Medial collateral ligament injury

http://www.wellsphere.com/general-medicine-article/question-from-a-reader-mcl-tear-and-what-to-do/63062

 Above link gives some good, commonsense advice. It has helped me understand more about my MCL injury.  Best advice I have read to date.

Sorry link does not appear to work. Try this and click the first post by Doug K

Still can't run! Nearly six weeks now. Grrrr.

I have been cross training, doing strength exercises and stretching every day. I've also got a biomechanical screening in a couple of days.

I'm feeling better and nearly pain free now. Not going to run untill my screening. Bit concerned about weight gain tho I must have put on about 7lbs.

154 days untill NDW100 and if I can get through this soon I still reckon I can make the race.

 Fingers crossed.

I saw your name pop up on here and I assumed that meant you weren't in Wye this weekend, sorry to hear that mate but at least you're nearly there. I've had an enforced three weeks off from all exercise, can start cross training this weekend but still no running for another five weeks, having an assessment next week to see if I can get an MRI so hopefully I'll know for sure what's going on soon.

Thats not good fella. Still no clue what's going on then?

That's a long lay off from running.

In hindsight if I had not run at all for three weeks after the first sign of injury I would be back at it now. I will never run on an injury again.

Latest physio seems to think it's basically ITBS but there's very little showing up on an ultrasound hence the continuing search, hopefully this assessment  next week means I'll get an MRI and then I'll know for sure. The thing that's really scaring me is that even if it is ITBS even though it's a common injury there's no guarantee it's cureable, it could be that this break clears it up or it could be I'll be still here in a years time whining about more cancelled races.

  Ditto with the running on injurys comments, I'll also never just pay lip service to a stretching routine

Basically 5 weeks now since MCL sprain. Been doing cross training, exercise bike, stretches Blah Blah Blah.

No pain when doing normal stuff, walking, squats etc, but slight pain when I try to look for pain, if that makes sense!!.

Anyway, went out today for a gentle jog to see (2.5 miles). No problems as such, very slight background dull pain, nothing much really. Perhaps I was super sensitive to anything around knee. No after effects at all. Really good to get out (running fitness has all but gone however)

I plan to take it really easy and steady, cross train mostly and introduce running slowly.

I think the main lesson for me is knowing when pain is a injury and treat it accordingly. 

Good luck guys 

Hedge

I know where you are coming from with the pain thing. Pain is there but doesn't affect anything I do except run. There lies my problem I am becoming scared to introduce running untill pain has gone but will pain go at all. Ever? 

Hopefully my screening will give me a plan to stick to so I can get back ASAP.

Dill

I have the same issue. I suspect if I had run any further today I would have been thinking 'Is my knee going to hold up'  - Not much fun............

 The way I see it is the ligament  must surely repair itself some-time, and pain is not necessarily bad in the healing process. But yes I emphasize totally and the pain aspect is, well a pain......

My physio did say that once healed the MCL is a strong as before and the likelehood of re-accurance is the same as any other runner. 

Patience is key I think.

Hi All

Had Biomechanical screening on Tuesday and all is well. 2 1/2 hour assesment and nothing too badly out of balance. Got a list of exercises to do. V time consuming but I'm managing them every day.

 More importantly he reckons I'm right at the back end of my injury and can start coming back. It's going to take about 5 weeks to be back up to full mileage.

I've managed three runs this week with a 6 miler today and no major issues so fingers crossed at the moment.

He also told me to forget about London next month but I had my registration letter through this week and it got me all excited so I won't defer untill the last few days or possibly run it anyway.

 Lost alot of fitness and the extra few pounds don't help but I'm on the road back.

Dill 

Good to see you are back 'out there'

Did you feel the MCL at all during your 6 miler?

I went out today for my 2nd run back, 3miles, no problems. Can slightly feel MCL but no pain as such, no after effects, so will continue to ease back into it.   Funny how quick running fitness can go all the same. 

Big decision for you Re: London, Dill.  Take it easy, don't push to hard to soon...............

 Good luck

Dill where'd you go for the biomechanical assessment? I've been to Profeet in the past but that was more geared towards getting the right shoe fit, what exactly did they go through with you? How much was it if youdon't mind me asking? Worth it?

