Pain in the legs and knees are common after a car accident because they are not held down by a seatbelt or airbags. Instead, the force of a collision can force knees or legs into the dashboard or steering wheel. Car accident injuries are especially common in the right leg because the anticipation of an accident can cause you to strain as you suddenly hit the brakes.
Common Leg Injuries
Soft Tissue Tears
Depending on how the injury occurs, you may receive cuts on the skin of your legs due to the impact of the dashboard or other parts of the car. Shallow cuts can be easily mended by medical professionals, but deeper cuts can require more intervention and will take longer to heal. Significant cuts on the legs may also impact your ability to sit, stand, or walk.
Strains and Sprains
Strains are injuries to tissues that connect bones together, while sprains are injuries to tissues that connect a bone to muscle. In both instances, these types of injuries can cause significant pain and discomfort. Strains and sprains can even lead to tearing, which can impair your use of the muscle. Leg pain and swelling are common with strains and sprains and should be examined as soon as possible by a leg and knee doctor.
Dislocated Bones
The sudden impact of a car accident can cause a dislocated knee or dislocated hip, both of which can be extremely painful and require immediate treatment. Damage to soft tissues surrounding the dislocation can also occur, which is why it is important to seek treatment from a highly skilled leg and knee doctor in order to receive comprehensive care and treatment.
Bone Fractures
Fractures, more commonly referred to as broken bones, are not always common depending on the significance of the car accident, but they can be just as painful and debilitating, especially leg fractures. The leg bones are the longest bones in the human body and a fracture can take a while to heal and require significant medical intervention.
Diagnosing Leg and Knee Injuries
Diagnosing injuries to the leg or knee requires a doctor to utilize diagnostic medical imaging technologies such as X-rays and MRIs in order to get a detailed picture of the damaged area. X-rays specifically look at damage and injury to bones and their surrounding areas while MRIs provide doctors with detailed images of muscles and soft tissues. These advanced medical technologies assist orthopedic specialists such as leg and knee doctors with providing you the most accurate diagnosis and leads to the most effective treatment options.
Treating Leg Pain and Injuries
Once the doctor has identified the sources of pain and injury in the leg or knee, they can prescribe a treatment plan that best fits your specific needs, with the goal of a full recovery in mind. Depending on the type of injury, your doctor may incorporate a team of doctors to address your specific injury. At AICA Orthopedics, a team of doctors for a knee injury may include knee doctors, physical therapists, chiropractors, other orthopedic specialists, and even surgeons when necessary, to ensure all aspects of the injury are addressed.
Car Accident Doctors
Orthopedic specialists are highly skilled and knowledgeable in treating car accident victims because of how often car accidents can cause injuries to bones, muscles, and other tissues. If you find yourself with a leg or knee injury resulting from a car accident, a leg and knee doctor well-versed in treating these types of injuries can provide you with the most accurate diagnosis and treatment plan for your circumstances. The multi-disciplinary team of doctors at AICA Orthopedics will treat not just your symptoms but also address any other affected areas and injuries to help you avoid any chronic pain or negative effects on your daily life. Accident injury specialists make sure you get the comprehensive care and treatment you deserve.
