Can you sprain mcl

Ligaments hold bones together and add stability and strength to a joint. The MCL connects the top of the tibia , or shinbone, to the bottom of the femur , or thighbone. Ligament injuries can either stretch the ligament or tear it. MCL injury of the knee is usually caused by a direct blow to the knee.

This type of injury is common in contact sports. The symptoms of an MCL injury are similar to symptoms of other knee problems. Your doctor can often tell if you have an MCL injury by examining your knee. During the examination, your doctor will bend your knee and put pressure on the outside of it.

This makes it easier for your doctor to test the stability of your ligaments. You may feel some pain and tenderness in your knee during the examination. Your doctor may order imaging tests to help diagnose your knee injury. An X-ray will give your doctor an image of the bones in your knee.

This can help them rule out other knee problems. During an X-ray, a technician will position your knee so that the machine can record images. This may cause some pain if your knee is tender or swollen.

However, the process will only take a few minutes. Your doctor may also order an MRI scan. This is a test that uses magnets and radio waves to produce images of the body. The MRI machine often makes loud noises. You may be given earplugs to protect your ears. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use.

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Top of the page. What are the symptoms? How is an MCL injury diagnosed? Your doctor will check your range of movement, swelling, and tenderness. What is the treatment? Your treatment will depend on how severe your injury is. Mild or grade 1 injuries usually get better in 1 to 3 weeks and may only need home treatment along with using crutches for a short time. Moderate or grade 2 injuries usually get better in about a month. You may need to wear a hinged knee brace and limit how much weight you put on your leg.

Severe or grade 3 injuries may require wearing a hinged brace for a few months, and limiting weight on the leg for 4 to 6 weeks. Home treatment Put ice or a cold pack on your knee for 10 to 20 minutes at a time.

Try to do this every 1 to 2 hours when you're awake for the first 3 days after your injury or until the swelling goes down. Put a thin cloth between the ice and your skin. Weakness or instability at your knee joint. What type of movement caused the knee injury Whether you heard a pop. Where — and how much — your knee hurts.

Whether the knee feels unstable. Details about any prior knee injuries. A knee brace for a short time.