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How do you know if a knee injury is serious?
Is knee pain serious?
Can a knee injury cause a swollen knee?
Dec 2, 2021 · If the injury is a torn ACL, a small blood vessel is also torn—and when that happens, the swelling can also be significant. “If your knee looks like a grapefruit, you should get it checked out,” Allen says. In this short video, Dr. Allen explains the basics of knee injuries and when to see a doctor.
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If you've torn your meniscus, it might take 24 hours or more for pain and swelling to begin, especially if the tear is small. You might develop the following signs and symptoms in your knee:
•A popping sensation
•Swelling or stiffness
•Pain, especially when twisting or rotating your knee
•Difficulty straightening your knee fully
•Feeling as though your knee is locked in place when you try to move it
Contact your doctor if your knee is painful or swollen, or if you can't move your knee in the usual ways.
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A torn meniscus can result from any activity that causes you to forcefully twist or rotate your knee, such as aggressive pivoting or sudden stops and turns. Even kneeling, deep squatting or lifting something heavy can sometimes lead to a torn meniscus.
In older adults, degenerative changes of the knee can contribute to a torn meniscus with little or no trauma.
Performing activities that involve aggressive twisting and pivoting of the knee puts you at risk of a torn meniscus. The risk is particularly high for athletes — especially those who participate in contact sports, such as football, or activities that involve pivoting, such as tennis or basketball.
Wear and tear on your knees as you age increases the risk of a torn meniscus. So does obesity.
A torn meniscus can lead to a feeling of your knee giving way, inability to move your knee as you usually do or persistent knee pain. You might be more likely to develop osteoarthritis in the injured knee.
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By Mayo Clinic Staff
Jan 06, 2022
1.Cardone DA, et al. Meniscal injury of the knee. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Sept. 11, 2021.
2.Meniscal tears. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/meniscus-tears/. Accessed Sept. 11, 2021.
- Abrasion. An abrasion is another term for a scrape. This occurs when the skin rubs against a rough surface, such as asphalt or cement. A minor abrasion takes off just the outer layer of skin (epidermis) and can be treated at home.
- Laceration. A laceration is a cut or puncture wound that causes a tear or hole in the skin. If you fall and land on something sharp like a nail, you can end up with a laceration.
- Contusion. A knee contusion or bruise is a common injury if you fall on a hard surface. The impact can cause a blood vessel or capillary in the skin or muscle underneath to leak blood into the surrounding area, creating the black and blue sign of a bruise.
- Sprain. A knee sprain occurs when one — or more — of the ligaments in the knee is overstretched. A ligament is a structure that connects one bone to another.
Mar 13, 2024 · Pain in the knee. Swelling. A popping sensation during the injury. Difficulty bending and straightening the leg. A tendency for your knee to get "stuck" or lock up. At first, the pain may not be ...
The most common sprained knee symptoms include: Knee pain (especially on the sides of your knee). Pain might be worse when you move or use your knee. Swelling. Instability (feeling like your knee is weak, might give out or buckle). Reduced range of motion (it’s hard or painful to move your knee as far as usual).
Mar 18, 2024 · It can happen after an injury to the knee or if you have arthritis. The cyst may cause pain and swelling. Arthritis and Knee Pain Causes. Swelling and tenderness of the joints is called arthritis ...
Sep 9, 2017 · Below are 10 of the most common injuries of the knee. 1. Fractures. Any of the bones in or around the knee can be fractured. The most commonly broken bone in the joint is the patella or kneecap ...
