Anybody have any MCL inuries to compare?

[Alaskan Rover]

I'm about 8 days into what I am assuming is an MCL grade I or grade II tear.

Just wondering if anybody else here has had past MCL injuries with no other knee injury...such that I can compare recuperative times, routes of treatment, etc.

Grade I and II MCL tears are usually non-surgical. I am still in the mode of daily compression, icing and elevation and Ibuprofin when at rest. Have just today started getting around a bit more...using a knee brace and walking slowly.

Starting to do leg lifts while horizontal to keep quadriceps tone up...and massaging knee and light friction to increase blood flow. In the next two days will start doing stationary biking.

My main thing right now is keeping any valgus forces to a minimum while the MCL is healing.

At this time, my range of motion is nearly 100%...but the only time it hurts is upon full extension. I also get pains at the two tendons on under-side of knee during extension.

Anybody out there remember their symptoms/recovery etc during their own MCL injury???

[kevino]

Posting here to bump this thread up as it sounds exactly ilke what I did to my knee several days ago. Hurt my knee last thursday, did the RICE gig since...the first four days it was getting better. Then felt the same, and the last two days has gotten worse again.

Did you see an orthopedic or sports doc? Or did you self diagnose? I'm going to get checked out due to the worsening pain...

[Piggity]

but the only time it hurts is upon full extension. I also get pains at the two tendons on under-side of knee during extension.

AR, that part sounds like an ACL.

I've dealt with ACL and MCL, usually at the same time but Im currently having a heavy weight fight with my MCL. It's been about a month and my rehab hasn't been the best but surprising I still have pain. My strength is getting better but the pain part is odd for 4 weeks with an MCL.

[Crampedon]

I had a mare fall down on me in a polo game 4 years ago and pinned my left leg for a minute. She popped up, I got up, all good, got back on everybody happy and when I was unwrapping legs after the game my left knee went wonky and I could not bend it very far. Ortho said MCL sprain.

3 months of easy cycling, ice rest and ski season went fine, never feel it or re-injured it. Right knee another story. Hope your heels perfectly!

[blackdog102395]

FWIW: I've been battling a grade II MCL tear since November. I've seen the orthopedist three times, had an MRI and see the PT 3x per week, for 12 weeks. I also have a Don Joy Brace. It's been 16 weeks and it's definitely improved, but still hurts like hell. I went skiing for the first time last week (groomers only) and did OK, but it hurt a bunch. I think my recovery is on the long side, but I've talked to others who said it took six months before they felt good again. I'm headed to AK in few weeks and will be limited to groomers; however, with AK conditions being so nasty, there isn't much else to ski anyway.

[Piggity]

I had a mare fall down on me in a polo game 4 years ago and pinned my left leg for a minute. She popped up, I got up, all good, got back on everybody happy and when I was unwrapping legs after the game my left knee went wonky and I could not bend it very far. Ortho said MCL sprain.

3 months of easy cycling, ice rest and ski season went fine, never feel it or re-injured it. Right knee another story. Hope your heels perfectly!

wow, that sounds like a scary situation. I live about a mile from a polo field and I get to see them out practicing during the summer, pretty cool sport.

[Alaskan Rover]

Did you see an orthopedic or sports doc? Or did you self diagnose? I'm going to get checked out due to the worsening pain...

Due to the amount of time that it was going to be before I saw the orthopedic surgeon that had worked on my right knee (and did a REALLY good job)...I am basically self-diagnosing. I'm seeing someone next week. I've been using youtube and find it is a really good source of info.

Today was the first day I went to the sports center and got on an incline stationary bike, an elliptical and a rower. Tried the leg-raise machine, but couldn't even do it with NO weight at all yet. So basically been focusing on range of motion and leg raises.

I'll tell ya...HEAD TO THE POOL! Went to the pool after "working out" my leg...and what a difference!! Did leg raises and walking and even some running in the pool. There is something about the flotation effect and density of the water...it's great for re-working a strain or a grade 1 sprain!! 45 minutes in the pool and was walking much better after without pain. stairs are still hard, downstairs especially.

I have full range of motion now without pain...13 days post-injury.

The problem is that your muscles atrophy EXTREMELY quickly!! Big difference between my right quad strength and my left. Quads especially, fade quickly. So am focusing on working the muscle groups surrounding the knee, and continuing range of motion of knee itself.

