How do you treat a torn ligament without surgery?

To treat a minor ACL tear, your doctor may suggest that you:
  1. Apply ice to the knee a few times a day.
  2. Prop the knee above the level of your heart.
  3. Compress the knee with a bandage or wrap.
  4. Reduce or stop activity for several weeks.

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Can you recover from a torn ligament without surgery?

Time is your friend. Grade 1 and 2 ligament injuries can heal without surgical intervention. Doctors will use a combination of bracing, physical therapy, heat therapy, and medication to help with healing. The ligament responds well to these methods with a high overall success rate.

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Is walking bad for a torn ligament?

The quick answer is yes, typically you can walk with a torn ligament or tendon in the foot. Walking may be painful but you can typically still walk.

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Can a torn ligament go untreated?

Long-term knee instability

If you wait too long to treat a torn ACL, you're at risk of developing chronic knee pain and knee instability. Waiting to get treatment may mean that surgery is your only option.

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How do you fix a torn ligament?

If the ligament is only partially torn, you will likely be told by your doctor to follow the RICE method: rest, ice, compression, and elevation of your joint that was affected. However, if it is fully torn, you may need to have surgery to repair the ligament tear.

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ACL tear treatment - Is it possible to avoid surgery and further knee damage?

34 related questions found

How serious is ligament tear?

Ligaments support and strengthen joints. Their main function is to keep the bones of the skeleton in proper alignment and prevent abnormal movements of the joints. A torn ligament makes the joint harder to move. It makes the joint looser than usual, which means you are unable to move the joint normally.

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How do you tell if a ligament is stretched or torn?

If you experience a torn ligament, you're likely to feel it. If a strange popping sound occurs and you feel a sudden pain, then you've likely torn a ligament. Injuries of the ligament are common. Ligaments undergo a lot of wear and tear as a result of the movement that joints produce on a daily basis.

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Do torn ligaments get worse over time?

Some torn ligaments heal on their own over time, especially if the injury was only a partial tear. However, it is always best to consult with an orthopedic doctor to make sure the affected area heals correctly, and that the injury is not getting worse.

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Can you make a torn ligament worse?

If you feel that you may have torn a ligament or tendon, you should seek medical attention immediately. Attempting to stabilize the joint on your own can cause the injury to worsen. If you leave the injury untreated, the risk of it healing abnormally is also a concern.

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How long does it take torn ligaments to heal?

If the ligament is only mildly sprained, it may heal in just two to four weeks. Moderate ligament sprains can take over 10 weeks to heal. If a ligament is very seriously injured, you should expect your recovery to take between six and 12 months to heal completely.

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What not to do with a torn ligament?

Rest: Don't put weight on the injured area for 24 to 48 hours. This includes not lifting with an affected wrist or elbow. If you physically cannot put weight on an injured knee or ankle, see your doctor.

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Can you see torn ligaments on an xray?

Traditional X-rays don't view ligament damage and even more advanced scans like CTs and MRIs cannot visualize something as complex as ligament damage because they don't capture the ligament in motion but you don't have to suffer with ligament pain.

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What should you avoid when you have a torn ligament?

Our team of sports health experts offers five tips for protecting your ACL.
  • Exercise All Year Round. ...
  • Pay Attention to How You Move. ...
  • Avoid Exercising When You Are Overly Fatigued. ...
  • Strengthen Your Hamstring and Quadriceps. ...
  • Don't Forget Your Core.

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Do torn ligaments go back to normal?

Can a Torn Ligament Heal on Its Own? While a torn ligament can heal on its own over time, it is best to seek out medical attention to ensure that the affected area heals correctly without a lot of excessive scarring.

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Which medicine is best for ligament tear?

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and naproxen can reduce inflammation and pain caused by an ACL tear. The short-term use of prescription medications may also be also be an option.

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Can you move with a torn ligament?

The short answer is yes. After the pain and swelling subsides and if there is no other injury to your knee, you may be able to walk in straight lines, go up and down stairs and even potentially jog in a straight line.

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What do doctors do for a torn ligament?

Doctors have ways to treat ligament and tendon injuries. Less severe ones may recover on their own with rest. Many people also need bracing and medicine to help recover. Some people need surgery to repair a torn or ruptured tendon or ligament.

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What is the difference between a tendon tear and a ligament tear?

Ligaments connect bone to bone whereas tendons connect muscle to bone. When a ligament is stretched or torn, the injury is called a sprain. A strain occurs when muscles or tendons are stretched or torn. Both ligament and tendon tears can occur in the hand and wrist.

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Which ligament is most serious to tear?

The quick answer is that the ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) is most likely to be considered the worst ligament in the knee to tear.

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Do anti inflammatories help heal ligaments?

NSAID EFFECTS ON TENDON AND LIGAMENT HEALING. NSAIDs are commonly used to treat pain and swelling associated with minor as well as major tendon and ligament injuries.

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How painful is ligament tear?

A cruciate ligament injury often causes pain. Often you may hear a popping sound when the injury happens. Then your buckles when you try to stand on it. The knee also swells.

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Should I go to the doctor for a torn ligament?

While some ligament tears are relatively minor, you shouldn't take them lightly. Make sure to see your doctor right away if the pain and swelling don't decrease within 24 to 72 hours, you cannot bear any weight on the affected body part, or your symptoms get worse.

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Does walking help ligament pain?

Walking is one of the best things you can do for round ligament pain. Take deep breaths using your diaphragm as you walk. This helps to loosen up some of the tension on the abdominal cavity and the tissues — including the round ligament. The body and tissues LOVE movement to keep them from sticking to one another.

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What is the fastest way to heal ligaments?

Early medical treatment for knee ligament injury may include:
  1. Rest.
  2. Ice pack application (to reduce swelling that happens within hours of the injury)
  3. Compression (from an elastic bandage or brace)
  4. Elevation.
  5. Pain relievers.

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