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Knee injuries Q&As

Published by Bupa's health information team, July 2009.

Answers to questions about knee injuries

This section contains answers to common questions about this topic. Questions have been suggested by health professionals, website feedback and requests via email.

 

I have sprained a ligament in my knee. How long will it take to heal?

The time your sprain will take to heal depends on which part of your knee you have injured and how badly. If it's a mild sprain, the ligament is likely to heal within three to six weeks. If your injury is more severe and depending on whether you require surgery, full recovery can take between two and 12 months.

Explanation

The most important way to help your injury to heal is to follow the PRICE method immediately after the injury. PRICE means protection, rest, ice, compression and elevation. If your symptoms don't improve or any pain or swelling gets worse, talk to your doctor about physiotherapy or other treatment.

Sources

  • Sprain: Prognosis and duration. Department of Work and Pensions. www.dwp.gov.uk, accessed 24 February 2009
  • Sprains and strains. Management Clinical Knowledge Summaries. www.cks.library.nhs.uk, accessed 24 February 2009
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Which painkillers are best for a knee injury?

Talk to your pharmacist or your GP about the medicines available and which ones are best for you.

Explanation

Paracetamol should give you some pain relief. If paracetamol doesn't ease your pain, your GP may suggest a stronger painkiller called codeine. You can also use anti-inflammatory medicines, such as ibuprofen, in the form of a cream or gel that you can put directly onto your skin. You can also take anti-inflammatory medicines as tablets, but wait until 48 hours after the injury before you start taking them. This is because anti-inflammatory tablets can slow down healing if you take them straight after an injury.

Some people can't use ibuprofen or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or should only do so with caution. NSAIDs are known to cause side-effects to the digestive system and this risk is highest for elderly people. If you have asthma, you should also use NSAIDs with caution. Talk to your pharmacist or your GP about what is best for you. If your pain is severe, you may need to have a stronger anti-inflammatory medicine prescribed by your doctor, or another treatment.

Sources

  • Sprains and strains. Clinical Knowledge Summaries. www.cks.library.nhs.uk, accessed 24 February 2009
  • Joint Formulary Committee, British National Formulary. 55th ed. London: British Medical Association and Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, 2008
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Can I use a gel or spray painkiller directly on my skin instead of tablets? Are these effective?

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers can be used in the form of a gel, cream or spray that you can use directly on your skin. This kind of painkiller may help to ease your pain in the first week after your injury. If your pain continues after this time, you may find other kinds of painkillers more effective.

Explanation

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen can help relieve the pain and inflammation caused by a knee sprain or strain. NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and ketoprofen are available as gels, creams and sprays that you can put directly onto your skin and gently massage in, as well as tablets or capsules that you take by mouth.

You can buy some NSAIDs in gel or spray form from your pharmacist and others are available on prescription from your doctor. These kinds of painkillers do work for sprains and strains and can help to ease your pain for up to a week after an injury. As your injury starts to heal and the pain and swelling go down, painkillers that you put on your skin become less effective.

If you're at particular risk of side-effects to your digestive system (gastrointestinal side-effects) from NSAIDs in tablet or capsule form, creams, gels or sprays may be a good alternative, but check with your pharmacist or doctor first. If you have been told you can't take NSAIDs as tablets - for instance if you're allergic to them or have asthma - you shouldn't use creams, gels or sprays containing these medicines. Don't use these products if your skin is broken.

Sources

  • Sprains and strains. Clinical Knowledge Summaries. www.cks.library.nhs.uk, accessed 24 February 2009
  • Joint Formulary Committee, British National Formulary. 55th ed. London: British Medical Association and Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, 2008
  • Topical NSAIDs for strains and sprains. Bandolier. www.medicine.ox.ac.uk/bandolier, accessed 24 February 2009
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Can arnica help with my knee injury?

It's unlikely. There is no convincing evidence that arnica can help with sprains and strains.

Explanation

Arnica is often promoted as a treatment to help relieve soft-tissue injuries such as sprains and strains. You can buy arnica as a herbal remedy (usually as an oil) and also as a homeopathic medicine. There haven't been any studies on herbal arnica remedies. Arnica as a homeopathic remedy for sprains and strains has been studied. However, these studies didn't show any convincing evidence that arnica can help with sprains or strains.

Sources

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Is a knee injury more likely because I have osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis can sometimes cause muscle weakness in your knee and therefore place extra strain on the ligaments.

Explanation

Osteoarthritis that affects the knee can sometimes cause damage to your ligaments and muscles. If this happens, the knee joint can sometimes 'give way'. However, by keeping active and regularly exercising your knee, you can help to prevent this kind of injury. There is some evidence that exercise can also reduce the pain you feel from osteoarthritis of the knee and help to prevent longer term disability.

You may be asked to try a combination of different types of exercise. Strengthening exercises will help improve the muscles around your joints - this will help to stabilise your joints and also help with your pain. Also try to do some aerobic activity - anything that increases your heart rate and makes you slightly out of breath. This type of exercise can help to reduce pain, and also improve your general health and well-being. Aerobic activity can also help you to lose excess weight or control your weight, which reduces your chances of your knee problems getting worse in the future.

Range-of-movement exercises and stretches are also important to keep you flexible and mobile. This type of exercise involves moving your joints through their full range of movement and trying to move a little further beyond this.

As well as generally keeping active, your physiotherapist may also advise you to do some specific exercises for your knee. These are called quadriceps or thigh muscle exercises. Your quadriceps muscles are at the front of your thighs. They become weaker when you have osteoarthritis so exercising and strengthening them is important. By doing this, you can help to reduce your pain and stay as mobile as possible. These exercises include straight leg raises, muscle stretches and muscle clenching.

It's important to get advice about which types of exercise are best for you. This will help prevent you putting strain on individual joints and muscles that can lead to injury and longer-term problems. Your GP may refer you to a physiotherapist, specialist nurse or rheumatologist (a specialist dealing with the musculoskeletal system, the joints and surrounding tissues) for specialist advice.

Further information

Sources

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Related topics

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This information was published by Bupa's health information team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been peer reviewed by Bupa doctors. The content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.

Publication date: July 2009

Knee injuries factsheet

 

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