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Ligament Pain -
Stretched, Torn Or Strained
Robert G. Schwartz MD
If
ligaments do not heal within several weeks they may remain chronically
stretched, torn or strained. Many people do not realize how severe, or prolonged
ligament pain can be. They assume that since its soft tissue, it will heal or
that it can’t be that bad. While ligament pain may be confined to the injury
site it can also refer pain to distant body parts through a portion of the
autonomic nervous system called the sympathetic nerves.
The region that a ligament refers pain to is called a sclerotome.
It can mimic nerve impingement, cause sensations of numbness and be the source
of
arthritis pain. Ligament pain can be chronic, persistent, achy, burning and
weather sensitive.
The primary function of ligament is to connect bone to bone. If a ligament is
stretched, or torn, then too much movement between the bones may occur. This
extra movement is perceived as a popping, clicking, catching or feeling of
weakness between the bones.
The muscles respond by going into spasm, in an effort to tighten the area down.
Many people will try to stretch tight muscles, or strengthen weak ones, in an
effort to reduce the pain. They become discouraged, however, when this approach
only offers temporary relief.
In order to obtain lasting relief the underlying ligament injury must be treated
first. A physical exam by a doctor experienced in ligament injuries, and testing
using Musculoskeletal Ultrasound or
MRI, can confirm the diagnosis. Treating
ligament pain can be ineffective if there is also nerve injury. When the injury
is chronic an electrodiagnostic study to rule out nerve injury is often useful
as the nerve portion must be treated first.
Fortunately strengthening exercises can take up to 20 per cent of the pressure
off a joint from a weakened ligament.
Physical
therapy to stretch whats tight
and reeducate whats inhibited is also important. Medications to reduce spasm,
pain and
Inflammation are often used as well. In most cases a special injection
is needed to actually repair, or re-grow the injured ligament.
The medication injected is not steroid (which weakens ligament) but rather a
combination of xylocaine with sodium morruhate,
dextrose or other special agents
that stimulate the body’s own natural wound healing response. Just like a scab
on skin, the new ligament grows to replace what is missing. If repeated once
every two weeks or so, the ligament will become 40 per cent thicker then it was
before treatment. In extreme cases surgery may be needed.
Since the ligaments actually thicken, this technique is often referred to as
Prolotherapy (for proliferate). It can very helpful in relieving pain, weakness
and sensations of numbness for many conditions, including neck and
back pain,
sports injuries and arthritis. Moreover, since the body actually repairs the
injury site, in the absence of other problems there is no reason to worry about
reoccurrence. |
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