How long do kneecap injuries take to heal?

Most people will return to their normal activities within three to six months, though those with severe injuries may require longer to heal. Your doctor may suggest making changes to your daily routine to prevent re-injury.

What does a knee cap injury feel like?

Two tell-tale signs of a knee injury are pain and swelling of the knee. You may also have difficulty with the joint moving. It may feel stiff, lock up, or feel like it’s catching as you bend and straighten your leg. If you hear your knee pop and then give out at the time of impact, it’s definitely a cause for concern.

How do you treat a kneecap injury?

To help relieve your pain and speed recovery, you can:

1. Rest your knee.
2. Ice your knee to ease pain and swelling.
3. Wrap your knee.
4. Elevate your leg on a pillow when you sit or lie down.
5. Take NSAIDs, if needed, like ibuprofen or naproxen.
6. Do stretching and strengthening exercises, especially for your quadriceps muscles.

What happens when you hit your knee cap really hard?

If the knee cap is hit really hard in this area (and doesn’t break …), the tissue called the bursa can bleed and swell and hurt. This area can take a lot longer to heal than just a simple bruise, but generally it should go back to normal.

Can you drive with a broken knee cap?

You should eventually be able to resume functional activities like stair climbing, single leg support, swimming, and driving. You will be able to begin more vigorous activities as your kneecap heals and your leg gets stronger.

Can you walk on a fractured knee cap?

Non-Surgical Treatment for Broken Kneecaps In most cases, patients can walk while the bone heals as long as the brace keeps the knee straight during ambulation. Most patients use crutches, a walker or a cane for stability during the healing process.

How do you shower with a broken knee cap?

It is ok to shower or sponge bathe 2 days after surgery but you must keep your knee clean and dry at all cost! This usually entails keeping your leg outside the shower, using saran wrap or a large plastic bag to protect your wounds.

How long does it take to recover from a broken knee cap?

If your fractured kneecap does not require surgery, your physician will likely immobilize your leg in a cylindrical long leg cast or, in rare cases, a knee immobilizer for four to six weeks. This will allow your fractured kneecap to heal.

How to recover from a broken knee cap?

If the patella was fractured into many pieces, or if a bone fragment extended through the skin, the knee may need to be immobilized in a cast or brace for an additional three to six weeks . Doctors also recommend additional immobilization for older people, whose bones may take longer to heal.

What is the healing time for a broken knee cap?

While your recovery time, and whether your kneecap will completely heal, depends on how severely fractured your patella was as well as on how well you do during rehab, the average healing time for a patella fracture is about eight weeks.

What is the recovery time for a broken knee?

When you are ready to return to the activity, do it slowly. If you rush back in, you could re-injure yourself. Very severe stress fractures that won’t heal on their own may require surgery. Full recovery may take months or years .