December 29, 2021
Personal Injury Lawyer
If you have torn your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), then you may be concerned that your only option for recovery is surgery. It is understandable that surgery may not be your first option, but it is important to seek help from a medical professional when you believe that you have torn your ACL so that you can get an accurate diagnosis and learn more about the different treatment options that may be available to you. While surgery may be the best option for your situation, you may also need to combine it with other forms of treatment so that you can recover fully. Unfortunately, ACL tears are very common when it comes to injury accidents, especially car accidents. If you are concerned about paying for surgery after an accident, you can speak with your doctor about getting necessary medical records when you are hoping to file a personal injury claim.
How do I know my ACL is injured?
It can be easy to tweak parts of your knee, so you may be wondering how you know if you have injured your ACL. A few signs to look out for are:
- Pain around your knee
- Swelling in and around your knee
- Popping that came at the time your knee was injured
- Difficulty or an inability to walk, bend, or move around
What kinds of treatment options are there?
Depending on how bad your injury is, your doctor, like an anterior cruciate ligament injury surgeon can discuss which treatment options will be best for you. For example, if your pain is mild and you do not live an especially active lifestyle, your doctor may examine you and determine that RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) may be right for you. If your knee is stable and you are showing signs of improvement, you may heal just fine with physical therapy.
On the other hand, if your pain is severe, you live an active lifestyle, and your knee is unstable, your doctor may recommend surgery as the best option for you to get back to your lifestyle. After surgery, you will likely have some physical therapy to go through to ensure that you have not only healed but that your knee comes back strong and with good motion and mobility. This can be especially daunting when you are concerned about medical bills and a personal injury claim, but it is important to get the appropriate medical documentation.
Should I wait to see how my knee does before seeing a doctor?
You may wish to wait for a week or two to see if your pain begins to subside. While this can be a good indication of the severity of your injury, if your pain persists for more than a few weeks, you should seek medical attention as quickly as possible. Want to learn more about how knee surgery can help you? Reach out to a local office today.