4. Diagnosing an MCL Injury
After the injury, you’ll need to have your knee checked out by a doctor to determine the extent of your injuries. In some cases, the doctor may require you to stay home for a week and rest the knee before visiting their offices.
This waiting period gives the knee some time to reduce the level of swelling in the leg. MRI machines have a hard time seeing through inflamed tissue, and by reducing the swelling before the scan, your doctor can make an accurate diagnosis. If you have minor damage, your doctor will recommend that you keep resting the knee until the swelling and pain subside.
However, if they suspect you have a severe injury like a tear, they may refer you to an orthopedic surgeon. The orthopedic surgeon examines your knee by testing the strength of the ligaments. If they discover a torn MCL, they may recommend surgery to repair the ligament.