Question 1

is a mcl tear heal able on its own?

Accepted Answer

Mcl tear: Grade 1 and some grade 2 tears may heal with conservative treatment.Like brace, rest, over the couter or prescription pain meds such as ibuprifen, Naproxen and physical therapy.Rarely you need arthroscopic surgery.

Question 2

what happens if you tear your mcl twice?

Accepted Answer

Depends: What is the degree of tear and is there associated ligament injury such as acl or pcl?  It is common to sprain the mcl of the knee. You want to be sure there is no other ligament or meniscal damage associated with this. Make sure you properly rehabbed your knee and this is the best way to avoid repeat injuries. A brace during activity may also help. More sever degrees of injury may require surgery.

Question 3

what are good home exercises for rehabing an mcl tear?

Accepted Answer

The basics: See this article.  http://www.livestrong.com/article/556479-rehab-after-acl-injury/ . Good place to start...Similar to acl injury.  You should recover faster though.

Question 4

would you be able to tear you mcl by hitting it on a dash board?

Accepted Answer

Tear muscle hit dash: Mcl tear happens when your knee is hit directly on its outer side with a force, or by repeated stress.It will be really hard to tear mcl by hitting the dashboard, but if you try hard enough you probabely can.

Question 5

what is the difference between the grades of tears for your mcl?

Accepted Answer

There are 3 grades: A grade 1 tear is a sprain where the MCL is stretched but is not torn.  It is swollen and painful but the knee is stable.  A grade 2 tear is a partial tear and there may be some slight opening of the joint when stressed.  A grade 3 tear is a complete disruption of the MCL and the knee opens medially when forced into a valgus or "knock-knee" position.

Question 6

what does it mean if i have a "small linear tear" in my mcl, does this mean it will heal faster?

Accepted Answer

Yes: It will heal faster and more completely than a large comminute tear.

Question 7

can you walk normally with an mcl tear?

Accepted Answer

No: Typically you will limp becasue your knee hurts, but if you are careful you can mask your limp and walk nearly normally.

Question 8

what are the long term effects of an mcl tear?

Accepted Answer

Little: Assuming the tear is minor and treated appropriately there should be little to no long term effects.

Question 9

what do i do about an mcl partial tear/stretch?

Accepted Answer

Rest: Almost all mcl tears, especially partial tears and stretched mcls, will heal on their own. The mcl sits in an area of the knee can can scar down and function normally after a period of rest. This is unlike other ligaments like the acl, which cannot heal itself after injury. The mcl will heal over 6-12 weeks depending on severity. In more severe cases, a hinged knee brace may help.

Question 10

is a rupture the same thing as a tear of the mcl?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Sprain, tear and rupture are all basically the same thing thing.  Sprains are graded 1 though 3 where grade 1 is a strain, grade 2 is a partial tear, and grade 3 is complete tear or "rupture" of the ligamant.  This is true for injuries of the MCL (medial collateral ligament) or any other ligament.

Get Virtual Care

For Businesses

About Us

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Doctor answers about:

What is mcl tear

A member asked:

Is a mcl tear heal able on its own?

A member asked:

What happens if you tear your mcl twice?

A member asked:

What are good home exercises for rehabing an mcl tear?

A member asked:

Would you be able to tear you mcl by hitting it on a dash board?

A member asked:

What is the difference between the grades of tears for your mcl?

A member asked:

What does it mean if i have a "small linear tear" in my mcl, does this mean it will heal faster?

A member asked:

Can you walk normally with an mcl tear?

A member asked:

What are the long term effects of an mcl tear?

A member asked:

What do i do about an mcl partial tear/stretch?

A member asked:

Is a rupture the same thing as a tear of the mcl?

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Telemedicine

Primary Care

Manage Your Conditions

Women's Health

Children's Health

Men's Health

Senior Health

Wellness, Prevention & Lifestyle

Sexual Health

Mental & Behavioral Health

Travel Medicine

Urgent Care

Didn't find what you're looking for?

More of what we treat

Allergies

Antibiotics

Asthma

High Blood Pressure

Prescriptions

Type 2 Diabetes

For Businesses

Company

Health Content

Join Us

Download HealthTap

Questions?