The most common limb injuries faced by doctors are various sprains. In this case, the ligaments of the legs most often suffer. Unfortunately, no one is safe from such injuries. They can occur due to a heavy load, unsuccessful fall, sudden movement. Similar unpleasant situations affect both children and adults. That is why every person needs to know what to do when sprained on the legs.
Characteristic symptoms
The causes of injuries, as a rule, are hidden in the performance of movements atypical for the joints. Not only athletes are exposed to such situations. Even the most ordinary person can get injured during ice or after a fall.
In addition, it is important to understand not only what to do when sprains on the legs, but also how to identify such a pathology in a timely manner. Indeed, sometimes we can talk about fractures, dislocations and other unpleasant situations.
The main symptoms that characterize sprain are:
- Pain that occurred at the time of the injury and does not pass after a certain time. When pressing on a damaged joint, it intensifies. It is difficult for a patient to lean on an injured leg. Difficulties and acute discomfort arise during flexion, extension, leg movement.
- The presence of bruising and swelling. Such symptoms, as a rule, do not occur immediately.
- The patient feels stiffness and instability in the area of damage. In some cases, he is completely unable to carry out any leg movements.
- In a damaged place, clicks are heard, a crunch. Such symptoms are accompanied by acute pain.
If you notice such signs, you need to clearly know what to do when the sprains of the joints. The very first thing is to go to the emergency room.
Timely diagnosis will eliminate other unpleasant injuries - fractures, dislocations.
Main types
Immediately after an injury, a person is able to walk normally. And only after a while there is swelling, pain. Doctors say that such temporary “well-being” is quite dangerous, because it leads to a delay in the treatment process.
Therefore, it is very important for a person who is injured to seek medical attention in a timely manner. A competent specialist will tell you what to do when spraining a leg.
Treatment will depend on the degree of damage. The following types are distinguished:
- Easy degree. Injury occurs if minor damage occurs. Symptoms are unexpressed. Unpleasant sensations quickly disappear - within 1-3 weeks.
- Medium. The structure of the ligaments is broken. Possible tears and overstretching, as a result of which the integrity of the joint is not maintained. The patient experiences serious difficulties while moving his sore leg.
- Heavy. At this degree, almost complete rupture of one, several ligaments of the joint is observed. The patient experiences severe pain, sometimes leading a person to a shock state. In a damaged joint, stability is not observed. The articulation is either completely constrained or loose.
It is necessary to distinguish muscle damage from ligament injury. Doctors give the following symptom, which allows to distinguish between pathology data. If muscle tissue is damaged, pain occurs after a day. If acute discomfort and characteristic symptoms are observed 3 hours after the injury, then we are talking about ligament injury.
At the same time, the risk of the occurrence of both pathologies at the same time cannot be ruled out. What to do when stretching the muscles and ligaments of the leg, the doctor will best advise. And only he can correctly diagnose.
What should be done
Initially, first aid should be provided to a patient who has a suspicion of sprain of the foot. Treatment, depending on the type of injury, will be prescribed by a doctor. Initially call an ambulance. It is she who will very carefully deliver the victim to the hospital.
The following measures will bring significant relief to the patient:
- Lock the leg in a fixed position.
- If the patient experiences severe pain, it is recommended to take an anesthetic drug: Analgin, Nise.
- Apply cold wrapped in a towel to the damaged area. This will slightly reduce puffiness.
It is very important for the correct diagnosis to tell the doctor what kind of injury the patient suffered (shock, fall, sudden movement). This will allow the doctor not only to accurately determine the pathology, but also to recommend what to do when stretching the ligaments on the legs.
Injury treatment
Only after making sure that the patient has a sprain, and not another pathology, will the doctor prescribe therapy.
The main components of treatment are:
- Rest of the damaged area.
- Anesthesia. The first 2 days a cold compress is applied to the injured place. This reduces swelling, eliminates pain. In the future, the doctor will explain what to do with a sprain on the legs. As a rule, various ointments are prescribed. An excellent anti-inflammatory effect has drugs: "Diclofenac", "Voltaren." The most effective combined ointments: Menovazin, Apizartron, Diclobene gel.
- Physiotherapy. Electrophoresis, ultrasound, magnetic therapy improve blood circulation, eliminate pain and swelling.
- Exercise therapy. The course of treatment is prescribed after a few days, weeks. Gymnastics allows you to quickly restore motor functions of the leg.
Along with the above therapy, it is of great benefit to a patient who has a sprain, treatment with folk remedies. Consider the most effective methods.
Onion compress
It helps to get rid of puffiness and reduces pain.
Chop a few peeled onions. Mix this slurry with 1 tbsp. a spoonful of salt. You can use regular or marine. Spread the mixture on gauze. Cover with a second napkin.
Apply the resulting compress to the edematous place on the leg. Fix the bandage with a bandage and leave it on the damaged area for 5-6 hours.
This compress is recommended to be done daily until puffiness completely disappears.
Sand warming
Instead of the main component, ordinary table salt can be used. The effect of the procedure will not decrease at all.
A little sand needs to be heated on a baking sheet in the oven or in a pan. Pour it into a special cloth bag. Such a “compress” should be applied to a sore spot in a hot form.
Just do not heat the sand or salt strongly. Since it is very easy to burn the skin.
Clay treatment
Such a natural component is an almost universal tool for combating many diseases.
In case of ligament injury, a clay compress will bring significant relief. The main ingredient must be diluted in water to the consistency of sour cream. Put the resulting clay on linen cloth. Apply a bandage to the damaged area.
Fix the compress with an elastic bandage. In place of the affected ligaments, it should be a couple of hours.
Medical ointment
An effective healing agent is very easy to make on your own. Patients who want to quickly restore the functionality of a damaged leg often ask traditional healers what to do when spraining a leg. Sorcerers recommend many excellent recipes, one of which is the preparation of this ointment.
For the manufacture of a medicinal product you will need: laundry soap (grate it first), egg yolk and water. The ratio of ingredients is as follows: 1: 2: 1. Mix the components thoroughly. They should turn into a homogeneous mixture.
Such a mass is impregnated with gauze and applied to a sore spot. Fix with a bandage on top.
It is enough for several hours to maintain this compress so that the pain subsides.