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Posted on 10/13/2026 1:38:28 AM PDT by Hootowl
Hoping someone out there has encountered a similar problem. I recently tore my LCL and MCL. Doctors don't think it's bad enough to require surgery but the pain is excruciating. Even a walker isn't much help. Has anyone had a similar situation? Is there anything out there that takes the pressure off the knee? Braces don't help.
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Click here: to donate by Credit Card Or here: to donate by PayPal Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794 Thank you very much and God bless you. |
Sorry to hear this.
Always under the impression that rest is the cure.
Get a 2nd opinion and stress to doc how much pain you are in.
Get a second opinion. LCL and MCL tears are not something you should wait out. If it’s a full tear, it needs to be repaired. If it’s a partial tear, it really depends on the severity. If you’re hanging by a thread, your leg should be immobilized, and you should be icing it every hour to reduce swelling.
Consider peptide therapy as well. BPC-157 has shown reduced healing time and better outcomes for ligament tears. I have a partial tear in my Achille’s. I started on a Wolverine Stack (BPC-157 and TB-500), and in 3 months I went from almost constant heel pain to just some stiffness in the AM and feeling fine by 10 AM. It is NOT a pain mitigation solution though.
If you’re in that much pain, get to another doctor. MRI will show the extent of the damage.
I have not dealt with knee injury, but I know cold packing, rest, loosening muscles related to but not directly in the area (so further up or down the leg)can help to some degree to lessen discomfort
I would look up what foods best to provide nutrients body needs to heal the ligament tissue, and incorporate those foods often. Ligament doesn’t get much blood flow so that’s why it takes longer to heal.
If by chance you have extra weight on, try to eat more protein and nutrient dense foods and cut out over eating, highly processed/ low nutrient foods so maybe you can drop excess fat and not lose muscle while you are taking time to be less active to heal. That would make less weight and pressure on your knee.
I came upon this knee wrap in quick search. I don’t know if you look into something along this line may help.
https://kingbrand.com/Knee-Injury-Treatment.php?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23068587113&gbraid=0AAAAADvH3NUE8Uf3-Bry7N8t8xGYHx_zr&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6vS5tc62lwMVG0P_AR2EJyvFEAAYAiAAEgKA5PD_BwE
You could look into infrared heat pad/wrap to use at home. Cold therapy helps reduce inflammation in tissue but infrared heat helps stimulate circulation and can help sometimes heal something’s a little quicker. So you could maybe use the infrared once every day or two. Research online. Also ask Dr, though many times they don’t know much about infrared heat. If you buy an infrared wrap of some kind or hand held device, be sure it’s waves include NEAR infrared, near waves help more for superficial than FAR infrared waves.
Something else was in my mind but I forgot. If I recall it, I’ll let you know.
Agree with rarestia post, get imaging if you haven’t. If surgery needed sooner is better.
PT Was my other thought, sometimes it can make worse if bad tear. If imaging and second opinion says no surgery needed, maybe ask about how long of rest and then could you get PT to restregthen? and also check online to give you an idea of what sorts of things to avoid or to do. There is a YouTube channel El Paso Manual Physical Therapy that has good videos about knees pre and post surgeries. You may find helpful info on there.
Also get one of those battery powered pain blockers that uses electrodes on the leg and a mild electrical charge to block the pain signal from the leg. That saved me when I had knee surgery.
There is NO pain like that from an Achilles Heel injury.......but ice can help by numbing nerve endings and reducing local swelling during acute flare-ups........it does not speed up actual tendon healing.
Double dittos. Over the counter medications work for some stuff but not others. Tylenol works great for some pain and is useless for other pain that requires ibuprofen
As far as the food, an anti-inflammatory diet is best. If you have the resources who can prepare it, I found the Mediterranean Diet the best option. It will also improve your treatment.
I’ve done both, no surgery but occasional instability and I can be walking now and the knee will just give out but I catch myself...so far. Pain was bad when it happened but didn’t last long. Everyone is different so it’s hard to say. I’ve got two massive rotator cuff tears as well...they don’t hurt most of the time but limited ROM. Doc said I’m well past surgery helping unless the pain is unbearable. Said he can fix that but not the ROM so once again every is different.
Forgot to mention..braces may not help now but down the road they might. I’ve got several including the mechanical hinge type. Most are slip on..that don’t stay up and the band Velcro type that work pretty good. I’ll wear them working outside occasionally and if the knee swells or gives out. It’s always the damnit movement then back on.
I’m very sorry to hear that you suffered this injury. It’s a very tough one to fatal with. I tore my ACL and MCL about 35 years ago when I was 21, so I understand the pain you are in. There really wasn’t much that helped my pain at that time, so I get your frustration. Over time, though, it did get better and more manageable.
I did have the surgery but it was about two months after my injury. The pain had subsided a good bit by the time I had it, but you will have pain if it isn’t repaired. The surgery itself is no walk in the park though. If you are older and not physically active, that might be why your doctor is recommending non-surgical treatment. The pain after surgery, at least for me, was even more intense than the pain from the injury. At the time I had it, they had me on a patient-controlled morphine pump and I spent the first couple days mostly unconscious except when I woke up pressing my “happy button”. That pain does subside, but you then have a year or so of physical therapy to deal with post-op. It is not an easy recovery.
Overall I am glad I had the surgery, but I was young at the time and I’m not sure how well I’d recover now. It’s possible that things are different now, but definitely make sure you understand what you’ll be dealing with for both options before you make your decision.
though that looks like too much weight on the healing tissues to me.
Or the Elbow-style forearm crutch or crutches that seem far more practical.
Also good for whomping people who dare laugh at your misfortune. If Walmart or on-line can't hook you up there's always specialty stores near every major hospital.
Stay off it. Ice. Advil. Glucosamine for long term
If you can, water walking in a pool. The motion realigns and relieves stress within about three weeks. Aleve for knee pain.
If you can, water walking in a pool. The motion realigns and relieves stress within about three weeks. Aleve for knee pain.
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