Can an MCL tear heal on its own?
A grade 1 MCL tear (minor tear) can usually heal on its own with rest within one to three weeks
. Grade 2 and grade 3 MCL tears, which are more severe, need proper treatment in order to heal, which can include resting, wearing a knee brace and doing physical therapy.
How do you heal a torn MCL without surgery?
If you have a mild MCL strain, it can heal on its own with
rest, ice, and other self-care
. You’ll need to raise your sore knee when you put ice on it, keep weight off the joint, and protect and compress the injury with a knee brace or elastic bandage.
Does an MCL tear ever fully heal?
It is a relatively common injury in contact sports. While an MCL tear can be extremely painful, the good news is that
the tear usually heals on its own after a few weeks of rest
.
Which is worse ACL or MCL tear?
While not always the case, an ACL tear is in most cases going to be the more severe injury.
It is considered worse than tearing the MCL
because ACL tears are in general more complex to treat and require a longer recovery time after surgery.
How do you tell if MCL is sprained or torn?
- A “popping” sound when the injury occurs. …
- Immediate sharp pain from the inner section of the knee.
- Immediate swelling at the inner knee. …
- Tenderness around the inner knee. …
- Increased pain a few hours after the injury.
Is MCL the same as meniscus?
While MCL injuries are generally a result of a direct blow to the outer side of the knee that pushes the knee inwards, meniscus injuries are usually the product of direct pressure on the knee following a forced twist or rotation.
Does Grade 3 MCL tear require surgery?
Grade III MCL tears are the most severe, and
they often require surgery
. Considering this fact, recovery time may take anywhere from eight to 16 weeks. However, patients can hasten the healing process by beginning strength and stability exercises four to six weeks after surgery or as recommended by the surgeon.
Can you still walk with a torn MCL?
If the MCL or ACL tears, the result is usually pain, swelling, stiffness, and instability.
In most cases, the injured person can still walk with the torn knee ligament
. But the movement will be severely limited, not to mention painful.
How do I know if my knee injury is serious?
- Swelling. In most cases, it is normal for your knee to contain a bit of fluid around the injured area. …
- Pop sound. …
- Impossible to bear weight. …
- Your knee giving out or buckling under pressure. …
- A locked knee. …
- Inability to fully extend the knee.
Is MCL inside or outside of knee?
The medial collateral ligament (MCL) is a wide, thick band of tissue that runs down the
inner part of the knee
from the thighbone (femur) to a point on the shinbone (tibia) about 4 to 6 inches from the knee.
How do you sleep with a torn MCL?
To find a comfortable sleep position,
use a pillow to support the painful parts
. You can put the pillow: between your knees, if you sleep on your side. under your knees, if you sleep on your back.
Where does a MCL tear hurt?
An MCL tear causes pain
on the inside of the knee
. Tearing the MCL is likely to cause more severe pain that spraining the ligament. A person may notice a popping sound at the time of the injury. This is the sound of the MCL tearing.
How do you make your MCL heal faster?
- Rest.
- Application of an ice pack application to reduce swelling that occurs hours after the injury.
- Compression using an elastic bandage or brace.
- Elevating the knee.
- Pain relievers.
Can you bend your knee with a torn meniscus?
You can fully bend and straighten your knee without pain
. You feel no pain in your knee when you walk, jog, sprint, or jump. Your knee is no longer swollen.
Is walking good for MCL sprain?
Your physical therapist may advise you to: Rest the area by
avoiding walking or any activity that causes pain
. Crutches and a knee brace may be recommended to reduce further strain on the MCL when walking.
Does MCL tear hurt to touch?
Symptoms of a torn MCL include pain on the inside of the knee, tenderness in the inner knee area,
inside area of the knee may hurt to touch
, swelling over the injured area, ruising around the knee, knee instability, feeling as if the knee may give out, knee stiffness, difficulty bending and straightening the injured …
Should I wear a knee brace for MCL injury?
Most patients with a grade I MCL tear will be able to return to sports within one or two weeks following their injury.
For grade II injuries, you will most likely need to wear a hinged knee brace for a specified period of time
.
Will walking on a torn meniscus make it worse?
Can you walk on a torn meniscus?
Whether you can walk on a torn meniscus will depend on the injury’s location and severity
— and perhaps also your own personal tolerance for pain. A slight tear might not feel so bad to you. You may very well be able to stand and walk on a leg that has a torn meniscus in the knee.
