Knee & Ankle Pain

Knee and ankle injuries are common in head-on collisions or auto accidents in which the front end of the car is severely damaged. Both knee and ankle injuries can lead to lengthy treatment in order to regain mobility and avoid eventual arthritis.

Unfortunately, ankle and knee injuries are fairly common in major auto accidents. Although treatment for these injuries and conditions can vary, these injuries can lead to long-term ankle and knee instability. If necessary we get you to an orthopedic physician, many times in the same day.

What Can Cause Knee & Ankle Pain?

A head-on collision can cause severe damage to the legs of both the driver and the passenger in the front seat. As a result, the knees, ankles, and feet can be crushed or severely sprained. Many muscles and ligaments that support the ankles and knees are highly susceptible to injury when the feet and legs are impacted. Although seemingly uncommon, people who place their feet on the dashboard from a laying-back position in the front seat are at the highest risk of injuring their feet, legs, and hips. Even in a minor fender bender, when a person's feet and legs are resting on the dashboard, the body will slide under the seat belt, which will cause substantial strain on the leg muscles and cause a phenomenal amount of pressure to the hips and lower back.

How Do We Assess Knee, Ankle, and Foot Pain?

When a patient is suffering from ankle and knee pain, we will typically want to closely examine x-rays or MRI scans and perform a physical examination to make a proper assessment. Measuring the pain is actually one of most difficult things to do for doctors because it's about communication, and establishing a dialogue about pain between the patient and doctor can be challenging based on the amount of information to obtain in a short amount of time.

The doctor will assess the pain and determine if it is intermittent or constant, what type of pain is occurring (e.g., stabbing, burning, etc.), what triggers pain, when pain is more likely to occur during the day, and how much pain the patient is in on a scale of 0-10. After establishing a dialogue of the patient's situation and understanding the extent of the pain, doctors will inquire about previous treatments and any medications being taken.

This will help them better understand the patterns of the condition. A good assessment will help doctors understand what type of treatment will best suit the patient and help relieve the amount of stress they have. Don't let knee, ankle, and foot pain prevent you from participating in life! Schedule your free consultation today.