Your knees can easily be injured in accidents, so if you develop significant knee swelling after an accident and it begins to impact your daily life, don’t hesitate to call one of our Eason & Tambornini personal injury lawyers to discuss your options.
Traumatic knee injuries, including those caused by a third party, can result in lifelong disabilities. They also have many causes, and our lawyers can help you understand why your knees hurt after the accident, why your knees get hot, and what some of the best treatments for knee pain are.
Learn more about our Sacramento Motorcycle Accident Attorney Services.
Why does my knee hurt after my motorcycle accident?
Knee injuries are almost always painful. If sensitive nerve endings are injured, there is damage to the knee structures or ongoing inflammation; the pain can be intense. There are many ways a motorcycle accident can hurt your knee. Some common knee injuries associated with motorcycle accidents are kneecap fracture or dislocation, injury to the anterior cruciate ligament, and meniscal tears. These injuries are typically caused by crushing your knee. The most common way of injuring your knee in a motorcycle accident is landing on a bent knee, twisting, or falling and striking your knee against a hard surface.
Why do my knees get hot after an injury?
In addition to immediate pain, inflammation and swelling also accompany knee injuries. When the tissues are injured, immune cells immediately flock to the area to control the injury. This will trigger other physiological processes, the migration of fluids, and increased blood vessel permeability. The buildup of fluids around the injured tissues causes swelling and increased pain sensation since any tissue distortion can irritate nerve endings. Additionally, swelling increases the temperature around the wounded site, primarily driven by the dilation of blood vessels and the influx of blood. This process is also responsible for the redness that typically accompanies inflammation.
What are some of the best treatments for knee pain?
Pain and swelling of the knee typically go away after a few days, but these symptoms can be controlled by pain and anti-inflammatory drugs. You can also apply a cold compress over your knee. This will promote vasoconstriction of the blood vessels and reduce swelling. Ice also causes temporary skin numbness, which can help relieve pain. After three days, you can switch the cold compress to warm packs. This will cause vasodilation and flush away any cell debris and toxins caused by the tissue injury.
Gentle knee exercises and stretches are another good remedy for knee pain. They can help strengthen your knee muscles and prevent knee range of motion limitations. However, severe knee injuries may require more than the therapies mentioned above. Surgery may be necessary to repair torn ligaments and tendons, reconstruct a shattered patella, and stabilize the knee joint.
What can you do to improve a swollen knee?
Here are some common dos and don’ts for swollen knees:
- Follow the RICE This means resting, icing, compressing, and elevating the swollen knee.
- Do gentle knee exercises. This is to prevent the development of a stiff knee.
- Please don’t use assistive devices if you feel your knee is unstable. Although they can help prevent falls, they are not recommended for this condition.
- Don’t “baby” your knee too much. The less you move it, the higher the risk of knee muscle atrophy and limitations in range of motion. Talk with your doctor about this, as some knee movements may be contraindicated in your condition.
- Don’t ignore your pain symptoms. If your knee pain worsens and doesn’t improve with rest, medication, and exercise, visit your doctor. Imaging studies may be done to assess the knee structures and look for other factors that may worsen your knee condition.
What can you do?
Knee injuries can limit your day-to-day activities and cause you to lose income since you may have to take some days or even extended time off work to recover. If your knee injury is starting to affect your life, call an Eason & Tambornini Sacramento motorcycle accident attorney at (916) 438-1819. We’ll help you seek compensation for your traumatic injuries, and you will pay no fees unless you win a settlement.
The information provided on this blog is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this blog.
