How to treat a tear ligament?

Dense tissue formations that connect the bones of the skeleton and individual organs are called ligaments. Their function is not only in the direction of the joint, but also in its retention. Excessive loads or awkward movements can lead to ligament damage.

Degrees of damage

There are three types of damage to ligaments, differing in severity:

• Stretching. First, easy degree. Characterized by the rupture of individual fibers.
• Tear. A significant part of the fibers break, but the ligaments can still perform a supporting function.
• The gap. The third and most severe degree. It is characterized by a complete disruption of the functionality of the shoulder, knee, ankle.

The main symptoms of tissue integrity disorders

The first symptoms of ligament ligament, which are worth paying attention to:

• In the place of injury appears severe pain of an acute nature.
• There is a partial violation of the function of the damaged part of the body, it becomes difficult to move.
• The place of ligation of the ligament begins to swell.
• The skin becomes reddish, and hyperemia occurs.

Diagnosis of tissue tears

With minor injury, the pain may be weak. Such patients, as a rule, do not immediately understand the causes and consequences of the damage, so they turn to the doctor rather late.

The diagnosis of tearing of knee ligament, shoulder or ankle is as follows:

• The doctor performs a visual inspection (determines the change in the shape of the joint, redness of the skin) and does palpation of the damaged site (there is a refinement of the local temperature increase, the degree of soreness and swelling).
• The radiograph is made.
• An ultrasound is being performed.
• Magnetic resonance imaging is done.

As a result of all studies, treatment of knee ligament injury, brachial or ankle is prescribed.

First aid for ligament damage

If the first symptoms of a ligament in the knee or shoulder joint, as well as the ankle, are found, the following measures should be taken:

• The first thing to do is to limit the movement of the damaged area. For this, it is necessary to impose a pressure bandage on it. Depending on the location of the injury (ankle, knee or shoulder), the order of its application may be slightly different.
• The injured limb should be raised. For example, if an ankle sprain has occurred, the victim is placed in a comfortable position (lying or sitting), and a pillow is placed under the leg.
• On top of the pressure bandage apply something cold (for example, an ice pack) so that the puffiness subsides.
• If the victim feels very severe pain, which he can not tolerate, then he is given painkillers (for example, analgin).
• After that, without fail, you should go to the emergency room to have an X-ray and have a treatment.

Treatment of knee joint injuries

The most important function of the knee joint is to connect and support the femoral and tibia due to a large number of ligaments. Variants of injury in this area are divided into four types:

• Internal lateral (characterized by external symptoms such as deviation of the knee outwards);
• External lateral (the most common cause is the turn of the foot);
• Crosswise anterior (damage to which resulted in a blow to the back of the knee or pressure in this area when the shin was in a bent position);
• Cross-shaped posterior (such a trauma is possible in the case of a blow to the knee in front or with an overextension of the limb).

Exercise unusual for the knee joints or sudden movements can lead to damage to the ligaments. During an anguish, the muscle tissue does not undergo a disruption of integrity, but significant inconveniences still arise. Therefore, first of all, the victim should be provided with pre-medical care, and then see a doctor directly for the purpose of treatment. The essence of therapeutic measures is to quickly eliminate pain syndrome and restore the integrity of tissues.

Depending on the degree of severity of an obstruction of the knee ligaments, the treatment can be as follows:

• Puncture: performed in cases where there is a very strong edema or bleeding in the joint.
• Imposition of a tight or plaster bandage: not only the knee is fixed, but the whole area from the ankles to the upper part of the thigh. If gypsum was applied, then it is removed not earlier than in one or two months, if there was a complete tear. In the case of partial damage, it is sufficient to carry the longet for several weeks.
• Taking pain medications, applying ointments to relieve swelling.

In severe cases of tearing, surgery may be required. But they do the operation not earlier than five weeks after receiving the damage. Operative intervention can be of two types: through open access or arthroscopy.

The tearing of the cruciate connection complicates the diagnosis, since during damage to the joint cavity a hemorrhage occurs. As a result, blood clusters do not provide an opportunity to fully assess the degree of mobility of the joint. For this, we have to do additional research.

Depending on the speed of first aid, such a tear can be cured only by applying a longi (gypsum bandage). It should be worn for two months. Rehabilitation in the case of tearing the cruciate ligament is to perform physical exercises aimed at developing the joint, and the course of the massage.

Treatment of shoulder injuries

The integrity of the ligaments in this place can occur for two reasons. The first - tearing is the result of injury from excessive physical exertion, bruise, stroke and so on. The second - there was a degenerative disorder, the cause of which is the age or physical wear and tear of the joint (articular trophic).

In some cases, visual signs of damage can not be observed. But the pain when trying to move and touch will be. Puffiness of the joint may appear only during therapy.

Treatment of laceration of ligaments of the shoulder joint:

• Imposition of a tight orthopedic tire for a period of several weeks. It is necessary that the damaged area is fixed and not subjected to any stresses.
• Cryotherapy is the application of cold compresses in the first days after injury, to relieve swelling. You can apply ice for no more than twenty minutes. Otherwise, you can get frostbite.
• The purpose of anti-inflammatory drugs (for example, ibuprofen, naproxen, cathorolac, and so on).
• Surgery. It is carried out with the help of the method of arthroscopy, which provides for minimal disruption of the integrity of the skin.

After therapy, a number of rehabilitation measures must be performed to fully restore the function of the shoulder device. It is recommended to do appropriate physical exercises, apply physiotherapy, massage, acupuncture. It would be superfluous to rub warming ointments into the damaged area and make various compresses.

