Knee Injury Treatment in Buffalo, NY

You count on your knee countless times each and every day. Whether you are standing, walking, running, or sitting down, your knee is involved. You even engage your knee to roll over when you’re sleeping. Because it’s involved in so much, a knee injury can be devastating. It’s hard to get comfortable, and you can’t help but wonder how long it will take to heal. You might even find yourself wondering, “Can I ever get better?”

While some knee injuries heal on their own, many require medical care. Medical Care of Western New York at Buffalo can diagnose and treat your knee injury on site, so you do not have to travel from one spot to the next to receive treatment. We use the most noninvasive treatment options possible to get the desired results, and we will be by your side during every aspect of the treatment process. Contact us today to set up an appointment at Medical Care of WNY, where healing happens!

Ligament Sprains and Tears

Many people come to Medical Care of Western New York at Buffalo due to ligament sprains and tears. Your knee has four main ligaments, and you can injure any or all of them. If you have an issue with your ACL, MCL, LCL, or PCL, visit us for an evaluation.

What Is An ACL Injury?

Knee Injury Treatment in Buffalo, NY Work Injury & Car Accident Doctor

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the four ligaments responsible for connecting the femur to the tibia. ACL tears and sprains are among the most common knee injuries we see at Medical Care of Western New York at Buffalo. A small portion of these injuries is caused by direct contact to the knee. In most cases, the knee injury is due to pivoting, sidestepping, cutting, and other activities while playing sports.

ACL sprains occur when the ligament stretches. In the most severe cases, the ligament stretches to the point of tearing into pieces.

If you experience an ACL sprain or tear, you can expect the symptoms to develop quickly. You will feel pain immediately, and the knee will swell within 24 hours. You’ll also lose range of motion and experience tenderness.

ACL injuries can often be treated without surgery, although the worst cases might require surgery. Medical Care of Western New York at Buffalo takes a conservative approach to knee injury treatment. We do not recommend surgery unless other treatments do not work. This speeds up the healing time for our patients, so they can get back to everyday activities that they enjoy. It also helps them avoid costly medical bills that come from surgeries.

What Is An MCL Injury?

The MCL is the medial collateral ligament. This ligament is the reason your knee doesn’t bend inward when you walk and run.

You can sprain and tear your MCL, just like your ACL. This knee injury is most common in athletes who quickly change direction, twist, or bend while playing a sport. Direct contact to the outside of the knee can also cause an MCL injury.

Pain, swelling, and tenderness are common symptoms with an MCL injury. You also might notice that it is difficult to walk because your knee isn’t stable.

When you visit Medical Care of Western New York at Buffalo, our practitioners will grade your knee injury to determine how serious it is. Then, we will devise a treatment program that will likely include physical therapy.

What Is An LCL Injury?

The LCL is the lateral collateral ligament. It’s on the opposite side of the knee from the MCL and can be injured by direct force. The symptoms and treatment are the same as with an MCL injury. However, this knee injury is not nearly as common as other ligament injuries.

What Is A PCL Injury?

The posterior cruciate ligament, or PCL, is on the back of the knee. A great deal of force is needed to injure the PCL. This knee injury often occurs when people fall on a bent knee or hit their knee on the dashboard during a motor vehicle accident. You can develop this knee injury with a simple misstep, as well.

Pain, swelling, difficulty walking are all common symptoms of a PCL injury. Your knee might even give out when you are walking.

Rest, ice, compression, and elevation are recommended after a PCL injury. You also might need to wear a brace and go through physical therapy. The physicians at Medical Care of Western New York at Buffalo will evaluate you and create a course of treatment based on your specific needs.

What Is A Meniscus Tear?

The meniscus consists of two pieces of cartilage that are located between the shinbone and thighbone. These pieces of cartilage are essentially shock absorbers responsible for cushioning and stabilizing the knee joint.

It’s possible to tear the meniscus in a variety of ways, but it usually happens while playing sports. Twisting the knee when squatting or taking a direct blow to the knee can cause tears.

Degenerative meniscus tears can also occur. This happens when the cartilage weakens and thins out as people age. In this case, a simple twist of the knee can cause the meniscus to tear.

It’s normal to hear a popping sound when you tear your meniscus. Pain, stiffness and swelling, a loss of range of motion are common symptoms. You also might notice that your knee catches or locks when walking.

The symptoms tend to get worse over the course of a few days. Some athletes continue playing sports right after a meniscus tear, only to be overcome with stiffness and swelling after two to three days. It is a mistake to continue using the knee after a tear since that can make the knee injury worse.

The treatment needed depends on the size and location of the tear. If you tear the outer one-third of your meniscus, it might heal on its own. This area has a rich blood supply that promotes healing. You will need to use rest, ice, compression, and elevation to promote healing, though.

However, the inner two-thirds of the meniscus don’t receive as much blood, so healing is not as easy. You will need treatment to heal the tear.

It is impossible to know the location or severity of the meniscus tear without an imaging test. You can get an X-ray or an MRI (offsite) at Medical Care of Western New York at Buffalo. After reading the images, the physician can determine the proper course of treatment. Often, this problem can be treated without surgery. You might need to wear a brace, take medication, and go to physical therapy to heal the knee injury. In some cases, surgery is required.

Treat Your Knee Injury at Medical Care of Western New York at Buffalo

Don’t try to deal with your knee injury on your own. Medical Care of Western New York at Buffalo has a full set of diagnostic tools and provide treatment modalities designed to facilitate the road to recovery. We accept no-fault and workers’ compensation claims and also take insurance from a large network of providers. We strive to make the entire process as easy as possible for you while providing the best level of care.

Walk-ins are welcome, so visit our office today. You can also call to schedule an appointment. We will get you in soon, so you can begin the healing process.

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