I think i might of sprained my lcl. the outside of my knee is tender to touch. it is only swollen when i bend my knee. it is a mild pain.?

Tough diagnosis: Lcl tears are very difficult to diagnose. Even orthopedic surgeons often have difficulty. It is usually associated with a fairly high energy twisting, fall, or collision. It is often associated with PCL tears, and less commonly with acl tears. Yours sounds more like a lateral meniscus tear with fluid within the knee. See you friendly neighborhood sports orthopedic surgeon for help!

Many possibilities: Your pain could be as a result of many different things. A thorough history and physical exam and possibly some laboratory and radiology exams are needed to determine the exact cause. Causes of pain may include: trauma (fracture, tendon or ligamentous tear, arthritis), infection, metabolic conditions (gout), musculoskeletal or biomechanical abnormalities.