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February, 2023

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Tore my MCL - support and advice would be appreciated

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crayolaguy
Posts: 11 - Karma: -4
I tore my MCL skiing on Saturday, wasn't even on a sick trick or anything, just got bucked off a carved-out shoulder hit. Probably out for the season, and it's a bummer because it was the first season I was really pushing myself to improve my park skiing. Really sucks, but it is part of the sport, and I will come back more determined.

It is likely a grade 2 tear on my right MCL, but I won't be seeing a doctor for them to charge me an arm and a leg to tell me what I already know and that I should rest for 4-6 weeks with physical therapy when I can...

Does anyone have a similar experience?
Feb 15 2022 4:43PM
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ajbski
Posts: 1075 - Karma: 4,026
Sorry to hear. I wish you speedy recovery.

I don’t think it’s a great idea to skip the doctor. There could be damage there that doesn’t seem obvious while the knee is a swollen state.

the only real way of finding out how bad it is, is to get the right radiology performed.

On the positive side, if nothing other than the MCL is damaged you should regain mobility by 2 or 3 weeks. And screwing up your knee is almost inevitable as a die hard skier, so that’s kind of cool. Welcome to the club pal!
Feb 15 2022 5:23PM
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crayolaguy
Posts: 11 - Karma: -4
ajbskiSorry to hear. I wish you speedy recovery.

I don’t think it’s a great idea to skip the doctor. There could be damage there that doesn’t seem obvious while the knee is a swollen state.

the only real way of finding out how bad it is, is to get the right radiology performed.

On the positive side, if nothing other than the MCL is damaged you should regain mobility by 2 or 3 weeks. And screwing up your knee is almost inevitable as a die hard skier, so that’s kind of cool. Welcome to the club pal!


Well phrased haha and thank you. I will re-assess my no-doc decision next Monday, for now, I will be nice and chill on it and rant about how there's no snow on the mountain and I don't even care ;)

Actually, though, I'm in Oregon and have been skiing Hood and Bachelor this year, and boy is it warm and dry. Both mountains got snow Sunday night, after receiving 4" in like 4 weeks. Very sad, but makes me feel less bad about an early ending season injury lol
Feb 15 2022 5:39PM
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Camerontaylor158
Posts: 69 - Karma: 164
Sorry to hear dude, that really sucks. I actually tore mine three weeks ago while bouldering. I've been told I can probably start doing gentle sport again in a knee brace this week. This may not go for you and definitely listen to the experts but hopefully that provides a little hope for you to getting back to doing stuff soon. Best of luck man!
Feb 15 2022 5:42PM
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crayolaguy
Posts: 11 - Karma: -4
Camerontaylor158Sorry to hear dude, that really sucks. I actually tore mine three weeks ago while bouldering. I've been told I can probably start doing gentle sport again in a knee brace this week. This may not go for you and definitely listen to the experts but hopefully that provides a little hope for you to getting back to doing stuff soon. Best of luck man!


Thank you for that, was it a full tear or partial?
Feb 15 2022 5:48PM
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PimpChimpin
Posts: 1252 - Karma: 12,070
Best thing is to see a doctor!!! If it heals incorrectly you’re gonna spend more money later when it doesn’t heal properly. Heal up quick brother!
Feb 15 2022 7:13PM
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ashamedkrew
Posts: 1194 - Karma: 424
I tore mine in 2013, let it heal without any intervention, and it started a cascade of injuries on the same knee that is still ongoing today. I hope you have better luck than me and I would recommend finding an orthopedic doc you like and trust sooner than later. If you commit to relying on that doc for treating and keeping that knee healthy for years to come I doubt you’d regret it!
Feb 15 2022 7:44PM
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smellyfartsmelly
Posts: 19 - Karma: 83
I also had a grade 2 tear on my MCL years back. Was back on skis within 8 weeks, but I didn’t follow through on PT exercises. To this day, turns on that leg are weaker and I get some pain and numbness. Take your time, the mountains will be there when you’re done.

and I totally feel you. It sucks. But you will get through it, and you will be back on skis again.

**This post was edited on Feb 15th 2022 at 10:14:11pm
Feb 15 2022 10:10PM
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Icant_kfed
Posts: 960 - Karma: 8,607
Not me but a buddy hockey stopped, caught an edge and sent his acl to the moon
Feb 15 2022 10:13PM
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Yukon_Cornelius
Posts: 104 - Karma: 1,095
You will be good bro. Keep the stoke alive, workout, eat well, take creatine, get buff, do all your pt. The more physically active you remain (on whatever capacity you can), the faster your metabolism will be and the faster you’ll heal. You’ll be back on skis faster if you don’t rush it, even if it doesn’t feel like it.
Feb 15 2022 10:54PM
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Hodor
Posts: 503 - Karma: 2,578
I tore my MCL a few years ago. Definitely do all the PT when you can! I didn't do enough PT and paid the price as it took around 6 months to get about 90%. I am totally fine now and don't notice any issues luckily.

For now, find a good video game, enjoy the down time, and try to just enjoy being lazy. But once you can do PT, just do it and keep doing it. Also, I gained 15 lbs I never lost after that injury so watch what you eat while you aren't exercising as often!

