Torn MCL

[habs-fan]

Tore my MCL some years ago (2nd degree). TENS and physio 3 times a week. It was 3 months before I was cleared to resume playing baseball with a steel brace, and 6 months before I was cleared to play net, brace free. It still twitches once in a while.

Take your time, follow the docs advice and don't rush it.

[summitpro77]

Wow, interesting to see how many other guys have injured their MCL. Mine was due to being in the bfly and having someone crash into me, like another member mentioned.

I can tell you, since it is a ligament, they heal MUCH slower than muscles do and therefore you must give it all the time that is recommended (maybe even longer) to you. Ligaments and tendons get their blood supply and nutrients a lot slower then muscles, and those nutrients are released every time the knee flexes, which is why things like cycling are great rehab for this type of injury.

I had a 1st to 2nd degree sprain, took off 1 month as recommended, sprained it again, took off 2 months and sprained it again. I waited the last time 3 months, which was much longer than recommended and so far, after about 5 games it is holding up. The best thing you can do is to hit the gym, do power movements with the legs, ie. squat and lunges. I believe this is why I have not pulled it again since the muscles are much stronger now. As well, I have to be conscious of not over extending my legs, or flaring them out when I am already in the bfly, like to save a rebound or something-that is how I re injured the MCL the other two times. I am having to train myself to only do small push offs for those situations, as I know it will be only a matter of time before I re injure it.

I think if it does become chronic, I will get a brace to play with!

Make sure to ice it after every game as well, helps with healing.

[elemeno]

I posted a new thread in Hockey Talk about my ACL reconstruction surgery and recovery if anyone is interested. It doesn't have to mean the end of a career.

ACL Surgery - Not A Life Sentence

[azdave]

MCLs are so damn strange. I have torn both twice and both times both at the same time. Guy fell on top of me in the butterfly and the last time my own player shoved the guy to get him out of the crease but he shoved the guy on top of me. Both times partial tears and out for 8 weeks almost to the day. Light squats, cycling, rolling the big inflatable ball all worked for me.
Hope you guys all heal fast. Sucks being out.

[Socalgoaler]

injured mine last feb. when i went to the DR's and they concluded I strained the MCL. not bad but need to stay off of it for 2 months. the first month my knee hurt when i tried to move the sheets at night with my leg. kept it elevated, took the pills they gave me, wore a brace from sport chalet. took it very cautionsly. once i got into PT, i saw it heal faster. or at least i thought it did. PT did ultrasonic massages, ice massages, and then gave me movement exercises. once i was cleared i started doing squats and leg lifts with light weight. built up. then started mountian biking again.

healed pretty good to what the dr says.

all this happened when i didnt go into a full BF i did one of bent knee going down.

if you are in the USA better hurry and get into the DR's becuase the health care just passed. dont know whats going to happen to my/ your good insurance.

[.staxx.]

When I tore my MCL I had a level 2 tear. The doctor wouldn't do surgery unless it was completely ripped off and that's a level 3.
He told me that with a surgery I'll be back on the ice 2-4 weeks and without one it will take 4-6 months. He decided no surgery since I'm still so young.
It's going to take time and a lot of balls to first get in your old "game" when you get back on the ice. I was so terrified to pull it again. I still had some pain, I still do! But that doesn't mean it's tearing again.
Just rehab it and do everything the doctors say, they are the specialists.