MCL Treatment
As with an ACl injury, there are two options for treating an MCL injury. With an MCL injury, however non surgical treatment is more often used, even for someone who’s active. The ligament often sufficiently heals without surgery.
Non surgical treatment
Before your doctor recommends non surgical treatment, arthroscopy or other diagnostic techniques may be used to confirm that you have no injuries other than a torn MCL. If you don’t have any, you may embark on a programme to rest your joint and speed your healing and to restore the function of your knee with exercise.
Ice and elevation reduce swelling by helping to prevent the excess accumulation of fluid in your knee. Ice your knee three to five times a day for 15 to 30 minutes at a time. If these steps don’t sufficiently control your pain, ask your doctor about taking pain medications.
Crutches, a brace or a cast may temporarily rest your joint, helping it to heal properly. Follow your doctor’s instructions about how much weight to put on your leg and ask whether a sports brace is required for more high risk activities.
Exercises are necessary to restore the normal function of your joint. Special exercises may be prescribed to increase your knee’s range of motion, strength and flexibility. At first thought you may be asked to limit the bending and straightening of your knee.