I have knee pain and am not sure if I have a minor MCL tear or a medial meniscus tear- How can I tell?
Question:
Answers:
It sounds to me as though it is a MCL strain. If your knee starts to click, give way or lock, there is more of a problem. Avoid twisting on the knee and going upstairs with it first.
I would start using heat on the area. This will increase the circulation and the healing to the area. If at any time you start to feel increased pain with the heat, stop and return to the ice.
Knees are strange creatures. Even one teaspoon of extra fluid/swelling within the knee joint can stop the thigh muscles working for 3-5 days. It is virtually impossible to tell if this small amount of swelling is even present - not even an MRI would detect it!
Try using a simple knee brace when you are up and about, even an ACE wrap would help. This will just give you an extra bit of support, but do not rely upon braces - they can actually make you weaker in the long term.
If things do not calm down in the next 5-7 days, ask your doctor for a referal to a good physical therapist.
Good luck!
Other Answers:
see a doc, or a physical therapist. they will have you bend your leg in various positions to determine exactly where and IF there is a tear or injury.
it could very well be that it is just a small sprain
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sounds like knee-monia to me (sorry)..seriously see a doctor or a physio
OK, I am a physical therapist, . All You've done is just great. You can now start heat application by warm bag application to accelerate the healing process. Also don't stand for a long time, don't harry up in long steps, limit your going upstairs,and finally don't put your knee in acute angle( bend it underneath you).
This should make you very well in max 1 week.
You need to get an MRI.. my medial meniscus tear was no sudden injury and didn't swell much.. just pain, it was repaired and have had no other problems with it.
I hit my knee on a wooden desk while at work. The first 4 days everything was good, no pain, no swelling, etc., Then the next day when I awoke, my kneecap was swollen and there was excruciating pain. I went to emergency and after being seen, I was instructed to keep the leg elevated and to ice it down. Also to stay off the leg. Anyway, As the months passed by my little injury is now diagnosed as a medial meniscus tear. I suggest you seek medical evaluation and an MRI to determine the best medical solution to attend to your injury. I pray for your speedy recovery.
Injuries to the MCL usually occur with a cutting type injury or slipping on ice etc. Normal workouts don't usually cause an MCL injury. Patella subluxation, meniscal tears can occur from a workout. I would schedule with a sports medicine physician to see what they think. MRIs don't always give the answer so getting one isn't not always needed. They can help for meniscus tears and other things but the doctor's exam will help them decide. Your doing the best to help yourself out now with the ice. NSAIDS may help relieve the pain but don't use them for a prolonged period of time.
Source(s):
sports physician
agree with mcl strain.
heat helps
rest helps better.
nsaids control the inflammation, but prolonged use is bad.
greater than 3 weeks, see one of our guys.
mri may not help.
clinical diagnosis may be better, especially if you have to pay for your mri
cvjeena@yahoo.com
Source(s):
senior lecturer in orthopaedics,arthroscopic surgeon, medical college calicut, kerala, india
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