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MCL tears

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Alkyy
Posts: 2839 - Karma: 149

So today sucked.... tore my MCL after only like 10 days on snow.  I was wondering who here has had this happen before/ personally knows someone who had this happen.  What does the time line look like?  when can i realistically expect to be back on snow if i take PT very seriously like i plan to.

PS. NEVER cal last run...thanks tyler

Dec 12 2008 5:11PM
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Alkyy
Posts: 2839 - Karma: 149
bumppp
Dec 12 2008 6:04PM
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TechnoPotamus
Posts: 11626 - Karma: 3,522
hey man, first off i'm so sorry it happened. it sucks.

i tore both my ACL and MCL (ACL completely through, MCL halfway through) and that was 2 years ago. a little over 2 years ago, i did it on november 18th. anyway it took a pretty solid year before i felt like i could get back into putting a lot of stress on my knee. everybody is different though, my situation was extra bad since i tore my ACL also.

so i'd imagine it'd be less for you......and don't ski without a knee brace on that knee ever again. trust me. even when it feels 110% keep wearing it. that's what i do.
Dec 12 2008 6:08PM
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Alkyy
Posts: 2839 - Karma: 149
So am i looking at helping film all winter instead of skiing?
Dec 12 2008 6:38PM
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LBJJ
Posts: 683 - Karma: 1,730
hey man its jake but damn man that suck soo much, looks like you'll be going around with me and craig
Dec 12 2008 7:14PM
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littlebski
Posts: 117 - Karma: 13
i had to get a complete reconstruction of my ACl, patrial MCL, and removed meniscus
six months later i was skiing again. taking it easy, keeping it a little slow., but skiing none the less.

if you stick to your PT routines, and keep pushong the envelope for your exercises (take your pain pills BEFORE you do the exercises/PT, makes ALL THE DIFFERENCE, and like 30 min b4 you do your stuff)

anywhere from 6 - 8months from surgery to slopes. but then again myne was orthoscopic. whats your sugery gping to be?
Dec 12 2008 7:19PM
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TechnoPotamus
Posts: 11626 - Karma: 3,522
i don't wanna kill any hope or anything because it could be different for you.....but most likely yeah. its a really crappy injury bro, i hate to tell you but it really is.
Dec 12 2008 7:39PM
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Alkyy
Posts: 2839 - Karma: 149

no idea what im doing for surgery yet, happened less then 5 hours ago so its still crazy swollen and they cant tell me anything definate.  Im deffanatly gunna get the surgery if they say i should. 

 Just sucks that i set up my whole semester so i could ski 5 days a week and this is the 2nd day of 7 weeks on break.  So basically my over 100 day season with crazy backcountry plans in very original places that i was so excited for turns into me being a guide and filmer for my friends i ride with.  At least im out there around skiing and in the mtns

Dec 12 2008 7:43PM
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littlebski
Posts: 117 - Karma: 13
to help with swelling, (i still use this stuff on those really really bad days)

naproxen sodium
comes in 220 and 550 mg doses it works WONDERS

take like, 2 at a time or some such, it helps a LOT

snd, its going to be a rough 24 hours dude, you wont be getting much sleep, sorry

at least the hospital didnt fuck up
mine did

the hos[pital didnt get the radio that i had already had like a ton of vicoden in me from the mountain station, so as soon as i got into the emergency room, they loaded me up on perkaset and xanex.....