 I've had what I think is some good advice from my Osteo regarding muscle imbalances but I've also had some conflicting advice from physios, I'd like to get a definitive stretches/exercises

Hedge

Yes I was aware of my injury during my run but no pain. I felt the pain today which has become the norm with this injury ( Always the day after my run). Seems to be a different sort of pain tho more of a soreness rather than a sharp specific pain. I going to speak to physio tommorow to make sure this is normal. Didn't stop me walking 5 mile this morning plus 1 1/2 hours cross training this afternoon.

 Are you feeling any pain at all?

As for London I will leave it to the last minute but I will have no problem defering if I have to. I've always wanted to run it but it doesn't really fit into my plans so it can wait till next year.

Lirish

I used MDP-physio of Maidstone and I found it to be very thorough. Firstly we went out and he watched me run in various directions and checked my shoes out for wear. Then we went in and had a disscusion about my problems and the injury. He then had me doing a series off balance and stability tests. He then laid me down and twisted and turned me in every conceivable position to check mobility and see if I had any pains. When we had got through that lot he examined my injury. To finish we discussed his findings, went through the exercises he wanted me to do, talked about the causes of the injury and finally he strapped me up with kinesio tape. All for £80.

I found the whole experience worthwhile and will be going back in 8 weeks to see how things are progressing.

Dill

No pain as in sore. Just a little niggle from MCL as a reminder every now and again. I sort of look at it now in the sense that I can do everything as normal, but it ain't just right and not fully healed.

My physio said, look at the MCL healing process as lots of pieces of thread binding together and getting stronger and stronger as the days go by (however she didn't say how many blinking days!! , I would have happily paid her an extra 20 quid for that little snippet of information ) .

My short run today gave me a bit more confidence I have to say. Planning 1hr on bike later on.

Keep us updated Dill, I think our MCL injurys are running pretty much same timescales.

Hedge and Lirish how are you both?

Just been sitting here looking at the VLM withdrawal page for a couple of minutes. I'm sure it's the right thing to pull out but still can't bring myself to do it. Even if my injury allowed it I know I haven't got the fitness to do it justice.

Injury is nearly there reckon I'm about 80/90%. I've run 5 times in the last week nothing more than about 4 mile tho. Did try 6 mile just over a week ago but that didn't go well. I was really sore the next day. Spoke to physio about it and he told me NOT to push milage up too quickly. Point taken. Been doing all the exercises not much fun but sticking to it. Soo time consuming. I think there may be abit of bursitis going on but that is only my unqualified opinion.

Anyway 136 days untill NDW100 and I'm sure I can make it. Bit concerned about fitness tho feel like a newbie again.

Hi Dill - Good to hear you appear to be on the mend.

I have eased myself slowly back into my running over the past two weeks. 4 runs so far and touch wood all seems to be ok.

I am still aware of MCL, but it seems stronger, more solid and no ill effects from running. I went out last night for a nice flat 8 miles @ 9.15mm pace. Lovely evening for it and felt pretty good. No plans to crank up mileage for a while, nice and steady as she goes (famous last words!!)

Have you decided about VLM yet?

Hope things are going well Lirish?

Lirish - It's a bummer I know. The 6 weeks I was out, runners seemed to be everywere!! - I'm convinced they all timed it to be out on the road as soon as I set foot outside my door. I found myself trying to judge their pace, stare at their trainers etc etc, nuts I know......................

My biggest fear starting back was the not knowing if knee would hold out. What I would say is trust your instinct and don't rush things.  You will know when it is ok to run on it. 

Good luck guys

That is so funny! I thought it was just me who looked at all other runners with a sinking feeling in my stomach. My wife chuckles as I mutter under my breath at every one passing by.

I know I will pull out of VLM but it is so hard after trying for so long to get in. To be honest a big city road mara is not even my thing anymore. The draw of the trails is so strong. Haven't done any full on trails for weeks. So scared of over stretching my leg. I'm just happy to be running again.

I'm going to work out a plan at the weekend to take me all the way to my big race. I want this so bad.

Lirish you must have a really strong mind not to run at all for six weeks. You must be climbing the walls!!

Glad to hear your still going well hedge any races on the horizon?

Not sure about the strong mind part, I think I just eventually came to the conclusion that if it wasn't getting any better with what I was doing I need to try something else. Theconcern now as I'm heading into my final rest week is that nothing will have changed and I'll be back to square one but that's something I'll have to deal with if it happens.

 I know how you feel about the VLM Dill, that's how I felt about the Wye 50 but you know it's for the best, withdraw now and move on in your mind to the NDW and work up to that.

 Hedge you got anything you're working up to?