LCL Injury

[Crocodome]

I'm not sure if this is the best forum to ask, but has anyone ever strained/sprained their LCL? My wife hurt hers and running exacerbated it to the point where her eyes tear up from the pain... and this is someone who is tougher than woodpecker lips. The nurse practitioner gave her anti-inflamatory/pain meds, did XRays that didn't indicate any tearing... but it's not helping. She can hardly walk at this point. Any advice? Any tips on recovery besides rest, ice, compression, elevation?

 

[chris302001]

LCL doesnt usually require surgery if the tear is not complete, and even then it's not always appropriate. RICE is really about all there is to do at this point. It's going to hurt like hell for a while.


RICE — RICE treatment involves rest, ice, compression, and elevation.

* Rest — Patients who have pain with weight bearing or have clinical signs of instability should have the knee immobilized and be given crutches with instructions for their use (show table 1). Immobilization with a six-inch elastic wrap usually is adequate. Straight-leg immobilizers offer no structural support, and are not indicated in acute knee injuries (although they are commonly used). The specific type of immobilizing device depends upon the type of injury. (See "Acute injuries" below).

* Ice — Ice should be applied at least twice per day, and preferably every one to two hours while awake, during the first one to two days. The ice should be placed in a plastic bag and applied directly to the skin for 20 minutes. Control of swelling is more likely to occur if ice is applied more often. Effective cooling requires that the ice be kept in place rather than removed intermittently when discomfort occurs. Bags of frozen vegetables are inexpensive and make sufficient ice bags; more expensive icing devices exist, but are not necessary. As a general rule, heat is not used in the first phase of treatment.

* Compression — An elastic wrap or tubular stockinette can be applied for compression during waking hours. The six-inch elastic wrap should be applied starting from the mid-calf to approximately 10 cm above the superior pole of the patella. The wrap should be removed for icing and reapplied afterward.

* Elevation — The leg should be elevated as often as possible throughout the day. Ideally, the degree of elevation should be to a level above the heart. However, in practical terms, any elevation is better than none. The patient is advised to prop the leg on an adjacent chair at work or school during the day, and to elevate it higher at home. Elevating the foot of the bed promotes venous return and may reduce swelling during sleep. Albert C Hergenroeder, MD et al. Treatment of knee injuries in the young athlete. September 15, 2006. Accessed from UpToDate May 24, 2009.