1. Understand Collateral Damage
Injury to your knee can result in collateral damage, including the medial collateral ligament, or MCL for short. The MCL runs on the inside (medial) of the knee and connects the tibia (shinbone) to the femur (thighbone), keeping the knee joint stable on the inside of the knee. If the MCL is injured with a stretch or tear, the knee joint becomes unstable. Most injuries to the MCL occur from a blow to the outside of the knee, which stretches or tears the opposite ligament on the inside of the knee. MCL injuries often happen at the same time as an injury to the ACL (anterior crucia ligament) during sports.
2. Assess the Pain
If the MCL is injured, you may feel a sharp pain on the inside of your knee along the joint. The pain may subside after the initial injury, but will return with swelling of the knee. The swelling can occur immediately or take as long as 12 hours to show up. The knee will feel unstable and it will be difficult to put weight on the knee. The pain leaves no doubt that you have a knee injury.
3. Diagnosing an MCL Injury
If you go to an emergency room, the emergency room physician will order x-rays of the knee and order a consultation with an orthopedic physician. The emergency room physician will give you a prescription for pain medication and a brace until you can see the orthopedic physician. The orthopedist will test the strength and stability of your knee by pushing lightly on it. He will also order an MRI to verify it's an MCL injury.
4. Remember the RICE
Treatment of an MCL injury is conservative and surgery is only done if the ligament is torn in a way that it can't heal, or if it's completely torn. Remember the acronym RICE to treat an MCL injury. Rest the injured knee as much as possible to aid in healing. Ice should be applied several times a day to reduce inflammation. Compression bandages should be applied to reduce swelling. Elevate the leg to reduce swelling and assist in circulation.
5. Prepare for Rehab and Recuperation
After the swelling and pain of an MCL injury have subsided, your doctor will recommend physical therapy to help you regain strength and flexibility. Physical therapy may start with a warm whirlpool to aid in flexibility. The whirlpool will be followed by gentle range of motion exercises, which are exercises that put the knee through the whole range of motions it should have. Physical therapy will include exercise for the quadriceps muscles, the large muscle in the front of your thigh. Exercises will proceed on a gradual basis to build strength, stability and flexibility.
