Is it always necessary to think about surgery when you have hurt your knee?This is something that you might want to ask yourself when you are confronted with knee problems that are chronic. A damaged knee ligament can actually get worse over time and can prevent you from being as active as you want to be. But just because you have knee surgery, this does not gaurantee that your knee will be perfect again afterwards.SurgerySurgery of the knee usually can involve an invasive procedure. As with other kinds of surgical procedures, knee surgery does have its risks. Many times surgery works out well, but not everytime. At the worst, it could even make the knee worse than before.Not everyone who undergoes surgery for a hurt ligament comes out of it with a knee that works as good as new. In most cases, those who undergo surgery will be able to use their knee but will still experience some problems. It is also possible that the knee ligament can re-tear. Due to complications that can arise from a surgical procedure, many doctors would rather treat a hurt knee ligament conservatively rather than with surgery.Conservative Treatment - Pain MedicationIf you have chronic pain, you will want to look at ways to alleviate the discomfort so that you do not have to take drugs. Pain killers, in this kind of a situation, are typically provided to people who have severe, shooting knee discomfort. If you tear a ligament, you may experience severe pain in the knee that may result in your being prescribed pain medication. Most doctors will offer some type of pain medication, for a limited time, for any patient who is in pain because of a hurt knee ligament (speak with your physician about particular situation before taking any drugs).However, because pain medication can be so addictive, most doctors will not want to prescribe this medication long term for someone who experiences chronic pain. This is usually dealt with by other means such as possible exercises, ice packs and a knee brace.Exercises for the Knee LigamentYou should always limber up before you play any sports or participate in any type of exercises at all. If you have knee problems, this is especially important, although it is a good rule of thumb for all athletes. If you do not want the knee freezing up and becoming stiff, it is good to walk, swim and stretch out the knee joint so that it remains limber. Sometimes it is actually best to remain active (speak with your physician first about your activity plans).Knee Braces For a Hurt Knee LigamentOne of the most effective and non-invasive treatments for an injured knee ligament is a brace. These days they are not big and bulky and are actually affordable. This will help to keep your knee in proper alignment and it can also help to reduce your kne pain. A brace will also help take the pressure off from the joint and ease the swelling. You can use a brace if you have a knee injury or even to prevent a knee injury from occurring as this device will protect the joint and offer you an enhanced level of comfort.Not only are the physical attributes noticeable the moment you put on a brace, but many individuals tell us that the mental security that their brace provides is equal to that of any physical benefit. After you have discovered that you have hurt your knee and you have pain or instability issues, wouldn't it be nice to feel like your knee wouldn't give out from underneath you?