Is tearing your MCL worse than ACL?

An ACL tear is more serious than an MCL tear, and may require surgery to repair. Recovery time may be 6 months or more, including rehabilitation. An MCL tear can take around 8 weeks to recover from, but surgery is usually not required.

Why does MCL heal better than ACL?

For example, the MCL is a capsular-type ligament with a better blood supply and outside the synovial fluid of the knee, which allows clot formation and a better healing environment.

What's worse than an ACL injury?

PCL Tear. Tearing the PCL (Posterior Cruciate Ligament) is not as common but also usually requires surgical repair. If not, the knee can become unstable and cause increased force to the knee cap.

Is ACL or MCL more common?

Knee ligament sprains and tears are the most common knee injury, often seen in individuals who participate in sports from football to soccer to skiing. Each year in the United States approximately 75,000 people will experience an MCL injury and up to 200,000 will experience an ACL injury.

Does an MCL tear ever fully heal?

Thus, a grade I acute MCL injury usually needs 1-2 weeks to heal, while a grade II injury takes 3-4 weeks to heal and a grade III isolated complete MCL injury typically takes 5-6 weeks of properly guided rehabilitation to have the injury heal completely.

Will my ACL, MCL, or PCL (Knee Ligament) Tear Heal?? Surgery??

How serious are MCL tears?

A grade 1 MCL tear (minor tear) can usually heal on its own with rest within one to three weeks. Grade 2 and grade 3 MCL tears, which are more severe, need proper treatment in order to heal, which can include resting, wearing a knee brace and doing physical therapy.

Can you run again after MCL tear?

As previously noted, recovery times vary widely, but in general: A grade 1 (minor) MCL tear can take from a few days to a week and a half to heal enough for a return to normal activities, including sports. A grade 2 tear can take from two to four weeks to heal.

How long does it take for MCL to heal?

Time for an MCL tear to heal

Grade 1 injuries often heal in 1 to 2 weeks. Grade 2 MCL injuries often take 2 to 4 weeks, and grade 3 injuries can take 4 to 6 weeks or more.

Can you bend your knee with a torn MCL?

The knee may feel stiff, and a person may have difficulty straightening their leg or bending their knee. They may also find climbing the stairs or sitting in a chair challenging as this requires them to bend their knee. A torn MCL can affect the stability of the knee.

How can I make my MCL heal faster?

What's the most painful knee injury?

One of the most feared sports and work injuries is a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which has ended or derailed the careers of numerous high-profile athletes. A torn ACL is very painful and can debilitate a person for several months and perhaps for life, although recovery for some is possible.

Can you tear your MCL without tearing your ACL?

The main difference between an ACL tear and an MCL tear is that an ACL tear will have a distinctive popping sound, while an MCL tear will not. MCL tears are typically easier to recover from than ACL tears. With an MCL tear, the recovery process may take up to eight weeks or more with rehabilitation.

What is the most serious knee injury?

Kneecap fractures are a common yet serious injury that usually requires immobilization or in some cases surgery to correct. Knee dislocations occur when the knee bones become out of place. This can occur after a major trauma such as a fall, car crash, or high-speed impact.

Can MCL repair itself?

MCL Treatment

Grade I and Grade II tears can heal on their own within a few days to a few weeks as long as you get plenty of rest. Since Grade III MCL injuries are complete tears, the ligament is unable to heal itself and surgery is needed.

Is MCL surgery necessary?

In most cases, MCL injuries do not require surgery, and they may heal on their own after some time. You must avoid putting too much pressure on the affected knee by getting plenty of rest and using crutches to support the injured leg.

What should you avoid with a MCL tear?

Rest your knee and avoid walking or any activity that causes pain. They may recommend using crutches and a knee brace to reduce further strain on your MCL when walking.

Is a torn MCL always painful?

If the medial collateral ligament has been damaged or torn, you will usually have: Pain, which can range from mild to severe. Stiffness. Swelling.

What grade is an MCL injury?

MCL sprains are graded according to their level of severity: Grade I (minor), Grade II (moderate), Grade III (severe). A Grade I sprain will have a few fibers torn, some pain, little to no swelling, and good stability.

How painful is a MCL injury?

MCL injuries hurt. Most people feel pain along the inside edge of the knee, and they also have swelling. You might hear a pop when the damage to the knee takes place, and your knee may lurch to the side. You may find it hard to walk, or feel like you can't put pressure on the leg with the hurt knee.

Can you walk with a Grade 1 MCL tear?

If you have a Grade 1 MCL tear, you may still be able to walk with some pain. A grade 2 tear may make it somewhat difficult to walk. With a grade 3 tear, it will be extremely painful and difficult to walk. If you think you may have an MCL tear, it is best to seek the help of a knee doctor.

Can you squat after MCL tear?

Avoid using stair-stepper machines, doing deep knee bends and squats or any exercise that causes crunching, clicking or pain at the kneecap.

Can you run with a Grade 1 MCL tear?

Grade 1. If you have a grade 1 MCL sprain you may have mild tenderness on the inside of your knee, but not usually any swelling. You are likely to be able to walk or even run with minimal symptoms, but not at 100%.

Why is my MCL tear not healing?

These types of tears also usually don't heal on their own. This is because the torn and retracted MCL becomes trapped above the hamstrings tendons, and it cannot heal back down to the tibia (shin bone).

Can you play sports with MCL tear?

Can Someone With a Torn MCL Play Sports? Teens with a torn MCL usually need to take time off from sports, especially the sport in which the injury happened. If there is no pain and the knee does not "give way," they can usually walk, stretch, and do low-impact activities such as swimming.

What is the hardest knee injury to recover from?

Torn patellar tendon

It attaches the bottom of the kneecap to the top of the shinbone, and a complete tear separates the tendon from the kneecap. The leg should be able to handle full body weight once again four to six weeks following surgery, but it could take up to six months for a player to return to game action.