Diagnosing Collateral Ligament Injuries

After your injury, your physician will talk to you about your symptoms and your prior medical history. Typically, most ligament injuries can be diagnosed with a complete physical examination. More testing is usually done to help your physical confirm the diagnosis. These tests may include x-rays that can tell if the ligament injury is related to a broken bone. An MRI may also be used to study the cross sections of the soft tissue in the knee. Generally, an MRI can confirm the diagnosis.

Common Causes

Collateral ligament injuries occur when the knee is pushed in a sideways direction, usually the result of some type of force. Sometimes these are contact injuries, but not always. Slipping on ice or a wet surface may also cause a tear in the MCL or LCL. This injury may also occur when body weight presses down on the knee in an awkward condition.

Relieve Pain with Chiropractic Treatment

If the injury is severe, your physician may want to perform surgery to repair or replace the torn ligament. Anti-inflammatory and pain medications are also given to relieve the symptoms of injured collateral ligament injuries. Non-surgical home treatments may include ice, bracing and physical therapy.

A chiropractor can also effectively relieve some of the pain and tenderness with regular visits and without medication. This is done through deep tissue massage, trigger point therapy and the gradual reintroduction of exercises to help strengthen the muscles and improve the nerve function. You chiropractor can work to minimize scar tissue formation to help protect the joint.

Recovery Time

The time it takes to fully recover from an MCL or LCL injury depends on the severity of the issue. Minor sprains typically take approximately a week to heal, while severe tears can take as much as six months with proper treatment.

Contact Our NuView Health Medical in New York, NY Today!

If you live in New York and have suffered from a knee injury, contact NuView Health Medical at (212) 588-0707 to learn more about your treatment options. Your chiropractor can also give you tips to avoid the injury in the future.