i was watching purple clowns follow doctors around the room.
Dec 12 2008 8:02PM
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GhostfaceKillah
Posts: 3398 - Karma: 10
assuming it is just the MCL that is torn, you probably wont need surgery unless its real bad. The MCL heals on its own and you can help protect it by working out the muscles around it. If you're pretty athletic and you have strong legs, you could be back skiing (with a brace) in 4-6 weeks
Dec 12 2008 9:50PM
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A.P.
Posts: 667 - Karma: 136
my friend tore his playing football 3 weeks ago.  He got cleared to play again in two weeks and his the running back.  I think that once you get your MRI and see the tear then youll be able to tell how long youll be out.  However my other friend tore his the 2nd to last game of the season and cant bend his leg for 9 weeks. Hope for best and maybe youll be able to be back out there in a few weeks.
Dec 12 2008 10:12PM
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zerospinskier
Posts: 4867 - Karma: 350
I partially tore my MCL wakeskating on September 15. I told the doctor I ski and do lots of other sports really hard so he gave me this plan to take my time and get really strong again. I wore a big brace, 24/7, with a 15 or 20deg(I don't remember) extension block for 4 weeks. And no waight bearing (crutches) for the first 2 weeks. Then wore it with no extension block for about another 2-3 weeks. Doing physical therapy the whole time. Today, I my knee is still weak/hurts a bit and I'm out of shape. The PT says I shouldn't ski till January. I will wait because my knee is still weak still gets some pain from some of the excersices. It sucks, but I'll take it because I thought I had torn my ACL, which would have been much worse.
Dec 12 2008 10:34PM
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TechnoPotamus
Posts: 11626 - Karma: 3,522
yeah i didn't mention i had major knee surgery for what i did. if you don't need surgery you'll be much better off healing quickly wise
Dec 12 2008 10:40PM
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Alkyy
Posts: 2839 - Karma: 149
ive been researching it and it seems like as long as i dont need surgery i should be back kinda soon
Dec 13 2008 9:55AM
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B.Aussie
Posts: 5852 - Karma: 4,531

The strong voltaren is very good for antinflamitory, stopping swelling and pain management.

Once you get the MRI and see how bad it is it can take from 4weeks (minor Tear) to 6months (Mid Tear) or suregery (Half Reco 8months) (Full Reco 18months to 100%) Good Luck.

Dec 13 2008 10:27AM
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C-Burg
Posts: 4729 - Karma: 130
you wont need surgery. MCL heals just rest it for a little bit. I tore my acl last april and just started skiing again and it's going to take a little while to get back into it especially cliffs and jumps
Dec 13 2008 11:16AM
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Alkyy
Posts: 2839 - Karma: 149

Do you guys think ill need surgury.  Right now a day later I cant put weight on it, even just the weight of my foot hurts it unless i hold it up when i move it.  (Im not gunna be going off of what you guys say, not looking for a real medical opinion just some opnions because i wont even be able to make the appointment for the mri till Monday.  Thanks guys, +K for everyone who helped

Dec 13 2008 1:05PM
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TechnoPotamus
Posts: 11626 - Karma: 3,522
It's not even worth speculating on because the MRI will tell you everything you need to know. No need in getting bummed about until you have to, if you have to that is
Dec 13 2008 1:13PM
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Ahmets_Brother
Posts: 20283 - Karma: 5,931
Get a brace that locks your knee at 35 degrees i think. ?
I tore my MCL in april, and they never put me in a brace. Took about 5 months I would say to be normal again. Well im still not normal because i was never locked in. The part where it attaches gets a bad stinging pain when i do a lot of hamstring tedious work. My knee is also loose now side to side. Get it taken care of well and you'll be skiing in 2 months
Dec 13 2008 4:15PM
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littlebski
Posts: 117 - Karma: 13
you wont be able to put weight on it for a while, its been exposed to serious trauma
get a brace, either one of those ace black knee wraps or something, to help immobilize it
even tho its fricken cold, ice is your best friend (bc its cold, ha)
crutches! yay! hahaha
 just keep your weight off it for a day or two. see doc asap (you said like monday, do its!!!)


i envy you if you dont need surgery

Dec 13 2008 7:02PM
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littlebski
Posts: 117 - Karma: 13
you wont be able to put weight on it for a while, its been exposed to serious trauma
get a brace, either one of those ace black knee wraps or something, to help immobilize it
even tho its fricken cold, ice is your best friend (bc its cold, ha)
crutches! yay! hahaha
 just keep your weight off it for a day or two. see doc asap (you said like monday, do its!!!)


i envy you if you dont need surgery

Dec 13 2008 7:03PM
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littlebski
Posts: 117 - Karma: 13
sorry for double post!
Dec 13 2008 7:03PM
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