive you to the nearest medical center for a diagnosis.
Do not try to stand, walk, or drive unassisted.
Use crutches or have someone lift you if you need to walk or stand. -
Step 3: Apply a compress.
-
Step 4: Take over-the-counter painkillers.
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Step 5: Go see your doctor.
Detailed Guide
Start by sitting down to take any weight off of your knee.
Sit on a comfortable chair or lie down with your knee elevated above your waist on a pillow or another, higher chair.
Elevating your knee will help the swelling to go down.Try not to move your knee at all or be up on your feet.
Ask a friend or relative to help you reach for items and prepare any food so you do not have to stand or walk.
Wrap an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas in a towel.
Place it on your knee every two hours for 20 minutes at a time.
Doing this can help to reduce any pain or soreness and keep the swelling down.Do not leave the ice pack on for longer than 20 minutes at a time as too much cold can aggravate your knee joints. , Take a compression band or an elastic bandage and wrap it around your knee.
Wrap the compression band around your knee several times, protecting the joints in your knee.
Make sure the compression band is snug but not cutting off circulation to your knee.
You may need someone to assist you in wrapping your knee, depending on how severe the ACL tear is. , If the pain is severe due to your torn ACL, take OTC painkillers as needed.
Follow the dosage directions on the label and never take more than the recommended dose., Once you do immediate care of your knee and take painkillers, you should reach out to your doctor or get driven to the nearest medical center.
The doctor will start with X-rays to evaluate the bone structure of the knee and then get an MRI to get a detailed view of the ligaments and tendons of the knee.This will help determine how severe the tear is on your ACL.Ask someone to drive you to the nearest medical center for a diagnosis.
Do not try to stand, walk, or drive unassisted.
Use crutches or have someone lift you if you need to walk or stand.
About the Author
Gary Shaw
Enthusiastic about teaching home improvement techniques through clear, step-by-step guides.
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