Medial Cruciate Ligament Strain

[Maggie-Moo]

Hi everyone, I sustained the above injury about 8 weeks ago now. I had just finished a 20 minute run and felt this awful pain in my right knee during my cool down walk home. I’ve seen a Physio, iced it, used anti inflammatory meds but still no joy. Does anyone have similar experiences? I’m still trying to do Pilates but struggling this week. Help! I’m 59 are my running days over? 🙁 I was up to 6k and now fat and fed up!

[Cmoi Graduate]

Sorry to hear about your injury Maggie-Moo . While I experienced a similar injury as the result of a fall, I understand medial collateral ligament strains can vary in severity, and since I'm just a random person on the internet I'd urge you to seek advice from a qualified health professional.

Edited to add: I was 61 when I faceplanted in June 2022, and it hasn't put paid to my running. I never got a full diagnosis; the A&E doctor was just telling me he thought I'd sprained my knee when he got called away to a genuine emergency.

[Eglatine]

I can really sympathise! I injured my ACL and it took months and months to fully heal, so I’m not sure I can give the best advice. I saw two different physios regularly and did the excercises (which helped), I needed crutches for a few weeks, but overall it just took such a long time to heal to a point that I could restart running. So frustrating! Keep doing the physio, ice, elevate, rest, knee support all help. Very best wishes!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Hello. This is not what you want, so, time to either find a new Sports Physio or go and see your GP to get some expert advice.

There may be folk on here, as is Cmoi , with similar issues, but they will not be the same as you... so although it may help you motivationally, you do need to get some more medical advice. As she advises... this needs an expert.

If what the physio has advised and the medication prescribed are not working, then you need more support.

It would be very sensible. not to run until you have got this seen, and a starting point to move from

Keep us posted please

[drl212 Graduate]

Might be time for a second opinion with another physio or perhaps a referral from your GP to an orthopaedist?

All the best. Its rotten luck to end up on the injury couch...

[Rabbit561 Graduate]

I had a similar problem a year or so ago. Definitely doesn’t need to be the end of your running days. I saw a sports physio who advised a spell off running and simple exercises, particularly squats. Only saw her 3 times so didn’t cost a fortune but it gradually worked. That knee is still a bit stiffer but I have got back to my slow running. Get done good advice and work at it and you’ll be back!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Rabbit561]

Thanks tor that, I am sure it will give Maggie-Moo hopes for the future!

[CiderWoman24 Graduate]

Hello, so sorry about your knee. I agree with everyone and I do think you need to see your GP and perhaps get referred. Sounds miserable. Flowers for you Maggie-Moo 🌼🌺

[Yesletsgo Administrator]

So sorry you're still in pain. I was told that tendon injuries take a long time to heal and can't be rushed. As we get older healing can take longer too.Like everyone else I suggest you go back to your doctor/physio for expert advice.

[newbie-nick Graduate]

First and foremost, listen to your body. If it hurts, pay attention to it, and STOP. I bent my knee sideways when I fell off a gate*, and some 17 months later it still hurts and catches me out; I still wear a support on it. I too was 59 at the time, and I was told 6 to 9 moths as a bare minimum before I could do any form of exercise, and then my local mechanic said he was told about 18 months when he was injured.

My wife starts running again tomorrow and I shall be with her, but I will be just walking briskly to see how it goes. To add insult to injury, our son, who used to hate running with a vengeance started last year, and now pops out for a ten mile training run. He will be doing a trail ultra in Sweden later this year too.

Whatever you do, take care and look after it. Don't try and [excuse the phraseology] run before you can walk.

It may sound an odd thing, but I have taken to wearing thick tights on a daily basis. These give a constant gentle compression and also help keep the joint warm. So far they seem to be helping, but I do dread being rushed into hospital!!

* I later discovered the gate was unlocked!

[nowster Graduate]

Muscle injuries are quick to heal (days) in comparison with bones (weeks) and ligaments (months).

It's all a matter of blood supply.

Your best bet (as many have said above) is to get advice from a sports physio or even your GP.

[Karen59er Graduate]

Maggie-Moo - I feel your pain - so sorry to hear this. I haven’t run for a while but saw your post and just wanted to agree with everyone else here - I fell during a walking holiday in the summer and tore (partially) my MCL. It is very painful at night especially and can interfere with sleep. Even walking can aggravate it. Get a second opinion but if it’s like mine unfortunately it will take a while to heal - pain is your body saying no. I’m a pilates teacher and also doing weight training- all my hard work doing squats is on hold as it just aggravates it but you’ll get your strength and mojo back with time - you can’t rush healing - in fact if you try to you can delay it more. Mine is slowly improving- slowly after 7 months but not there yet. Fortunately in Pilates there’s plenty of other strength training for your core and other parts of your body you can continue to do safely without hurting your knee and keeping you motivated - ask your teacher to advise on how you can move and strengthen other parts of your body while your knee heals.

[Maggie-Moo Graduate]

Thanks everyone for such helpful advice I have been to see my GP this morning. I’ve been advised to take a couple of weeks off my nursing job. Being on my feet all day wasn’t really helping. I’ve to go for a knee X-ray and I’m being referred to another Physio. I,will keep you posted! I plan to keep on with Pilates and I have thought about going to the pool? I have been told no breast stroke due to the rotation on my knee.

[grumpyoldgirl Graduate in reply to Maggie-Moo]

Best of luck Maggie! Since you've got some time off work, take the opportunity to completely rest up for a few days. Pilates is wonderful but do nothing that causes discomfort or pain until you've had the x-ray.

[nowster Graduate in reply to Maggie-Moo]

If you are going to the pool, just wading around in the water at chest height can be a good exercise in itself. The effects of buoyancy take some of the weight off your legs, and the resistance of the water gives your muscles something to work against.