Still taking ibuprofin for inflammation...but there is only very slight effusion.

Felt like a 98 year old at the sports center today. Everybody else running and sweating and me waking on a treadmill at 0.5 miles per hour...but at least I'm walking and alive.

The backcountry ranger that saw the collision said he thought he was going to have to call for a heli medi-vac.

Presently, due to the good improvements I've seen in the last couple days, I'm still sticking with a minor grade 1 MCL sprain.

It seems ANY kind of knee injury really screws with your kinesthetics. And it's almost like you have to re-learn how to walk properly again...and you actually have to THINK about doing certain movements that used to be automatic. Weird feeling...but definite improvement last 48 hours!!

It'll be A WHILE before I'd even think about doing anything requiring pivoting. In a few weeks, I'll be able to snowboard SLOWLY...but no ATing probably until ????

Best advice I can give for Grade 1 sprains, anyway, is get your range of motion painfree early on. Walking and doing ROM movements and abductions, adductions against the pressure of the water in the pool is the BEST thing you can do early on.

I think my injury was a "minor" grade 1 sprain, as I always had full range of motion and almost no swelling.

Doing your recuperation period...it is best if you keep the frame of mind of an ATHLETE. Don't overdo it, of course, but don't let the injury keep you from working the rest of your body, otherwise you'll atrophy fast...and I've found that attitude truly does make you heal quicker. Change your diet for healing if you need to, also.

Spent the first 4 days basically on my ass with my leg up...glad I'm out and about now...even if slowly!

Good luck everyone!

[Alaskan Rover]

I had a mare fall down on me in a polo game 4 years ago and pinned my left leg for a minute. She popped up, I got up, all good, got back on everybody happy and when I was unwrapping legs after the game my left knee went wonky and I could not bend it very far. Ortho said MCL sprain.

3 months of easy cycling, ice rest and ski season went fine, never feel it or re-injured it. Right knee another story. Hope your heels perfectly!

I love polo! Long before I moved up to Alaska, my family lived for a time in upstate New York. Polo was REALLY big there. There was a polo field just down the road from us. I rode and my dad rode, as he'd ridden his whole life, but my sister was the big rider. I tried polo there in when I was in high school. DAMN that's a tough sport to get good at!!!!

I was a decent rider, but polo...you need to have incredible eye-hand coordination as well....like playing something between golf, soocer and croquet, but doing it VERY high-speed...and needing nearly elite-level horsemanship asb well!!! I sucked at it, terribly...but I didn't put enough time on the field.

My favorite sight is always the sight of a polo practice session in the far off field in the mists of early morning...the breath steaming from the horses mouthes; the horses distant and eerily quiet at first, and then hearing that unmistakable deep, weighty thunder of hooves, as the play comes near.

So for your MCL injury, you had limited range of motion? That's weird...I wonder why I had full range of motion, then. But I felt point pain in that medial aspect of the knee, right near the medial joint line...so there was definitely something to do with MCL. I don't feel any impingement on movement...so it doesn''t feel like medial meniscus.

I guess I'll find out next week...in the mean time, I'm going to continue the pool workouts, and work on my walking. Take care.

[Eastside]

I did a grade II MCL a year and a half ago. I pretty much self diagnosed and then the Doc confirmed it. He recommended non-weight bearing for a while. I chose not to. He was going to give me one of those big wonky braces but I told him to keep it. I think I started running again in about two or two and a half months.

[Crampedon]

A rover, It seemed my knee was sore on the inside and would not fully compress if I bent down on the other knee to do something ( take off wraps) I rode my bike a ton and it is 100%

Ah, Polo. Now that my winter is over, I am "legging up" my gang. That means walking and trotting them all for 40 minutes after work, in a week some running and in two week galloping them in "sets" -riding one and leading or "Ponying" 2-3 more, whatever I can handle. After a month we will start having games for 3 months every weekend.

Before the crew hops up and down on me, I am NOT rich, just smart! Very cheap pasture, yearly dues to Maui polo club LESS than your season pass. Maybe I will start a polo thread. "Worlds oldest extreme sport"

Heal the Knee!

Here is one of my Mares, Coco. Freekin' Robot. 4 legged battering ram. Great for arena polo, 3 on 3, boarded like a hockey arena. Rough game. Very fast, lots of bumping. You can play the ball off the wall, use it to make a backshot. Good fun.