I have a broken rib and torn rotator cuff at the moment so I feel your pain. All from catching an edge on the flats going to the lift.... It sucks, but I've just tried to soak in being lazy, and just focus on being comfortable. I also hadn't done weed in years but small amounts of edibles have helped immensely for me to chill out. Anyways, I wish you a fast recovery!
Feb 15 2022 11:52PM
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GreezyBastard
Posts: 489 - Karma: 1,874
I tore my ACL racing moto back in august. My surgery was scheduled for December 14th, and the doctor decided to cancel on me a week before and told me to wait till after the holidays. (I still haven’t heard back) Anyway I’m still fucking skiing. I live on east coast, had a trip booked to Colorado. Absolutely destroyed my knee again skiing a week before the trip on ice. Rode my moms peloton bike and forced my leg to at least be able to move. Went to Colorado wore my brace and skied all three days. So op you need 3 things
1. knee brace
2. Advil
3. liquor

**This post was edited on Feb 16th 2022 at 12:30:02am
Feb 16 2022 12:27AM
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lil.Boye
Posts: 2366 - Karma: 10,664
suck to hear dude. knee injuries are scary as hell since they are so crucial. had a minor tear in my mcl this past weekend (no swelling and minor pain) and hope to be back in 2 weeks. the pain and weakness is almost gone in under a week, and I'm staring to work out to get the stronger. in the moment i was scared to shits about my season ending early
Feb 16 2022 7:12AM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24305 - Karma: 26,603
Mediocre cuntass ligament...
Feb 16 2022 7:23AM
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GrandThings
Posts: 2687 - Karma: 25,372
Vibes bru, hope you start feeling better soon.
Feb 16 2022 9:14AM
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Camerontaylor158
Posts: 69 - Karma: 164
Partial, grade 2 most likely.
crayolaguyThank you for that, was it a full tear or partial?
Feb 17 2022 3:18AM
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oldmanski
Posts: 2601 - Karma: 16,470
Best of luck and vibes for a speedy recovery. Many of us here have been through injuries similar to this. Go to the right doctor(sports medicine) and get it checked out. Get the MRI to see exactly what is wrong and damaged, your body will thank you when you are older like others have said(and so do I). Listen to the doc, listen to the PT, sounds like you are in a good headspace as you want to come back stronger, do it! Shit post on NS, read some books, learn to play an instrument, keep yourself busy physically and mentally. You will be back on the slopes soon enough. Keep your head up!
Feb 17 2022 8:26AM
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ADtheHoodlum
Posts: 68 - Karma: 714
Camerontaylor158Partial, grade 2 most likely.


I had the same thing but my surgeon gave me the option of fully repairing it (6 month recovery) or just shaving off the tear (8 week recovery) with the risk of obviously tearing it again. It's been a couple years now and as far as I know it hasn't fully torn. I'd definitely consult a surgeon and see what he says though.
Feb 17 2022 9:29AM
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GreezyBastard
Posts: 489 - Karma: 1,874
Or you could continue to thrash it like I’ve been doing for the past 5 months. Completely your choice though
Feb 17 2022 9:32AM
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memecork
Posts: 92 - Karma: 1,767
Fully tore my MCL some years ago, definitely be sure to take advil or whatever pain meds you see fit as it’s a bitch of an experience. Get crutches if you can and wrap towels around the tops to help the comfort. Also a big thing is be sure to massage/ rub the outside of your MCL for at least 10-15 minutes a day, this promotes building scar tissue and recovery time. Any sort of quad exercise/s will also help rebuild strength. Other than that I would definitely go see a doctor and get an MRI, because there could be more extensive damage, the ACL is especially sneaky and you could of definitely injured it unknowingly. Luckily the MCL rarely requires surgical intervention on its own. Hell I even partially tore my ACL in the same injury and it somehow scarred back, after two - three months of low mobility/ going to PT, I was back skiing with no pain and surgery.

**This post was edited on Feb 18th 2022 at 9:44:17pm
Feb 18 2022 9:41PM
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ZachNix
Posts: 1 - Karma: 19
ajbskiSorry to hear. I wish you speedy recovery.

I don’t think it’s a great idea to skip the doctor. There could be damage there that doesn’t seem obvious while the knee is a swollen state.

the only real way of finding out how bad it is, is to get the right radiology performed.

On the positive side, if nothing other than the MCL is damaged you should regain mobility by 2 or 3 weeks. And screwing up your knee is almost inevitable as a die hard skier, so that’s kind of cool. Welcome to the club pal!

Emphasis on the right radiology. I messed up my knee about a month ago and went to a walk-in clinic, got an MRI the next day and they said it was just an MCL sprain. I knew that was wrong by the way it felt (zero stability at all with an unsettling lack of pain) so went to a specialist who diagnosed it as probably a partial or full ACL/MCL tear. Got surgery last week and yup, ACL was hanging on by a thread and my MCL was, in my doctors words, "shredded". Not sure how the first doctor missed all of that but they did.

If you can go straight to a specialist I'd recommend it. If it needs more than rest you'll probably wind up there anyways.

Best of luck!
Mar 18 2022 8:01PM
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Chunderface
Posts: 2357 - Karma: 9,007
ZachNixEmphasis on the right radiology. I messed up my knee about a month ago and went to a walk-in clinic, got an MRI the next day and they said it was just an MCL sprain. I knew that was wrong by the way it felt (zero stability at all with an unsettling lack of pain) so went to a specialist who diagnosed it as probably a partial or full ACL/MCL tear. Got surgery last week and yup, ACL was hanging on by a thread and my MCL was, in my doctors words, "shredded". Not sure how the first doctor missed all of that but they did.

If you can go straight to a specialist I'd recommend it. If it needs more than rest you'll probably wind up there anyways.

Best of luck!


Jesus. It's astounding how negligent some doctors are. I had chronic shoulder pain, got an MRI, and the doc said I had fucking arthritis in my shoulder and gave me a cortisone shot. Went back to wrestling right away and it was actually way worse after the shot. Went to a different doctor who read the same damn MRI report and said the report stated I had a torn labrum. The first doctor literally never mentioned it or treated me for the tear, and misdiagnosed it as arthritis ffs.
Dec 28 2022 6:21PM
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