How long does a lateral ligament take to heal?
It may take up to eight weeks to fully recover, depending on the grade of your injury. If the lateral collateral ligament was torn where it attaches to the thighbone (femur) or shinbone (tibia), the surgeon will reattach the ligament to the bone using large stitches or a metal bone staple.
How do you tell if LCL is torn or sprained?
To diagnose an LCL injury, your doctor will examine your knee and look for swelling. They’ll also move your knee in various directions to determine where your pain is and how severe your symptoms are. If your doctor believes you may have a torn ligament, you may undergo imaging tests like X-rays or MRI scans.
What are the symptoms of a torn LCL?
Symptoms of LCL Injury
- Your knee may feel stiff, sore, or tender along the outer edge.
- Your knee may feel like it could give out when you’re walking or standing.
- Your knee may lock in place or catch when you walk, instead of moving smoothly.
- You may not have your normal range of motion.
Can you walk with an LCL tear?
Will LCL tears affect how I walk? For a while, you’ll have to use crutches or a knee brace. Your healthcare provider will tell you how long you need to wait before putting weight on your knee. You’ll be back to walking normally after your LCL tear heals.
Can you walk with a torn lateral collateral ligament?
You’ll probably also do aerobic exercise, like walking, and wear a knee brace at first. If your LCL tore all the way through, you may need to have surgery to repair it.
How do you relieve pain on the outside of your knee?
How are these potential causes treated?
- ice on the outside of the knee.
- anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen (Aleve) or acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- corticosteroid injection to reduce inflammation.
What is a LCL knee ligament injury?
The LCL helps keep the knee joint stable, especially the outer aspect of the joint. An injury to the LCL could include straining, spraining, and partially or completely tearing any part of that ligament . According to Orthogate, the LCL is one of the more commonly injured ligaments in the knee.
What is a lateral knee?
The lateral side of the knee is the side that is away from the other knee. Structures on the medial side usually have medial as part of their name, such as the medial meniscus. The term anterior refers to the front of the knee, while the term posterior refers to the back of the knee.
What is knee taping?
Knee taping is a procedure that is employed when there is a need to protect the patella, or kneecap, from sustaining some type of injury. Taping can take place because of a preexisting problem that places some stress on the kneecap, such as tightness in the tendons and muscles around the patella,…