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What is Knee Sprain
Knee sprain is a stretch or tear in a knee ligament. Knee ligaments are bands of tissue that connect bones in the knee to each other.
Follow these instructions at home:
If you have a splint or brace:
- Wear the splint or brace as told by your doctor. Remove it only as told by your doctor.
- Loosen the splint or brace if your toes tingle, get numb, or turn cold and blue.
- Keep the splint or brace clean.
- If the splint or brace is not waterproof:
- Do not let it get wet.
- Cover it with a watertight covering when you take a bath or a shower.
If you have a cast:
- Do not stick anything inside the cast to scratch your skin.
- Check the skin around the cast every day. Tell your doctor about any concerns.
- You may put lotion on dry skin around the edges of the cast. Do not put lotion on the skin underneath the cast.
- Keep the cast clean.
- If the cast is not waterproof:
- Do not let it get wet.
- Cover it with a watertight covering when you take a bath or a shower.
Managing pain, stiffness, and swelling
- Gently move your toes often to avoid stiffness and to lessen swelling.
- Raise (elevate) the injured area above the level of your heart while you are sitting or lying down.
- Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your doctor.
- If directed, put ice on the injured area.
- If you have a removable splint or brace, remove it as told by your doctor.
- Put ice in a plastic bag.
- Place a towel between your skin and the bag or between your cast and the bag.
- Leave the ice on for 20 minutes, 2–3 times a day.
General instructions
- Do exercises as told by your doctor.
- Keep all follow-up visits as told by your doctor. This is important.
Contact a doctor if:
- You have pain that gets worse.
- The cast, brace, or splint does not fit right.
- The cast, brace, or splint gets damaged.
Get help right away if:
- You cannot lean on your knee to stand or walk.
- You cannot move the injured area.
- You knee buckles or you have pain after you walk only a few steps.
- You have very bad pain, swelling, or numbness below the cast, brace, or splint.
Summary
- A knee sprain is a stretch or tear in a band (ligament) that connects your knee bones to each other.
- You may need to wear a splint, brace, or cast to help your knee get better.
- Contact your doctor if you have very bad pain, swelling, or numbness, or if you cannot walk.