Normally the knee joint is strongly bound together by all the ligaments which connect the bones of the leg. If you've sustained an injury that has affected the structural integrity of one or more of these ligaments, then you run the risk of suffering knee dislocation. If your knee joint falls apart in this manner, you'll find your ability to move your leg severely compromised. There are several ways in which to treat such a dislocation, one of the best being the use of a special knee brace.
What Are the Symptoms and Potential Effects?
There are several symptoms to look out for in the case of a dislocated knee. The most obvious is pain, which will be severe even if the joint pops back into place of its own accord. Your knee will quickly swell up as inflammation takes hold and this could compromise the joint in some cases. Any pain you experience will be made worse if you try to move the knee joint in any direction.
The major problem associated with dislocation of the knee is that it can easily affect vital surrounding tissues including blood vessels and nerves. If such tissues are compromised for even relatively short periods of time, you run the risk of losing your leg. That's why it's crucial that you get your leg treated by a doctor right away if you feel any numbness or tingling in your lower leg. You should also seek immediate medical attention if your foot is pale or cold to the touch.
How Is Knee Dislocation Treated?
Unless surgery is required to treat damaged tissues and to put the joint back into place, then all treatment is non-surgical and thus non-invasive. That's not to say that recovery will be simple, though. You still have to follow your doctor's advice and treatment plan, including the use of any knee braces or splints to support your recuperation. In fact, using a knee brace or splint will help you make an active recovery, getting you back on your feet faster than you would have imagined possible.
The first port of call is to make sure your knee joint is back in its rightful position. Your doctor will reduce the joint by applying physical force while you are on pain medication. This certainly won't be comfortable but it is a necessary part of treatment.
To ensure that you don't do any further damage to your knee joint, the next step is to immobilize it. This can be done in several ways but it is advised that you make use of a specialized knee splint. This will make sure that you don't bend your knee into an unhelpful position, thus promoting faster recovery.
Once the dislocation itself has been successfully treated, you'll have to have any associated ligament damaged assessed and fixed. Treatment for this may or may not involve surgery, but either way you'll find yourself needing a knee brace.
Nowadays knee braces are considered to be the best means of treating joint injuries in an active manner. Getting back on your feet and doing your normal activities with reasonable limits set is the best way to regain full function of an injured joint.
You can find the best knee braces online, where specialized support devices are offered that give you the perfect combination of flexibility and stability to promote healing. Check out all the knee braces available on the market today and you'll be sure to find the one for you.