how long is recovery from LCL Tear

How long is recovery from an LCL tear?

How long is recovery from an LCL tear: LCL tears are a common sports injury that can occur during activities such as running, jumping, and landing. They are most often seen in the knee joint but can also be found in other joints such as the ankle and elbow. These tears typically need surgery because they cause significant damage to the surrounding soft tissue structures. Patients may also experience pain or swelling around the site of injury as well as difficulty with normal movement and stability of the knee joint.

Well, when patients reach out to the doctor for treatment, according to the condition, the doctor suggests a recovery period. In this read, we are discussing How Long is Recovery from LCL tear in detail so that there will be no confusion, and you can prepare yourself to get the treatment as well.

Symptoms of an LCL Tear in 2022:

An LCL tear is a traumatic injury to the lateral collateral ligament. This injury can be caused by a direct blow, such as a fall or tackle, or indirectly, such as a twisting motion. Some symptoms of an LCL tear include:

  • Pain and swelling around the knee joint
  • Difficulty with movements in the knee joint
  • Instability in the knee joint

How are LCL Tears treated?

Knee injuries are typically categorized as minor, moderate and major. These grades are based on the severity of the injury, the pain felt, and if it resulted in a loss of function. Patients who suffer from a minor or moderate grade injury may need only rest and recovery time, while patients with more severe grades may require surgery or rehabilitation. The grades for LCL are as follows:

· Grade 1:

Knee injuries are mild. Your LCL is not completely torn. You should heal with only treatment at home, including using crutches and a knee brace when you’re allowed to put some weight on it again. Your healthcare provider might also have you wear a hinged knee brace when you’re allowed to put some weight on your knee.

· Grade 2:

Knee injuries in this grade are moderate. You have a partial tear in your LCL. For grade 2, you’ll use crutches for about 8-12 weeks and then start using a hinged knee brace. The recovery time will take about 3 weeks after the brace is removed

· Grade 3:

Knee injuries are devastating and can leave behind long-lasting effects that last well beyond the original injury. If you’ve experienced an LCL tear, you’ll need to use a hinged brace for eight to 12 weeks. The healthcare provider may also advise you to undergo surgery.

If your injury is severe, you might need surgery. Surgery requires doctors and nurses to work together for the best possible outcome.

How long is recovery from an LCL tear?

An LCL tear is a very common injury in sports and can be very serious if it’s not diagnosed and treated properly. It’s important to know how long it takes to recover from an LCL tear, so you know how much time you’ll need to be out of action during your recovery. Recovery from an LCL tear can take up to six weeks, depending on the severity of the injury and how much strengthening work needs to be done on the affected leg.

Along with that, it depends on the grade of injury as well. It is as follows:

  • Three to four weeks in Grade 1
  • Eights to 12 weeks in Grade 2
  • Eight to 12 weeks in grade 3

Are there any at-home treatments for LCL tears?

Yes, there are some things you can do at home to help your injured LCL heal:

  • Rest your knee.
  • Apply a cold pack to your knee for the first three days. You should do this every one-two hours for the first three days, with a cloth between the ice pack & skin.
  • Wrap an elastic bandage around the kneecap and secure it with a knot.
  • Prop your knee up on a pillow to help reduce the swelling. Try to keep it above your heart.
  • Wear your braces as the doctor recommends, and keep using crutches until complete recovery.
  • Depending on your condition and what kind of stretching you have been instructed to do, be sure to follow instructions for each session according to your provider.
  • Make sure not to push yourself too hard and listen carefully for any instructions that could be damaging in the future.
  • If you’re experiencing a lot of pain after sports or other physical activities, use anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen.
  • To maximize your performance, you want to keep the weight off your leg. Take a break when you need it to relieve any numbness or pain.

Note:

Recovery from an LCL tear can be a long process, and it can take weeks or months. There are many factors that affect the length of recovery. The average time needed for complete recovery is about 12 weeks. However, some people may need more than 12 weeks to recover fully.

LCL tear is a tear of the lateral collateral ligament in the knee. It is a common injury that affects athletes and people who participate in activities like skiing, basketball, soccer, and running. The severity of this injury can vary from mild to severe. If you are dealing with an LCL tear, do reach out to Dr. Lalit Modi.

He is one of the best doctors for LCL treatment in Jaipur you can approach. Discuss your condition with him, and for sure he will suggest the best treatment for you!

FAQ: How long is recovery from an LCL tear?

Q.1 – How long does it take to recover from a LCL tear?

Answer – The recovery time for a LCL tear depends on the severity and location of the tear. In some cases, it could take up to six months to recover from a complete tear while partial tears may heal within six weeks.

Q.2 – How long does an LCL tear take to heal without surgery?

Answer – An LCL tear is a type of knee injury that happens due to a fall or a collision with an obstacle. It’s most common in soccer, basketball, and skiing. The recovery time for an LCL tear without surgery varies depending on how severe it was and how long it took for symptoms to appear.

Q.3 – Can an LCL tear heal on its own?

Answer – The most common treatment for an LCL tear is rest, ice packs, and NSAIDs. These treatments are typically enough to allow the tendon to heal on its own. However, if these treatments do not provide relief after about two weeks then surgery should be considered.

Q.4 –  Why my LCL injury is not healing?

Answer – If your LCL tear is not healing, it can be due to the following factors:

  • Your doctor has not prescribed treatment for this condition.
  • You are not using the product as directed.
  • The tear is located in an area that is difficult to reach.
  • You have too much pain and swelling.
  • You are having excessive pain or discomfort when you attempt to use the product as directed.

Q.5 –  Is an LCL tear worse than ACL?

Answer – An LCL tear is a tear in the lateral collateral ligament, which is a band of tissue that stabilizes the knee joint. An ACL tear, on the other hand, is a tear in the anterior cruciate ligament.

Q.6 – Can you still walk with a torn LCL?

Answer – A torn LCL usually results in pain, swelling, and bruising around the knee. Severe cases may require surgery to fix the injury. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, don’t worry! There are many ways to treat a torn LCL without surgery.