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How to Recover From an MCL Sprain

Imagine playing your favorite sport. You speed up and dodge one way, then quickly dart back the other while falling to one knee. You feel a pop on the inside of your leg, next to your knee. The next morning, you wake up and can't walk on that leg. It could be an MCL sprain. Rehab for this type of an injury is time consuming, and it's important you don't do any activities to aggravate the knee during the healing process. This 'How to' should not in any way replace going to the doctor or seeking any kind of medical attention.

Things You'll Need

  • A doctor
  • A physical therapist
  • Exercise bands
  • Ankle weights
  • Knee brace (optional)
  • Crutches (optional)
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Instructions

  1. How to Recover From an MCL Sprain

    • 1

      Visit your doctor. You can go to a general physician or to an orthopedic specialist for this. The doctor will x-ray the knee to make sure nothing is broken, and possibly perform an MRI of your knee to check to see if there is any severe damage to the meniscus or other cartilage within the knee, which would require surgery to repair.

    • 2

      Follow your doctor's orders. The doctor will probably write you a prescription for some anti-inflammatory medication and a prescription for physical therapy

    • 3

      Take the anti-inflammatory as prescribed by the doctor. This will help keep your pain and swelling to a minimum and allow your knee to heal much faster.

    • 4

      Follow the RICE plan for MCL sprains. Rest your knee. Ice the knee joint. Compress the injured area. Elevate the injured leg. All these in tandem with the anti-inflammatory medication will help to heal your damaged MCL. If your doctor does not recommend physical therapy, this is the last step. If the doctor does recommend physical therapy, go on to Step 5.

    • 5

      Do exactly what the physical therapist prescribes. You will need to do the prescribed exercises at least once or twice per day, regardless of whether or not you have a physical therapy appointment that day. The more you follow the directions of the physical therapist, the more likely you are to have your injury heal more quickly.

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