Can a ligament injury heal on its own?
Disease description:
Recently, I got injured accidentally and feel severe pain at the injured area, especially when moving, which makes me feel very uncomfortable. I went to the hospital, and the doctor diagnosed it as a ligament injury. I would like to know whether a ligament injury can heal on its own.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Chen Jian
Whether a ligament injury can heal on its own depends on the severity and specific location of the injury.
Generally speaking, ligament injuries can be categorized into three different levels: mild, moderate, and severe.
1. Mild injury: If the ligament only experiences slight edema or bruising without any tearing, and joint stability remains unaffected, the injury may heal on its own. In such cases, appropriate rest, timely cold compresses, compression bandaging, and elevating the affected limb can facilitate recovery through conservative treatment measures.
2. Moderate injury: If the ligament is partially torn, but the torn portion can heal through scar tissue formation, and the remaining ligament can still maintain joint stability, the injury may also heal without surgery following appropriate immobilization and proper rehabilitation treatment. However, even after healing occurs, joint function and stability may still be somewhat affected, as scar tissue typically lacks the strength and elasticity of original ligament tissue.
3. Severe injury: If the ligament is completely torn, or if the torn portion cannot provide joint stability through scar healing, the injury generally cannot heal on its own. In such cases, surgical repair or reconstruction of the ligament is necessary to restore joint stability and function.
