LCL is short for lateral collateral ligament, which is an injury to the outer ligament of the knee. The injury can be as simple as a stretched ligament or a complete tear of the part. Both injuries are classified in levels. The partial tear comes in Grade I and II sprain, which are most common than the full rapture. It is an injury that occurs when your foot is planted on the ground due to an outward force to the inner side of the knee. This also happens due to getting sprained once the knee is used too much. There is the full tear in the LCL. It is an uncommon case and only occurs once a traumatic injury is obtained. It would be a type of traumatic injury that involves the knee joint capsule or several knee ligaments.
The Symptoms Of An LCL Injury
You will know that you are suffering from this if you started experiencing LCL injury symptoms. The symptoms are swelling of the knee and catching or locking of the knee when moving. Experiencing tenderness and pain in the outside part of the knee is also a symptom of this injury. Giving out of the knee when it is stressed or active in a particular way is one of the things you will experience as well.
The swelling symptom does not occur if the LCL is only injured. In all these symptoms, the one that will be felt most is the pain. That is because every movement made by the person involving the knee is painful. Hence, it will be hard to walk due to the pain. The length of the stride is also shorter since you will have to control your knee from fully extending to avoid experiencing intense pain.
In case the ligament has a tear, the other structures of the knee will get damaged too. They will feel leg instability on the affected area once the knee joint shifts. More pain is to be endured if there are other structures that are injured.
These are the possible LCL injury symptoms you might experience upon getting the injury. The injury may progress if it is not treated immediately. It is recommended to visit your doctor as soon as possible once the pain or other symptoms are felt. That way, your doctor can do something right away to help you with the injury. Once you are diagnosed with a LCL injury, your doctor will perform tests like Knee MRI and joint X-Rays to study and know more about the case.
You will also be treated by recommending applying of ice on the affected area and by giving you medications. In these cases, the best way to heal the injury is to limit your physical activity. This should be done until the swelling and pain is gone. Use walking supports as well like crutches while you are in the process of healing to avoid stressing and pressuring the affected part. Following these will let you get better faster and start enjoying the activities you missed.