[neckdeep]

I did a partial MCL tear, confirmed by an ortho. It took around two months for the pain to subside but I was snowboarding with a Donjoy brace around 3 to 4 weeks after the injury. My knee was a bit "loose" for six months. I'm a big believer in RICE. I don't do specific rehab for injuries. I just wait for bleeding and subsequent inflamation to subside and then go back to my activities at a reduced level and gradually work my way back up. I still wear the brace when I ride (7 years later) because although the leg muscles will strengthen to support a weakened knee, the Doc told me the torn ligament will remain somewhat weakened for life. The brace usually saves me from retearing the MCL once or twice a season. I figure putting up with the brace allows me to take bigger chances on the hill and protects me from other people's stupidity. I nearly blew out the MCL when some assclown gaper fell onto my board and pinned it to the ground when we were getting off the lift. The rest of me kept going and wrenched the hell out of my weak knee, which was clipped in. That time the brace pretty much saved the season and maybe a big bill for knee surgery.

[Piggity]

I just wait for bleeding and subsequent inflamation to subside and then go back to my activities at a reduced level and gradually work my way back up.

You just described my approach to rehab. Unfortunately in my mid 30's that approach is not working, might have to actually rehab this time.

[Crampedon]

You just described my approach to rehab. Unfortunately in my mid 30's that approach is not working, might have to actually rehab this time.

It works for me at 50, but I am mean as a snake.......

[skiing-in-jackson]

About 5-6 years ago in mid-Jan, I went over the handlebars in deep pow and heard the distinctive tear of denim. Pretty audibly.

I hobbled home on Start Bus from Teton Village- painful! Having no insurance at the time, I scheduled consultations with Dr. Google and diagnosed a Grade II MCL tear. A classic, text book case. Standard RICE stuff for a few days. I took about a week off, purchased a Grade II MCL brace and carefully skied on to a 100+ day season.

It made me a good skier. Because of the laxity of all movements associated with a MCL tear, I had to get very careful with my turns. My form improved tremendously.

I cycle at lot and that helped in the Spring months that followed. Particularly, I found that hill climbing and decent were great for my knee. I bought my first pair of "approach shoes" (below the ankle/stiff sole) and started climbing Snow King and Josie's Ridge daily.

I wore a brace for about two months.

The uneven trail surfaces provided inversion and eversion (supination and pronation) of my foot that would pull and strengthen the muscles affecting my MCL. It was a great homegrown rehab.

To this day, I wear two heavy Grade II MCL braces by McDavid- the best I've found without getting an Orthotist involved.



Just the Summer before my digger, I was guiding a bike tour with a MD doing research for the NIH on non-operative knee rehab. I wish I could remember her name. I based my rehab on the small bit of info I got from her in the few hours we rode. Basically that osteo arthritis can be reduced by not operating and allowing PT to use connecting tissue to provide support. Or something like that. I've tried to look her up but can't find her.

[FreakofSnow]

Due to the amount of time that it was going to be before I saw the orthopedic surgeon that had worked on my right knee (and did a REALLY good job)...I am basically self-diagnosing. I'm seeing someone next week. I've been using youtube and find it is a really good source of info.

Today was the first day I went to the sports center and got on an incline stationary bike, an elliptical and a rower. Tried the leg-raise machine, but couldn't even do it with NO weight at all yet. So basically been focusing on range of motion and leg raises.

I'll tell ya...HEAD TO THE POOL! Went to the pool after "working out" my leg...and what a difference!! Did leg raises and walking and even some running in the pool. There is something about the flotation effect and density of the water...it's great for re-working a strain or a grade 1 sprain!! 45 minutes in the pool and was walking much better after without pain. stairs are still hard, downstairs especially.

!

Did a grade III MCL along with ACL a few years ago and was told by the PT and doc that leg raises are a big no-no. It apparently places a lot of strain on your knee and is generally bad. Leg curls (see laying on your stomach) are the preferred exercise if you want to do that sort of thing.

Clicky here for some of my experiences > http://kneetopia.blogspot.com/search/label/acl%20injury

[Piggity]

It works for me at 50, but I am mean as a snake.......

Yeah, I'm aging quick Or I'm a wuss Maybe both

[Alaskan Rover]

Did a grade III MCL along with ACL a few years ago and was told by the PT and doc that leg raises are a big no-no. It apparently places a lot of strain on your knee and is generally bad. Leg curls (see laying on your stomach) are the preferred exercise if you want to do that sort of thing.

