Parklife Posted May 9, 2017 Share Posted May 9, 2017 Anyone ever torn their MCL? Pretty sure i've done exactly that, about 5 weeks ago playing football. At first it didn't feel too bad. Could walk etc without discomfort but i've re-injured it a couple of times (not through sport but rather daft ways like attempting to push things with my foot, etc) and it feels like it's getting worse, rather than better. I'm going to go to the Dr but have the fear that if i require surgery to fix it, it's going to be a horrific wait. When in the mean time i can do zero cardiovascular exercise (which i'm absolutely hating after just 5 weeks). Anyone had any experience of this type of injury and/or similar treatment on the NHS? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddardStark Posted May 10, 2017 Share Posted May 10, 2017 (edited) Twice for me which meant I had to give up fives in my mid thirties. I couldn't walk properly for months. The first time was agonising and required surgery. You simply can't turn on it so it restricts you. Also sounds like you could do a lot more damage unless it is looked at. I got my surgery on the NHS. Anything that hinders activity or healthy lifestyle( especially in older chaps like me) is usually seen as justification for a referral. Edited May 10, 2017 by EddardStark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parklife Posted May 10, 2017 Author Share Posted May 10, 2017 29 minutes ago, EddardStark said: Twice for me which meant I had to give up fives in my mid thirties. I couldn't walk properly for months. The first time was agonising and required surgery. You simply can't turn on it so it restricts you. Also sounds like you could do a lot more damage unless it is looked at. I got my surgery on the NHS. Anything that hinders activity or healthy lifestyle( especially in older chaps like me) is usually seen as justification for a referral. Thanks Eddard. How long were you waiting to get surgery? Did you initially make an appointment with your GP? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddardStark Posted May 10, 2017 Share Posted May 10, 2017 11 minutes ago, Parklife said: Thanks Eddard. How long were you waiting to get surgery? Did you initially make an appointment with your GP? If my memory serves me right from my initinal appointment with the GP to operation it took about three months. Best to get the referral from the GP. At which point express to him how it is impacting on you lifestyle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parklife Posted May 10, 2017 Author Share Posted May 10, 2017 14 minutes ago, EddardStark said: If my memory serves me right from my initinal appointment with the GP to operation it took about three months. Best to get the referral from the GP. At which point express to him how it is impacting on you lifestyle. Yeah. It's heavily impacting on my lifestyle. I've went from doing cardio exercise 4-5 times a week to being completely unable to even go for a long walk. It's really getting me down and just want it fixed. I've got a Dr's appointment tomorrow. I'm going to try and get a physio appointment this evening too, in an attempt to speed up the healing process, should i not require surgery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donaldo87 Posted May 10, 2017 Share Posted May 10, 2017 Sorry to hear that mate. I did my ACL in October. I'd recommend going to a physio. They wont know for sure but they'll be able to do some tests which should indicate things and is a step up from the knowledge of some GPs. Then if you do go see your GP with a note from a physio its more likely you'll get referred to a specialist instead of the old "probably a strain" that I faced. I tried putting it off a bit as I hoped it was just a tear somewhere else etc as similar to you I felt ok after the initial injury but after a few weeks it just wasn't improving at all so bit the bullet. My experience of the NHS was..."oh it sounds like you've strained it"...two weeks later "yeah I think its just a strain but I can see you are not happy with that diagnosis so I will refer you for an MRI" Basically just get the ball moving as soon as possible. Its not ideal but not much you can do if it is worst case but atleast it gets things moving and you'll get your appointments eventually. Like you ive also been climbing the walls due to not being able to get decent cardio in. Get a float for between your legs and start swimming. Thats the only goodside of this is that i'm now actually becoming a competent swimmer. Cant advise you on going all the way on NHS as I was able to go private through work but yeah i'd just get going with it ASAP fella. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parklife Posted May 10, 2017 Author Share Posted May 10, 2017 31 minutes ago, Donaldo87 said: Sorry to hear that mate. I did my ACL in October. I'd recommend going to a physio. They wont know for sure but they'll be able to do some tests which should indicate things and is a step up from the knowledge of some GPs. Then if you do go see your GP with a note from a physio its more likely you'll get referred to a specialist instead of the old "probably a strain" that I faced. I tried putting it off a bit as I hoped it was just a tear somewhere else etc as similar to you I felt ok after the initial injury but after a few weeks it just wasn't improving at all so bit the bullet. My experience of the NHS was..."oh it sounds like you've strained it"...two weeks later "yeah I think its just a strain but I can see you are not happy with that diagnosis so I will refer you for an MRI" Basically just get the ball moving as soon as possible. Its not ideal but not much you can do if it is worst case but atleast it gets things moving and you'll get your appointments eventually. Like you ive also been climbing the walls due to not being able to get decent cardio in. Get a float for between your legs and start swimming. Thats the only goodside of this is that i'm now actually becoming a competent swimmer. Cant advise you on going all the way on NHS as I was able to go private through work but yeah i'd just get going with it ASAP fella. Thanks for that. Although you've really got me concerned it's something worse than i thought I've got the physio this afternoon and the Dr tomorrow. So hopefully have made the first step towards recovery. I'll ask the physio to put something in writing for me that i can present to the Dr tomorrow too. My experience with going to the Dr with sports related injuries is 100% negative, hence why i've put it off this long. Hopefully it's nothing more serious than a tear to the MCL which will heal itself, with the right treatment. I'll also definitely get swimming with a float, as suggested. I've been trying to do up tempo resistance training to get my heart pumping but it's inadequate compared to proper cardio. Best of luck with your recovery Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donaldo87 Posted May 10, 2017 Share Posted May 10, 2017 12 minutes ago, Parklife said: Thanks for that. Although you've really got me concerned it's something worse than i thought Yeah sorry about that. Was just trying to convey that its better to get it seen to then just hoping it'll improve. But seeing as you are doing that today / tomorrow you are on the way. Cheers fella and same to you whatever it turns out to be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haggis_trap Posted May 10, 2017 Share Posted May 10, 2017 Good and see your doctor and get him to refer you to an NHS physio. Sounds like you may just have torn rather than ruptured it. In which case physio and gym work is key to recovery. However best get professional opinion. Likely the reason it is getting worse is because your muscles (which hold knee together) have not been getting used for 5 weeks. Cycling is good for recovery - but only once knee is stable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddardStark Posted May 11, 2017 Share Posted May 11, 2017 Just dropped my wife off at the physio. She was referred a month ago for possible RSI by her GP so things can work quickly on the NHS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parklife Posted May 11, 2017 Author Share Posted May 11, 2017 13 hours ago, Haggis_trap said: Good and see your doctor and get him to refer you to an NHS physio. Sounds like you may just have torn rather than ruptured it. In which case physio and gym work is key to recovery. However best get professional opinion. Likely the reason it is getting worse is because your muscles (which hold knee together) have not been getting used for 5 weeks. Cycling is good for recovery - but only once knee is stable. Went to see the physio last night and she's reassured me no end. Confirmed that it's only my medial ligament (no ACL injury - phew) and given me some help on what to do to help the recovery. Was also reassured by her attitude to the activity levels i could have. She encouraged me to start walking more and even do some light jogging. I also intend on going a swim on saturday morning (bought a leg float in case i need it). She encouraged me to start squats again at the gym too. My quads were noticeably weak when squatting under her direction yesterday. Understandable after 5-6 weeks of zero exercise, i guess. Thanks for your input guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donaldo87 Posted May 11, 2017 Share Posted May 11, 2017 Good to hear Amazing how quickly the quads can go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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