- Auto Accident Injuries
One of the most painful types of knee injuries is an ACL tear or sprain. It wouldn’t be surprising if you suffered an ACL injury in a car or truck accident. You should visit our Anderson treatment center or one of our other South Carolina offices right away. Our doctors can diagnose your injuries and get you started on the road to recovery.
What Exactly Is an ACL Injury?
An ACL injury occurs when you sprain or tear your anterior cruciate ligament. Your ACL is the part of your knee that connects your tibia to your thigh bone, or femur. It is extremely painful. Unlike some other injuries, this isn’t the kind of thing you can ignore for long.
Your best treatment options will depend on whether you merely strain this ligament or tear it. If it’s torn, there’s a good chance you’ll need surgery.
This isn’t something you want to put off. The pain will continue to get worse and it will be a lot harder to recover from if you don’t visit an Anderson treatment center right away.
A lot of people who play sports end up with an ACL injury. You also can suffer this type of injury in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident.
How Do Doctors Diagnose an ACL Knee Injury?
When you first see a doctor, they’ll ask you what your symptoms are. They’ll also do a physical examination of your knee. They’ll look for swelling. They’ll compare it to your other knee.
Your doctor will also check your knee’s range of motion. They’ll see how you can stand on the injured leg versus the other. Once they complete their physical examination, the doctor will run a series of diagnostic tests. These may include:
- X-ray
- MRI
- Ultrasound
These tests are non-invasive. They won’t hurt. However, the results of these tests will reveal a lot. Your doctor wants to confirm your ACL tear or sprain and rule out other possible injuries to the area.
Will You Have to Get Surgery to Fix Your Knee Injury?
When people hear that they’ve torn or sprained their ACL, they often panic. They assume they’ll need surgery, but this is not always the case,
Many patients can recover through physical therapy. However, depending on the severity of the injury and your activity level, you may need surgery.
Our doctors will evaluate your ACL injury, and discuss the best course of treatment. We offer orthopedic surgery for patients who need it.
The Doctors May Also Recommend Physical Therapy
Even if you have surgery, you’ll still need to undergo physical therapy. Studies have shown that people with an ACL injury who don’t have surgery are more likely to reinjure their knee within two years.
The other problem with not undergoing PT is that you may end up injuring your other knee.
Many people with this injury end up overusing the opposite knee to compensate for their injuries. This can land you back in the hospital if you suffer any kind of trauma, including a car accident.
How Long Does It Take to Fully Recover After an ACL Injury?
If you are in a car accident and suffer an ACL injury, you should expect a recovery period of three to six months. It depends on the seriousness of your injury. It also depends on whether you had surgery to repair the sprain or tear in your knee.
The doctors at our injury center in Anderson almost always recommend physical therapy. This will decrease your chances of reinjury down the road.
Visit One of Our Injury Treatment Centers in South Carolina
Our board-certified medical practitioners at Injury Medicine provide top-quality treatment for accident victims. Our team includes experts in urgent care, pain management, chiropractic, and more. If your knee injury requires orthopedic surgery, we can perform this at one of our South Carolina locations.
All you have to do is contact us today at 864-866-PAIN so you schedule your initial appointment.