Treatment of ankle damage

The most common cause of laceration of the ligaments of the ankle joint is the pivoting of the foot inside or out. This can happen as a consequence of any physical exertion, and through carelessness. To general symptoms of ligament laceration, spasmodic pains in the shin area, puffiness around the joint, which is constantly increasing, swelling of the bones, immobility of the stupa, is also added. Bruising can appear in different places.

Treatment of ankle laceration can include the following measures:

• Applying cold compresses (ice) to the damaged area in the first days of injury.
• Imposition of an eight-tier tight bandage. Depending on the severity of the injury, you can remove the bandage in two to three weeks.
• Puncture. It is performed in the presence of a large tumor and hemorrhage.
• If the swelling after applying a tight bandage does not go away, then the gypsum is applied. With it, you can fix the area from the fingers to the knee joint. Tearing ligament in this case should heal in two to four weeks.
• A couple of days after getting damage to the integrity of the joint tissues, warm compresses can be applied.

The main condition for restoring the functionality of the ankle after a ligament injury is the correct application of the dressing. Depending on the place of injury, it is imposed a little differently:

• If damaged, the front external group of elements of the ligamentous apparatus of the foot should be in the position of pronation, that is, the suspended side from the outside);
• With damage to the intercellular distal articulation, the dressing is applied to the ankle area in a bent position;
• If the inner group is damaged, the bandage should be bandaged in the supination position, that is, the suspended side of the foot to the inside.

If the tear of the ankle joint is complicated by muscle damage, fracture or dislocation, then surgery is required. The surgeon in this case conducts and fixes bone fragments. He also sews torn ligaments. After surgery, a gypsum tape is applied to the damaged ankle. Trauma of this kind is healed for a long time, and the recovery period can be prolonged for a period of three to six months.

With tearing of the ankle joints, this type of therapy, like UHF, is quite effective (it is based on the influence of the electromagnetic field at different frequencies on the human body).

In the future, it is mandatory to perform a set of exercises, which will involve the muscles of the foot and lower leg, fingers. It is also recommended to make baths, massages, paraffin applications and undergo physiotherapy sessions.

Treatment of tissue integrity disorders of folk remedies

In the treatment of various types of ligament tears, various types of lotions and ointments based on herbal decoctions, gruel of various vegetables and plants that help relieve pain and swelling are quite effective.

The most common recipes of folk medicine for this type of damage are:

• Vinegar, red clay and crushed apples are thoroughly mixed to make a gruel. The resulting mixture is applied to a sore spot. This ointment has a warming effect, and also helps relieve severe pain and very well contributes to the fight against inflammatory processes.
• Garlic cloves rubbed on the grater, and then mixed with the crushed eucalyptus leaves. Ointment must be boiled for five minutes before use.
• To speed up the recovery process, it is recommended to rub the potato on a small grater and apply it to the damaged area. You can also add crushed onion or cabbage leaf to the gruel.
• Onions are rubbed on a fine grater and mixed with table salt to make a homogeneous gruel. Then the resulting mixture is slightly heated in a water bath and applied for an hour and a half to the injured place. Compress will help to relieve inflammation.
• Compress of vodka. It very well removes puffiness, but it can be imposed on the knee or ankle for no more than eight hours.
• Reducing swelling and reduce inflammation will help ointment from calendula. For this, the flowers are crushed and mixed with ordinary baby cream.
• Make compresses from the herbal gathering of fresh water (sponges of freshwater). This herb acts as a resorptive, which is important for hematomas, bruises and edema of various types. You can apply compresses at intervals of one and a half hours. Before the procedure, it is better to wash the damaged area with a solution of laundry soap. Each time, a fresh broth is brewed.
• The salt is mixed with flour in equal proportions. Then make a cake. It should be applied to the trauma for the whole night.

Remember that the above tools can only be used as auxiliary tools. They can not replace basic treatment.

Rehabilitation after treatment

The timing of recovery after ligament injury depends on the location and severity of the lesion, as well as on how quickly and timely the care was provided. The average time to resume motor function, with compliance with medical recommendations is about eight weeks. If the ligament damage was very serious, then the rehabilitation period can last up to six months.

The rehabilitation period is the performance of all prescribed physiotherapy procedures and a complex of light physical exercises. All actions are aimed specifically at the development of the damaged site, as well as to strengthen the ligament apparatus.

The complex of exercises is developed by a specialist individually and depends on the type of damage and the particular patient. As you recover, your physical load increases. For example, if there was an obstruction of the knee ligament, then usually light physical exercises in the form of a warm-up are prescribed first, and then lessons are added on the simulators (treadmill).

In order for the rehabilitation period to be more successful, it is recommended to visit a sanatorium. You can also use additional folk advice (for example, make various compresses, ointments and so on).

Prevention of ligament injuries

To reduce the risk of getting an ankle ligament, knee or shoulder joint, it is necessary to follow several recommendations:

• During walking and various physical activities you should be cautious and prudent, pay attention to the road surface and possible obstacles (pits, stones, etc.).
• Do not forget that the risk of injuries in the winter is significantly increased.
• Before you start physical activities of a different nature (activities in the gym, on a bicycle, running, etc.), it is necessary to perform warm-up and gymnastics.
• If there is a risk of tearing, then a daily set of exercises aimed at strengthening the ligaments should be performed without fail.
• Inclusion in the diet of a large number of fresh fruits and vegetables helps strengthen joints.

For those who have already had a tear ligament, it is recommended to use an elastic bandage before various physical exertions. With his help, you should put a bandage on a previously damaged place.

Forget that those who lead a healthy lifestyle and exercise correctly, the chances of getting a ligament ligament is very low.