Knee Injury
A knee injury may not seem life-changing at first— until it begins to affect nearly every part of your daily routine. Suddenly, walking across a room, climbing stairs, driving, or returning to work becomes painful or even impossible.
If your injury was caused by someone else’s careless or reckless actions, you have the right to seek the justice and compensation you deserve. But you need a law firm with the experience, resources, and proven trial record to stand up to powerful insurance companies and defendants and hold them fully accountable.
At Zehl & Associates, we’ve recovered Billions for injury victims, including some of the largest verdicts and settlements in Texas history. We fight tirelessly to recover the maximum compensation our clients deserve while ensuring they have access to the best medical care available and the support they need throughout their recovery.
Table of Contents
- How Do Knee Injuries Happen?
- Common Types of Knee Injuries
- What Are the Signs of a Knee Injury?
- Diagnosing a Knee Injury
- Treatment Options
- Can a Knee Injury Have Lasting Effects?
- When Should You See a Doctor for a Knee Injury?
- Call Zehl & Associates for a Free Consultation With a Houston Personal Injury Lawyer
How Do Knee Injuries Happen?
The knee is one of the hardest-working joints in the body. It supports your weight, helps you stay balanced, and lets you move through almost every daily activity. Because it absorbs so much force, it’s especially vulnerable during accidents.
In many cases, the knee strikes the dashboard during a collision or twists awkwardly during a fall, causing damage to ligaments, cartilage, tendons, or bones.
Common Types of Knee Injuries
The knee contains bones, ligaments, tendons, cartilage, and muscles that work together to provide strength and stability. Damage to any of these structures can cause significant pain and limit mobility.
Some of the most common knee injuries include:
- ACL tears
- PCL tears
- MCL and LCL injuries
- Torn meniscus
- Patella (kneecap) fractures
- Knee dislocations
- Tendon tears
- Cartilage injuries
- Sprains and strains
Some injuries heal with conservative treatment, while others require surgery and months of rehabilitation. In severe cases, permanent damage may never fully heal.
What Are the Signs of a Knee Injury?
Not every knee injury causes immediate, severe pain. Sometimes symptoms develop gradually over the hours or days following an accident.
You should seek medical attention if you experience:
- Pain that worsens with movement
- Swelling around the joint
- Bruising
- Stiffness
- Difficulty bending or straightening the knee
- A popping sensation when the injury occurred
- Instability or the feeling that your knee may give out
- Trouble putting weight on your leg
- Locking or catching of the joint
Even seemingly minor symptoms can indicate a more serious injury beneath the surface. Prompt medical treatment can improve your recovery and help document your injuries if you pursue a personal injury claim.
Diagnosing a Knee Injury
A physician will usually begin by asking how the accident happened and performing a physical examination. Depending on your symptoms, additional testing may be necessary to determine the extent of the damage.
Diagnostic tests often include:
- X-rays to identify broken bones
- MRI scans to evaluate ligaments, tendons, and cartilage
- CT scans for complex fractures
- Ultrasound imaging in certain situations
Getting an accurate diagnosis is an important first step because treatment varies significantly depending on the type of injury.
Treatment Options
Every knee injury is different, so treatment depends on the severity of the damage and your overall health.
Your doctor may recommend:
- Rest and limiting physical activity
- Ice, compression, and elevation
- Prescription or over-the-counter medications
- Physical therapy
- Knee braces or supports
- Cortisone injections
- Arthroscopic surgery
- Ligament reconstruction
- Partial or total knee replacement
Recovery can take anywhere from several weeks to many months. Some people regain full function, while others continue to experience pain or reduced mobility long after the initial injury.
Can a Knee Injury Have Lasting Effects?
Unfortunately, the effects of a serious knee injury don’t always end once treatment is complete. Even after surgery or rehabilitation, some people continue to struggle with chronic symptoms.
Long-term complications may include:
- Chronic pain
- Arthritis
- Limited range of motion
- Muscle weakness
- Joint instability
- Difficulty returning to physically demanding work
- Permanent disability
These lasting effects can influence your quality of life, your ability to earn a living, and the amount of compensation available in a personal injury claim.
When Should You See a Doctor for a Knee Injury?
Some knee injuries are obvious immediately after an accident, while others become more painful over the next several hours or days. Even if you’re able to walk, it’s important not to assume the injury is minor. Damage to ligaments, cartilage, or tendons may not be visible without a medical evaluation.
You should seek prompt medical attention if you experience:
- Severe or persistent pain
- Significant swelling
- Difficulty walking or putting weight on your leg
- A popping sensation when the injury occurred
- The knee giving way or feeling unstable
- An inability to fully bend or straighten the joint
- Visible deformity
- Numbness or tingling in your lower leg or foot
Getting medical care as soon as possible can improve your chances of a full recovery and help prevent additional damage. It also creates medical records that document your injuries, which may become important if you pursue a personal injury claim after an accident.
Call Zehl & Associates for a Free Consultation With a Houston Personal Injury Lawyer
Recovering from a serious knee injury can be physically demanding and financially stressful. Medical bills can add up quickly, and time away from work only adds to the pressure. You shouldn’t have to navigate the legal process on your own while trying to heal.
If someone else’s negligence caused your injury, the Houston personal injury lawyers at Zehl & Associates are ready to help. With billions of dollars recovered, we have a proven track record of success.
Contact us today at (888) 603-3636 to schedule a free consultation.