Workers’ Comp Knee Injury Settlement Lawyer in LA, California

Your knees work hard and take much abuse, but as the largest joints in the body, they are also susceptible to many different types of injury. Some of the most common job-related knee injuries include:

• Fractures: The kneecap, or patella, may crack or break in a fall. Alternatively, the structure of the patella can break down or become compromised due to a degenerative condition exacerbated by overuse in the workplace
• Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury: The ACL is a large joint-stabilizing ligament running down the front of the knee. If it’s sprained (overextended) or torn, you could require surgery to repair it
• Knee Dislocation: The patella or other knee bones can slip out of place, either because of sudden trauma, such as a fall or strike, or a structural problem caused by overuse
• Meniscus Tear: The meniscus is cartilage around the kneecap, from the shin bones to the thigh bone. It can tear or sprain, requiring surgery if the damage is serious. Tears can be abrupt, caused by a sudden injury, or develop over time due to repetitive motion injuries
• Tendinitis: Patellar tendonitis is inflammation of the tendons around the knee and muscles, usually due to overuse or repetitive motion strain
• Tendon Tear: The tendons connect muscles to the bone; when they tear, the knee structure may not be fully supported. Tendon tears can either be caused by stress injuries or a fall
• Bursitis: Joints are padded with bursae, small fluid-filled sacs that reduce friction as the joint moves and absorb shock as you walk and move. They can become inflamed due to overuse or repeated pressure, and the fluid builds up, causing stiffness and pain
• Iliotibial Band (IT) Syndrome: The IT Band is connective tissue running along the exterior of the knee. IT bands can be damaged from overuse, such as walking for a long period of time, or inflamed if friction causes it to come into repeated contact with the bone
• Collateral Ligament Injuries: Collateral ligaments join the thing and shin bones. Injuries here are usually contact injuries versus those developed through overuse
• Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Injuries:  The PCL runs along the back of the knee and functions similarly to the ACL. It can be damaged by a blow to the knee if the knee is bent or another high-impact injury

Knee injuries happen from sudden trauma or overuse, but any of them can be debilitating. 

Following your treating physician’s directions after a workplace knee injury will give you the best chance for recovery. Ice, rest and elevation of the knee, and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication are the treatments prescribed most often for minor knee injuries. 

But depending on the location and severity of your injury, your treatment could also include:

• Prescription medication, if over-the-counter medications don’t work
• Physical therapy to build up the smaller stabilizing muscles around the knee to prevent reinjury or help you regain your abilities after surgery
• Exercise regimens that improve balance and flexibility
• Braces, arch supports, or impact bands that help absorb shock when going from walking to running, provide stability for active people, and advance healing after knee fractures
• Corticosteroid injections to reduce inflammation and ease symptoms and pain of arthritis or other progressive conditions
• Hyaluronic acid injections to lubricate the knee joint and ease pain
• Platelet-rich plasma injections to promote healing and reduce inflammation
• Unicompartmental arthroplasty, or partial-knee replacement surgery, which uses plastic and metal to repair the joint and is less intensive than a full knee replacement
• Total knee replacement, where the entire knee joint is replaced with an artificial joint; recovery can be long and includes physical therapy
• Arthroscopic surgery, which is the least invasive surgical procedure to repair damage from bone-on-bone friction or to repair soft tissue (ligaments and tendons) damage

An injured knee is more susceptible to reinjury if you try to go back to your normal routine too soon before you’re fully healed. Knee injury treatment options often start with the least-invasive treatments, like at-home rest or physical therapy.

If you aren’t improving, then your treating physician may recommend surgery. You may not be able to return to your usual job if the injury results from overuse, but your employer may make accommodations for you.