Clicky here for some of my experiences > http://kneetopia.blogspot.com/search/label/acl%20injury

Directly after my ACL knee arthroscopy eleven years ago, the very first exercise my surgeon had me doing was leg raises in the hospital bed...to strengthen the quadriceps which don't take long at all to atrophy.

BUT, he stressed that I must not do leg-raises with a fully extended, locked knee, but rather with a knee between 15-20 degrees flexion. This flexion takes most of the stress off the knee itself, while still strengthening the quads. Thus, you are correct about straight-leg raises on a traumatized knee...but flexed knee leg raises are an important part of post-injury, post-surgery quad strengthening...as well as strengthening other muscle groups surrounding the knee. And as you know...strengthening these muscle groups helps stabilize the knee.

Will begin using light weights leg raises on back and stomach in three days.


--------------------

Update:
Now 17 days post-injury on the knee.

- Doing more walking and range-of-motion work in pool. Now working on pivoting motions while walking in the pool...these are movements that at this time, I wouldn't even CONTEMPLATE on land!

- Rowing machine helps regain ROM fluidity of motion without stress. Sliding seat affects good ROM.

- low speed work on stationary bike...with minimal force setting. With gradual increase in radial force.

- Low speed walking on non-inclined treadmill...good for regaining a normal walking gait, as you can focus on what feet are doing. At this time, just two weeks out, walking up inclines and down declines is still fairly painful....so I figure I'll GRADUALLY increase the incline of the treadmill...walking forwards and backwards.

- Tried some machine weight work...not even close to being there, yet.

Now have ROM nearly 100% of original ROM. Flexing knee 100% is easy and largely pain-free. However, fully extending leg does still bring some pain.

Atrophy happens VERY quickly....now left (affected) leg not nearly as strong as right leg...because of atrophication.

Can't wait until I can start full re-strengthening exercises!!! As strength is paramount to recovering normal gait and athleticism.

I think I can probably TRY snowboarding in one week, but will probably wait more. No way can I AT yet...probably no more this season. Cross-country perhaps. And cross-country would probably be great for recovery work.

Frickin' split-rail fence post !! Next time I see a split-rail fence post I'm going to run it over...grrrr.

[gageyk]

Smacked my knee on against a tree while while snowboarding on Feb.16, dislocated my knee and tore my MCL. Went to ortho 8 days after and MRI 10 days later to confirm "complete" MCL tear. Within 5 days of the injury I was on the bike trainer and started leg lifts, wall slides, stretching, bending, et al.

I had a 9 day trip to the CDN Rockies scheduled for Mar 5. Ortho said delay as long as possible. Started PT at 2 weeks post injury determined to make the trip on Mar 18. PT initially said I was in a dream world, after 2 sessions told me I "just may make it". A week later the therapist was blown away at the stability and strength of the knee and gave the green light. I did a lot of plyometrics, Bosu ball, balancing, one-legged hops, and leg presses. I also walk my dog (3-4 days) 9-12 miles per week in varying terrain. I borrowed a Don Joy brace and exactly 31 days after the injury I was in Revelstoke and began an 8 straight ski day adventure with no difficulties. I was cognizant of the leg and did not rail turns on it. As someone else posted, I learned to do "Granpa" turns on the open terrain. In tight trees and chutes I was reluctant to let em rip but made it none the less.

The knee is still not even close to 100% but it is fully functional. With the 14 plus feet of snow that fell locally while in Canada I plan on enjoying another 2 months plus of skiing ..

I'm 49, almost 50, and had about 30 days skiing/riding this season prior to the injury. In the Fall I rode the MTB almost every other day for 2 months before the snow fell. I feel that my walking, more like hiking, is the key. It is the first major injury that cost me ski days that I've had in 30 years of skiing/riding.

[freelheeler]

So have you been to the doc/OS??

I'm struggling through some sort of sprain/tear/tweak as well, (5 plus weeks) had it screened by the therapist and it cleared, but have not gone to see the OS for an MRI. I'd been going the gym working it with low level biking and exercises but it seemed to irritate more than help. So i took the last 10 off and pretty much chilled on the gym but stayed active with house projects, i would brace up for the projects and it seemed to help plus RICE in the evenings. Went to the gym last night and ran on the elliptical machine for 20 minutes and things were feeling pretty good and this morning the same is true.

