Do I have a tear in my MCL?

Question

yesterday I went wakeboarding, and as i was going over the wake to the open water my knee locked and twisted. I let go and fell back screaming in pain. It has been about 24 hours now of uncomfortable pain. I can barely walk. It is very unstable. its along the right side of my left knee. I can't bend it very much, and when i turn my torso while standing on it it gives out and i get a huge wave of severe pain. I didn't go to the doctor.. should I? and can I still swim.. for my season starts in a little less than two weeks.

Answer 1

Go to the doctor. There really is no way for me to give you a definitive answer as to whether or not it is fully torn, partially torn, or simply sprained. The MCL is a common ligament to tear through the knee and I'd suggest setting up an appointment as soon as you can, and staying off that leg. Continue icing it and take 500-1000mg of IBUProfen to help with the pain and swelling, this is a similar dose to vicodin.

If it is a torn MCL you will not be able to swim. For now, do not swim as you could further aggravate whatever it is you did to your knee. Good luck

Answer 2

Sounds like it. ACL or MCL.

Eventually the swelling will go down.....but not for a while probably....

And then you might think its okay, and go back to what you normally do......but then its only going to be a matter of time before it goes out again.  Then it'll swell up again huge for a few days.

They might just diagnose it right away as a torn mcl/acl by doing a lil test of how loose the knee is once the swelling has gone down.  The doc just grabs your leg and twists.It doesn't hurt but it just feels weird....almost like its about to go out.

Otherwise, they might do a arthriscopic scope......and probably take out some cartilage that probly got torn....plus flush out some of the swelling thats been in there for awhile.....it'll actually feel much better after they do this.  But its no fix for an ACL/MCL tear.

Then your left to decide whether you want ACL or MCL recontruction........which I cant imagine is too cheap in the U.S.

Luckily....I live in Canada and its free.   No paperwork or nothin.......you sign in in the morning....and I went home about 24 hours later. Then I was off work for 4 months ! and gettin Paaaaiiidd !!