Strained/sprained MCL recovery???

[bossass]

So, did this about two and a half weeks ago. Hit an undersnow stump, fell, left ski got stuck somehow while I kept twisting. Didn't hear a pop, or anything, just hurt real bad. Everyone I was with thought sprained/strained MCL and I went to the "minor injurys clinic" at my provider and a doc gave me more or less the same diagnosis just by feeling around. He prescribed one of those foam, full leg immobilizer braces for four days and some anti-inflamitory. That was almost two weeks ago. I never used the brace as I was traveling a bunch and just couldn't deal. I did have a neoprene sport brace on it most of the time. Doc said I could be skiing in a week, but it hasn't really improved at all and it still really hurts. The pain comes when I fully extend my leg or really bend it (like trying to squat down to tie a shoelace). If I'm looking down at my left knee, the pain is on the inside, to the lookers right of the kneecap.

I guess my question is should this be taking so long? Or do I need to go back in and have a bunch of tests (MRI) done and spend a bunch of money? My short term plan is to wear the full leg brace for four days (like the doc suggested in the first place) and see what happens before going back in.

[Vinman]

depending on the severity of the sprain it can take anywhere from week to 3+ weeks to feel better. I would also be suspicious of a medial meniscus injury.

If you have been good about the icing and resting and it is not better after a week I would seek further eval by your ortho.

[oftpiste]

That sucks man. Hope you get back on it quick.

[Crampedon]

I had a horse go down on me playing polo 3 years ago and tore my left mcl a bit. Knee was stiff and did not want to bend, icing helped wit the swelling. Never had any instability but it hurt allot. Ski'd with a metal-reinforced neoprene brace 40+ days with no problem. I cycled 4 days a week from injury/october until skiing started in Dec. Never put any imoblization device on it. Drank joint juice every single day, still do.

Before you pin it in a brace go to a good ortho, if you have insurance just get the MRI.
Do the RICE thing every single night too.

Then I popped my acl...

[avacadotoast]

^^Immobilizing early is important so the torn fibers can rebuild/heal 'tight' so stability isn't diminished...or so I've heard.

Don't worry dude...as long as nothing else is damaged I wonder if you're suffering from not resting and immobilizing (perhaps sitting for hours with your leg bent while traveling?) full time for the 1st week. Maybe it's just a little worse than they initially thought...still not a big deal. MCLs hurt like a bitch but they heal in a really amazing way...I predict you'll be skiing in 1-2 weeks

But yeah, see a good ortho...and if he/she isn't 100% sure it's isolated to the MCL then pony up for an MRI if you can swing it (this is your only left knee after all). Once you get the blessing, rehab the shit out of it too. Get lots of blood flowing to it and it'll get back to 100% in no time.

Good luck man!

[bossass]

I'm sure I can see an ortho, but my "oh shit" insurance isn't gonna kick in for another $1500 or so. I think I'll just try to take it easy, keep it immobilized, and ice it a few times a day for the the next four days and see what that gets me. I have been running around all over the place, flying, driving, etc since it happened three weeks ago. I've got a free trip to Jackson Hole in a little over two weeks, so it'd be really nice if it would just stop fucking around and get better.

[LightRanger]

RICE it and take 800 mg of Vitamin I 3x/day.

I strained one of my MCLs tele skiing several years back and I skied on it four days later without trouble.

When I shattered my tib/fib/ankle last February, I tore both MCLs and they were sore for months. They're fine now though. My understanding (from poking around the internet, and from talking to a couple of orthos last year) is that MCLs heal on their own, even with fairly severe tears. Somebody correct me if that's wrong.

[bossass]

Forgive my JONGishness when it comes to knee injury, but what is "RICE it"? I thought you misspelled "ICE it" but I guess not. I have been icinging it.

[Crampedon]

RICE is ortho-speak for rest, ice, compression and elevation. Good for all joint strains, tears ect.

Add glucosamine, advil and poon, Cycling is really the key to the knee

See for more info:
[ame="http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=184063"]Chicks That Bend (NSFW) - Teton Gravity Research Forums[/ame]

[Eastside]

I did my MCL (grade II) late last summer. Huge pop/crack with not much pain. The doc suggested crutched and immobilization. I wanted a nice brace badly because of the instability but I ended up just putting a neoprene brace on it and walking on it. Occasionally it hurt like hell. It healed just about how the Doc told me it would. I was back running in about 8 or nine weeks.

I still have an occasional little jot of pain but it is good to go now.

The worst part was not trusting the knee not to fold up.

MF

[skiing-in-jackson]

Four or Five years ago, I did my right MCL skiing at the Village. I had a grade two or so tear. I took a few days off and bought one of these:



A few days later I bought one for the second knee as I felt "uneven". Went on to a 100+ day season. Haven't been skiing since without them.

I wear them for the mental security if nothing else. They keep my feet warmer as they insulate a large portion of my legs. The support is nice.

I remember strapping down the velcro pretty snug at first. Then letting up after a few weeks. Here on the forum, somebody posted a MEAT thread. What the hell is MEAT I thought?

Motion, Exercise, Activity Therapy. I practiced ROM exercise as prescribed by Dr. Google. Recovery went well into the off season, and I never felt solid until I was able to cycle on it every day- I work as a bike guide in the summers so I was forced to ride it every day. Lots of steep uphill and downhill hiking (not hard in JH) were great in the Fall before season.

[gibbssco]

I did mine a few years back (grade II i believe) and was out for about 5 weeks. The doc perscribed some physical therapy and i have to say that and ice was the ticket for me. Just go online and find some good step stabilization routines and if you have a half-moon foam pad try some balancing exercises with that (Make sure you're next to a wall!). I'm in PT now for an ACL (wish it was my MCL again!), not sure if my exercizes will translate but i'd be more than happy to share. Good luck