Ligament Injuries

Ligaments link your bones together, forming strong, flexible joints. You’ll need expert treatment if you damage a ligament, which Kevin O’Donnell, DO, and the rest of the staff at Revitalize Regenerative Orthopedics LLC can provide. The practice serves the Denver metropolitan area and excels at treating ligament injuries without surgery. Call Revitalize Regenerative Orthopedics LLC to schedule a ligament injury evaluation, or book an appointment online today.

What are ligament injuries?

Ligaments are tough connective tissues that attach the bones in your joints to one another. They allow you to bend, stretch, run, jump, and perform other physical activities. Ligaments work in combination with tendons — similar tissues that attach muscles to bones.

Ligament injuries are known as sprains, while tendon injuries are strains. Ligament injuries vary in severity from mild sprains, where the tissue overstretches, to ruptures, where the ligament tears into pieces and/or detaches from the bone.

Physical activities like playing sports are a common cause of ligament injuries. However, you could sprain a ligament with any awkward movement, especially as you age. 

In addition to instant pain, you might be unable to use the affected joint if a ligament injury is severe. You could also get skin discoloration, bruising, tenderness, and swelling in the affected area. It can be difficult sometimes to tell the difference between severe sprains and fractures.

What ligament injuries are most common?

Some of the most common ligament injuries are knee sprains. The four large knee ligaments that crisscross the bones forming the joint are the:

• Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)
• Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)
• Lateral collateral ligament (LCL)
• Medial collateral ligament (MCL)

Games like soccer and basketball that involve sudden stops and twists often cause ligament sprains and tears. 

Other ligament injuries include:

• Ankle sprains
• Shoulder dislocation
• Acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) tear
• Neck sprain and back sprain
• Skier’s thumb (ulnar collateral ligament sprain)

Another common problem related to the ligaments is carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). The carpal tunnel is a bony area in your wrist through which the median nerve travels into your hand. The ligament running through your wrist can swell with overuse, pressing on the median nerve inside the carpal tunnel. This causes hand pain and loss of function.

What treatments help with ligament injuries?

Initial ligament injury treatment involves resting the affected joint, applying ice packs regularly, and avoiding activities that cause pain. 

Revitalize Regenerative Orthopedics LLC uses advanced treatments that promote healing and strong, healthy tissue growth. These treatments include:

• Prolotherapy 
• Bone and fat stem cell therapy
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy
• Focused shockwave therapy
• Extracorporeal pulse activation technology (EPAT®) radial shockwave therapy

Joint injections containing anti-inflammatory steroids and/or a local anesthetic can also help ease pain and inflammation.

Call Revitalize Regenerative Orthopedics LLC or schedule a consultation online today for fast, effective treatment of all ligament injuries.