Collateral Ligaments and other non-cruciate tendons & ligaments around the knee :

MCL grade 3? - - Posted by billyhowie (billyhowie), 20 April 2004

I had an ACL patella recon March 2003, and tore my MCL in December. Ive no idea of the extent to which it is torn, but every time I try to run it seems to twist and give way, and then is sore for a couple of days. Im quite concerned and I'm due to go for an MRI scan soon but am still waiting for an appointment.  

I havent been able to work on my knee as much as I had hoped as Ive got a lot of work on and its still pretty weak but Im hoping to do a lot of weights etc in the summer so that I may be able to start playing football again. How can I tell the extent of the MCL injury, whether or not Ive damaged my ACL graft (or cartilage)? My surgeon is not too hopefull of entirely accurate MRI scans as the screws inside interfere with the magnetic imaging, but is unwilling (as am I) for him to do an arthroscopy!

HELP!

Billy
Posted by ATsoccergirl (ATsoccergirl), 20 April 2004

You could try a stress x-ray to determine how much the medial joint line opens up.  
Posted by Beauzer (Beauzer), 21 April 2004

Hi Billy,

I had an MCL tear after ACL recon too.  While an MRI is helpful, the OS's clinical exam of your knee generally gives the best information in this scenerio.  What did you do rehab-wise for the MCL?  Do you have a ligament brace or anything?  

Danielle
Posted by billyhowie (billyhowie), 21 April 2004

Hey! Thanks for the advice guys. The O/S doesnt really seem too concerned with the MCL tear but is using the MRI scan to check for any possible cartilage damage. Not done too much rehab for the MCL tear, not sure what I should be doing - the O/S just told me to do what Im comfortable with, which isnt a great help!
Posted by Janet (Janet), 23 April 2004

My daughter had a grade 2+/3- MCL tear a couple of years ago. It was diagnosed by a physical exam. Luckily, she did not tear the ACL as was originally feared. She never had an MRI. She was in a brace for about 5 weeks, until her knee was stable enough to walk without it. She was in formal PT almost immediately, and it took several months before she was strong enough to work on her own. Once she was totally healed and rehabbed, she has never had any continuing problems. I question why you aren't in formal PT? How can you possibly know what to do on your own? I would ask your doctor to send you to PT, at least for a few visits to find out what you can safely be doing to start with, then you can slowly work up to harder exercising on your own. Good luck!

Janet

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