The symptoms for most knee ligament injuries will be similar, no matter how they have been damaged. These include pain, swelling as well as instability. At times, you may feel as if your knee is giving way or that it is locking. There may be the feeling of a popping or snapping sensation at the time of the injury. Besides, you may also find that you are not able to stand properly on the affected leg, or are not able to put your full weight on it.
You will not feel any kind of direct pain in case of knee ligament injuries, but there may be some pain or discomfort from the swelling which tends to follow an injury. Pain tends to develop on either the inside or outside of your knee joint where you may see some swelling. In case you see any of these symptoms, you need to visit your physiotherapist for advice.
The causes of knee ligament injuries include receiving an impact or being moved beyond its usual range of movement. They can be due to playing a sport which combines running, jumping as well as stopping with a quick change of direction. These injuries can be due to conditions like osteoarthritis or gout, or due to being overweight.
The knee ligament injuries can happen in case your knees hit the dashboard in a car accident. In order to diagnose knee ligament injuries, your GP or physiotherapist will ask you about your symptoms as well as examine you. This would include feeling for fluid inside the joint. This is done by pressing over your kneecap gently, especially in case your knee is not severely swollen.
Your GP/physiotherapist may refer you for an MRI or ultrasound scan or X-ray which can help to diagnose more complicated as well as severe knee ligament injuries. The treatment of knee injuries will depend on how bad the damage is.