ACL bullet dodged...Bone bruise and MCL questions

[Speedfreak]

So surprising both my Doc and myself, all the ligaments in my knee are still intact. Just Grade I sprain of the MCL and some massive bone bruising on the tibial plateau (and fer sure some cartilage damage, but it isn't bugging me, cept for the rice krispie noises, so it can wait). No skiing for another 2 weeks, but whatevs, the roadtrip to the summit is ON!!! Now if my Comis would just show up...

Background on this one: I was skiing switch 2 weeks ago and hit a "pothole" - all the melting that was going on in VT that week led to some deep holes and lotsa soup to hang up edges in. I got tossed, but was going slow enough (or so I thought) to throw a reverse wedge to save it. Instead of slowing down to a stop, my right ski stopped dead, and the rest of me flew on past, basically bending my knee to the inside at a full 90 degree angle. Think running back taking a helmet to the side of the knee - basically I was kneeling down with my lower leg to the side instead of behind me.

After the initial grind and rice crispy sound, it didn't feel all that bad, so I took 4 more fairly stable runs and called it a day. Nothing swelled up til I took a hot shower, and then it swelled up to the point that you couldn't tell I had a kneecap. Went to the doc when I got home - not a lot of instability ACL wise, but doc wanted an MRI to check on the ACL anyhow.

That brings me to the questions: Anyone have any bone bruise experience? And as far as the MCL goes, how long does it usually take for the MCL to mend itself from a sprain (as I understand it is more vascularized and thereby able to mend itself fairly well)? Any supplements that can help speed the process?

[drmark]

A grade one MCL tear requires nothing beyond ice. Some bone bruises end up in arthritis, but most just go away.

Ride the stationary bike, visit the website www.nutriex.com, and order Nutriex Sport. You all ready know not to smoke.

[Mofro261]

I bruised the shit out of my tibia and femur when I re-tore an ACL 5-6 weeks ago. I ice it continually throughout the day with a cryocuff , been riding a stationary till I'm bored out of my mind.

It's still sore if I walk around on it all day, but the knee is feeling solid (feels really good in the pow or on the groomed, anything bumpy isn't an option). I was told the bone bruising could take up to 2-3 months to go away.

[drmark]

Cryocuff and stationary bike. Now there is an intelligent person. Is Dr. Shelbourne you doctor?

[WWCD]

Had a bone bruise (MRI showed a small crack) in the base of my femur from a wreck a few years ago. Did it mid Dec, and skied on it for about a week until the pain made that impossible. Was told to take 4wks off, and then stay on the ground for 2wks after that. Followed all of this and was fine for the rest of the season with very little pain. What did hurt was anything with running. I couldn't play bball until late March and even then I was limping around but not from instablity, it just hurt. The knee never felt unstable, just hurt like hell with any sort of impact. It was probably May before I was completely pain free, and have had no issues since.

Probably could have gone back out sooner than 4wks, but the snow was shitty, and I like to err on the cautious side when it comes to knees.

[jcblues32]

i had a tibial plateau bone bruise and partial tear to my acl last january.. Grade 1 MCL is nothing to worry about... bone bruises take for ever to get better (4months is early , sometime as long as 10-12 months before back to norm).. all the advice given so far is good... but listen to your knee.... if it hurts to ride the bike hold off or ride a bike with shorten crank lengths; still and dont do alot of weight bearing activity .. lots of quad strengthening in open chain ( so leg raises .. straight and to the side) .. PM me with more ?s .. i'm a physical therapist as well ... good luck and i hope yours heals faster than mine has. jason koster MPT