Pain with ligament stretching

In addition to an accompanying swelling in the area of the ligaments, pain of varying intensity is always present when the ligaments are stretched. They are usually of a pulling, stabbing character and can occur at rest and in movement when the ligaments are severely stretched, and only when they are under stress in the case of slight stretching. The pain can also be throbbing and throbbing, moving away from the actual joint and spreading.

On the one hand, the pain is caused by small micro injuries, i.e. small tears in the area of the ligament, when the ligaments are stretched. In addition, the stretching can also cause tissue fluid to flow into the affected joint, which increases the pressure in the joint where space is already very limited. This pressure generated by swelling leads to irritation of nerves accompanying the joints and ligaments, thus triggering further pain.

Shortly after the ligament is stretched, the strongest pain usually occurs in the joint area. With increasing healing, the pain should then get better. If there is not a sufficient decrease in the pain symptoms or even a worsening, further diagnostics must be carried out.

Ligament stretching in the knee occurs very frequently and is usually triggered by sports accidents. But even if the wrong step is taken in everyday life, a ligament stretch in the knee joint can occur. The knee is stabilized by strong collateral ligaments on the left and right.

They are responsible for keeping the knee in a hinge position and preventing it from slipping out to the left and right. The classic cause of ligament stretching is the rotation of the knee joint. The knee is only designed for rotation up to a certain limit.

With all further rotations in the knee, the ligaments are then stretched. Also a lateral kinking of the lower leg in relation to the upper leg leads to partly very strong ligament stretching in the area of the knee. Soccer and skiing, but also squash and tennis can contribute to ligament stretching in the knee.

Shortly after the accident, severe pain occurs in the affected joint, the knee may also swell up and can hardly be moved. Another typical movement that leads to ligament stretching in the knee is the rotation of the entire body while the lower leg is firmly fixed to the floor. This rotational movement also often takes place in everyday life, e.g. when you suddenly turn around.

The pain caused by ligament stretching is shooting and stabbing and immediately causes the person affected to return to normal posture and position of the joint. The subsequent pain is then somewhat less severe than the original pain, but often prolonged. Shortly after the trauma, the affected person usually begins to limp and, if it does not improve, seeks medical attention.

As an immediate measure, it is important to cool the joint consistently. This should be done 3-4 times a day for about 10-20 minutes with an ice pack wrapped in a towel. Protection is also urgently necessary.

However, complete immobility of the leg should be avoided, otherwise the risk of thrombosis increases. Furthermore, a bandage should be applied for compression. It can also be helpful to apply a pain gel to the joint.

Doc-Gel® or Voltarengel® are particularly suitable here. It should be applied 2 times a day. These measures should be carried out for a few days, and improvement should be seen the very next day.

If this is not the case, a doctor should be consulted. He will make appropriate examinations to find out whether the ligament or several ligaments have only been stretched or even torn or torn through. If there is severe pain in the knee joint, anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving tablets can also be taken.

Here, preparations such as ibuprofen (e.g. 3x 400 mg per day) or diclofenac (e.g. 2x 75 mg per day) are available. The corresponding package insert must be observed.

The ankle joint is also a ligament-secured joint, which is very often affected by stretching in the area of the ligament apparatus. The ligaments, which are attached laterally at the height of the ankle, stabilize the joint and ensure that the movements possible in the joint can be carried out without friction. Although the ankle joint is much more mobile than the knee joint (even rotary movements can be carried out to a certain extent), excessive movement also causes stretching of the ligaments present here.

Classically, a sudden kinking movement in the ankle occurs when running or climbing stairs, causing the ligaments there to be stretched excessively for a short time and then to return to their original position. However, this brief overstretching already causes small micro-traumas in the area of the ligaments, which are then perceived as pain with every movement. Severe ligament stretching also causes swelling of the ankle.

If the stretching of the ligaments is accompanied by a tearing of blood vessels, this can also lead to bleeding, which the affected person can recognise by a bruise in the area of the ankle (haematoma). The diagnosis is usually made by interviewing the patient to find out the reason for the ligament stretching. In most cases, a sudden fall or “kerbing” is indicated and then very quickly indicates an injury to the ligament apparatus in the area of the ankle and the ankle.

The doctor will then examine some movements at the joint and palpate the painful area to see if the foot is painful under pressure and how much, if bending and stretching movements are possible and if the patient can also perform circular movements of the foot, as in the usual way. Before imaging is performed, a cooling and anti-inflammatory gel (diclofenac or ibuprofen) is applied and the ankle is stabilized with a bandage. In addition, ice packs can be placed on the bandage to help reduce swelling in the joint.

Tablets such as ibuprofen or diclofenac can also be taken for general anti-inflammatory effects. If the symptoms of the ankle joint have not improved within a few days, further diagnostics in the form of imaging must be carried out. The orthopaedic surgeon can first perform an ultrasound examination.

If no clear imaging of the ligaments is possible, an MRI examination of the joint must be performed. In addition to bones, ligaments, blood vessels and nerves can also be depicted. To exclude a fracture, a simple X-ray of the ankle joint is sufficient.

It should always be made if the pain or swelling in the ankle has not improved significantly even a few days after the accident. Even if the patient has such severe pain after the ankle has been bent that he can hardly put any weight on the foot, the first thing to do is to exclude a fracture in the ankle area by means of an X-ray. The thumb joint is also secured by small ligaments.

Suddenly occurring pain there can also be caused by a stretching of the ligaments. In addition to ligament strains of the ankle and knee, ligament strains in the area of the thumb also occur frequently. Particularly in ball sports such as handball or basketball, a sudden stretching of the ligament can occur when the thumb is bent on contact with the ball, which leads to sudden shooting pains.

Shortly after the accident, the thumb cannot be moved in the usual way, sometimes the joint swells. If the ligament is stretched in the area of the thumb, as with any other ligament stretching, immediate cooling is particularly important. On the one hand, this ensures rapid pain relief, on the other hand, it also reduces the swelling of the joint.

In the further course of the procedure, the thumb joint should be bandaged in order to avoid further strain on the ligaments through the usual thumb movements. In most cases, it is sufficient to fix the thumbs with a bandage for about 2 days. Furthermore, pain-relieving gels or an anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving tablet treatment can be applied.

In addition to a ligament stretching in the area of the thumb joint, a capsule tear or rupture in the thumb joint can also lead to sudden pain. Here too, a (sports) accident is usually the cause. Rather insidious pain in the area of the thumb can also always be caused by arthrosis in the thumb saddle joint (so-called rhizarthrosis). The diagnosis is made on the basis of an X-ray.