You may feel some pain and tenderness in your knee during the examination. Your doctor may order imaging tests to help diagnose your knee injury. An X-ray will give your doctor an image of the bones in your knee.
This can help them rule out other knee problems. During an X-ray, a technician will position your knee so that the machine can record images. This may cause some pain if your knee is tender or swollen. However, the process will only take a few minutes. Your doctor may also order an MRI scan. This is a test that uses magnets and radio waves to produce images of the body.
The MRI machine often makes loud noises. You may be given earplugs to protect your ears. The table will slide into a scanner and images of your knee will be recorded. The images from the MRI will tell your doctor if you have a problem in the muscles or ligaments of the knee.
Treatment options vary depending on the severity of the MCL injury. Most MCL injuries will heal on their own after a few weeks of rest.
The patient should be able to walk in a straight line but will be unable to make sudden turns or pivot. A knee brace can help stabilize the knee, but with ACL tears, surgery is almost always required.
Based on the degree of injury, walking is also possible with an MCL. With a partial tear, walking is possible but not without pain. Walking is also possible with a full-thickness MCL tear. Yet, this injury will need surgical intervention. A knee brace prevents the knee from moving inward, but some limited movement is possible. With both MCL and ACL injuries, walking will only be limited to short distances before undergoing surgery or physical therapy.
Both ligaments can benefit from ligament reconstruction surgery. Athletes, in particular, must get surgery if the goal is to perform at a high level again. Luckily, advancements in surgical procedures mean that these repairs are now minimally invasive. Using incisions the size of buttonholes, a surgeon can remove the damaged ligament.
From there, the surgeon installs a replacement tendon from a donor or other part of the body. Why are women winding up with more knee injuries? Researchers suspect one of the most likely causes is the way women are built. Learn more here. Although collateral ligament injuries can be difficult to avoid, here are several steps you can take to improve the strength and flexibility of your knees. Measures include: Resting, icing and elevating the knee Taking oral medications that relieve pain and inflammation, such as aspirin and ibuprofen Wearing a brace that allows the knee to bend while restricting side-to-side movement Some knee braces are designed to prevent bending.
As previously noted, recovery times vary widely, but in general: A grade 1 minor MCL tear can take from a few days to a week and a half to heal enough for a return to normal activities, including sports. A grade 2 tear can take from two to four weeks to heal. A grade 3 tear usually takes four to eight weeks to heal, unless the ACL is also damaged, in which case recovery may take longer. Surgical Methods While most MCL injuries can resolve without surgery, there are instances where surgery is the best treatment option.
You may need to reduce your activity for a few weeks. But doing gentle movement as advised by your doctor will help you heal. A severe tear may need surgery. But this usually isn't done unless you also injure other parts of your knee, such as the anterior cruciate ligament ACL or meniscus. Your doctor may recommend physical therapy to increase range of motion and strengthen your quadriceps muscles and hamstrings.
Watch closely for any changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if you do not get better as expected. Author: Healthwise Staff. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use.
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