I'd like to know how long it take folks to recover from known sprains? weeks, months?? I'm sort of haunted by the thought of a meniscus tear, but want to give the knee time enough to recover from a sprain but realizing at some point if it's a tear i may need to get cut again...

[Toecutter]

Last season I caught an inside edge and heard a fairly loud "pop!" then went tomahawk for about 30 yards. I had a grade I MCL tear that hurt for much longer than "they" say it should. I got a hinged brace from a local orthotist and was able to get back on the hill a couple of days later, but it took close to a FULL YEAR to become pain-free at the MCL. Rehab was mostly RICE, bracing, and easy bicycling. I still feel very exposed without the brace, just waiting for something to explode.

During the warmer months I discovered that my injured knee, which is on my forward leg while biking, just happens to line up with the top tube of my mtb. I've been ripping down a trail and inadvertently tapped my medial knee at the site of injury against the bike frame, resulting in making me almost want to vomit in pain. At one point over the summer I felt some crepitation and gave myself a cortisone injection over the ligament -- maybe not the brightest thing to do but it made me feel better so f*ck it.

The biggest bummer is that my knee no longer feels "right" despite being pain-free. I'm thinking that the alignment has been altered enough that the joint no longer functions 100% as intended, and I may need a total knee replacement somewhere down the line as the cartilage wears out over time.

[Stretchify]

I was keeping notes of my recovery period.. i succeeded to recover an MCL Sprain (probably Grade I) in less than two weeks with a sessions of warm-up/strengthening-stability exercises/stretching/ice-therapy .. no drugs, no rest.. Day 15 was the day that i had a full soccer match with no issues.. check this -> http://www.stretchify.com/mcl-sprain-recovery/ for more info

[SkeezeBall]

I just got a grade II mcl tear today skiing at winterpark. Big problem,besides the fact I'm out from skiing for a while, I have a 4 day ~35 mile backcountry trip planned in New Zealand with the old lady that we've already paid for. It's exactly 6 weeks away.

Do I have a chance of still making this happen with using a brace????

[jennbunny83]

On 12-21-13, I also got a grade 2 MCL tear while skiing at Winter Park. The ER docs took xrays & they couldn't see clearly my ACL bc my muscles were so stressed. I got a knee brace & crutches from them & they said a good 6 wks to heal.
I'm just on day 5, & it's still pretty bad. I can't put any full pressure on it but I try to stretch it out straight & it hurts. Trying to get into an ortho doc asap. I'm too active of a person to be down like this.
How do you walk up stairs when you can put no pressure on your bad knee?

[SkeezeBall]

I just got a grade II mcl tear today skiing at winterpark. Big problem,besides the fact I'm out from skiing for a while, I have a 4 day ~35 mile backcountry trip planned in New Zealand with the old lady that we've already paid for. It's exactly 6 weeks away.

Do I have a chance of still making this happen with using a brace????

Never mind. Turns out I tore mcl, meniscus and acl. Trip will be cancelled welp.

[SkeezeBall]

On 12-21-13, I also got a grade 2 MCL tear while skiing at Winter Park. The ER docs took xrays & they couldn't see clearly my ACL bc my muscles were so stressed. I got a knee brace & crutches from them & they said a good 6 wks to heal.
I'm just on day 5, & it's still pretty bad. I can't put any full pressure on it but I try to stretch it out straight & it hurts. Trying to get into an ortho doc asap. I'm too active of a person to be down like this.
How do you walk up stairs when you can put no pressure on your bad knee?

I actually just had a grade 2 mcl tear as well as mcl and meniscus at Mary Jane on the 23rd. I was able to put weight on my knee the next day and it has been slowly getting better. My good friend is a PT and had me rehabbing the knee day one.

Until you get in to see the ortho I've been doing the following exercises the last week:
-hip abduction-side lying-25 times-3 sets-once a day
-wall sits with legs at 30 degrees for 5 minutes once a day
-tandem stance 5 minutes a day
-heal prop 15minutes a day
-straight leg raise 5 minutes a day
-petela medial glide self mobilization 30 times 1 sec intervals

I also borrowed a friends knee brace with angle locks and iced, elevated and have been chewing ibuprofen for breakfast lunch and dinner.

Good luck and hopefully you won't need surgery like me!