Mets' Carlos Beltran Sidelined by Bruised Knee Bone

By Body1 Staff

New York Mets player Carlos Beltran joined the list of injured players on the struggling major league baseball team as of June 21. Suffering from a bone bruise on his right knee, Beltran is expected to be sidelined for several weeks at least.

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What to do if You Think You Have a Bruised Bone Identify your pain and symptoms   Use the Knee1 Symptom Checker to learn  a potential diagnosis   Call your physician for an exam   Seek medical advice promptly to avoid greater injury!

Fortunately, Beltran will not have to undergo invasive microfracture surgery to treat the injury. He has received two platelet-rich plasma therapy treatments to date, and will be reevaluated in the coming weeks to determine when he can safely return to baseball-related activities. When he will be able to return to the Mets, however, is uncertain.

Bruising of the bones around the knee occurs when a compressive force pushes the tibia and femur together, breaking down the outer layer of bone. These bruises can heal in a couple of weeks when identified quickly, but if left untreated, as was the case with Beltran, the degree of bruising is exacerbated and can lead to serious injury or even bone fracture.

While it is common to sustain bruises in this area of the body, it is essential that one seek proper medical attention to identify and diagnose a bone bruise to avoid risk of further injury. Symptoms of bone bruises include severe pain and swelling at the joint, accompanied by blackish-blue discoloration of the skin around joint. To determine the appropriate treatment option, the administration of X-Rays and an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) are needed to determine the location of the bruise, the extent of possible fractures, or ligamentous injuries incurred by intense compression of the bones.

 

Once the bone bruise is identified, the first step in treatment involves the daily application of an ice massage as directed by your physician. The ice serves to decrease major swelling and to promote adequate blood flow in the bruised area, promoting a speedy recovery. From here, there are a few options you may choose.

 

Two key treatment options include platelet-rich plasma therapy and microcurrent therapy. Platelet-rich plasma therapy involves injecting a sample of the patient’s own blood, in a concentrated quantity, directly into injured tissue. The high concentration of platelets in the injected sample can help catalyze the growth of new tissue or bone cells, repairing the body from the inside. The latter therapy involves sending minute amounts of electrical current, which can help stimulate repair of tissue at the cellular level by increasing the cell’s energy and protein production.

 

The appeal of both of these methods centers around their non-invasiveness, which means the patient can have prospects of future activity, no scars,  and minimized recovery time. In the final stage of treatment, the patient must engage the joint by performing a full range of motion and non-weight bearing exercises. This activity prevents heightened scar tissue development and can diminish the time that the patient is out of commission.

 

Many athletes who make headlines with their injuries like Mr. Beltran, have reached a point where they are risking permanent debiliatation. They should not be your model in these cases. The average person can prevent injury simply by recognizing that they are injured and promptly seeking medical advice. With proper and timely treatment and rehabilitation, you can get back in the game, forgoing weeks or months stuck on the sidelines.