Knee Pain After a Motorcycle Accident

The most common causes of knee injury in traumatic accidents are posterior and anterior cruciate ligament tears, medial and lateral collateral ligament injuries, medial and lateral menisci damage, as well as patellar dislocation or fracture.

There are so many issues that can affect the knee joint and cause pain– arthritis of the knees, gout, autoimmune inflammatory diseases that affect the joints, and blunt trauma to the knee resulting from accidents, sports injuries, slip-and-fall accidents, etc.

Any of these can trigger the cells to release pain signals and start the inflammatory process. The cells involved in inflammation not only recruit other cells to the site, but they also release chemicals that dilate the blood vessels and cause fluid to accumulate in the injured site. This, in turn, will result in swelling typically associated with tissue injuries. The influx of blood is also responsible for the redness and warmth common in any swelling.

You can develop many complications from your knee problems after an accident. Because pain can be very limiting, you tend to avoid moving the painful area. Now limiting knee movements is okay since the tissues need to heal, but if you don’t move the knee, it could result in knee stiffness and limitations in the knee’s range of motion.

Knee problems caused by accidents can also increase your risk of developing osteoarthritis in the future, especially if you sustained knee joint fractures and subluxations. The trauma already weakened the knee structures, and if the bones healed incorrectly, it could even lead to the development of bone spurs, which is very painful.

If you don’t receive proper treatment for your knee problems, you can develop long-term disabilities that affect your personal and professional life. The injuries can limit you and prevent you from going back to work.

Suddenly and forcefully twisting your knee stretches the ligaments found within the knee and cause minuscule injuries and tearing of these ligaments. If the impact is severe, it can even tear the ligaments apart. The only way to correct torn ligaments is by surgery and immobilization. After the tissues have healed, you will also have to undergo physical therapy to regain knee strength and range of motion.

For minor knee injuries, though, pain and anti-inflammatory drugs usually take care of the problem. You can also try a hot and cold compress to help reduce pain and swelling.

Supportive devices like splints may also be prescribed by your doctor to protect the knee joint and limit its movement while healing. If you’re not allowed to bear weight on the affected joint, you can use crutches to help you move around.