Your knees play such as an integral part in your life that an ACL tear, PCL tear, or MCL tear can sideline you for a long time. See your Manhattan sports medicine doctor for ACL tear treatment, PCL tear treatment, and treatment for MCL tear as soon as possible to prevent complications. Meet our doctor Febin Melepura M.D. to get the knee pain relief you need in the safe, reassuring hands of the best sports pain management specialists in NYC.
Your knee has four ligaments, tough fibrous bands of tissue used to stabilize this vital joint. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the most commonly injured ligament, connects the thigh bone to the shin bone and is often injured during sports such as skiing, running, basketball, and football. The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) also links the thigh bone to the shin bone but is not as often injured, except for sudden impact injuries such as in a car accident or a hard tackle.
The lateral collateral ligament (LCL) connects the thigh bone to the fibula, the smaller bone on the outer side of the knee. Sports injuries, recreational activity or direct blows to the knee compromise this ligament, though rarely. And last, the medial collateral ligament (MCL) connects the thigh bone and the shin bone on the inside of the knee. MCL tears typically occur in contact sports such as football and hockey, again from a direct blow to the knee.
Your Midtown Manhattan sports medicine doctor is aware of the potential that these knee injuries have on your sports career and lifestyle. While he can provide effective treatment, it’s vital that you seek ACL tear treatment or treatment for PCL tear or MCL tear treatment as soon as possible to prevent further complications.
Because many of these injuries are acute, the knee pain associated with a knee ligament tear can be severe and sudden. There’s often a loud pop or snap at the time of the injury, indicating the ligament tear. Swelling occurs within 24 hours, and you may notice looseness in the joint.
As the severity of the injury increases, you’re less likely to be able to put weight on the knee without pain. Understanding which ligament is compromised gives your doctor the best clues for proper treatment for MCL tear, ACL tear treatment or PCL tear treatment. A diagnosis of a PCL tear, ACL tear or MCL tear by your NYC sports medicine doctor requires:
Most knee injuries, including those that need treatment for ACL tears, resolve with the proper home and office therapies. Your pain specialist most likely recommends some combination of:
Dr. Melepura is an excellent sports injury and pain management doctor. He was able to diagnose and stop the pain in my knee. His office staff is great at communicating and the doctor himself was always available to discuss any concerns or questions that I had. I will return to his office with any future pain management needs I may encounter and recommend him to my family/ friends.
Katherine PWhile most LCL or MCL tears don’t require surgery, many ACL tears and PCL tears that are completely torn or stretched beyond the limits do. If you’re young, athletic and looking to return to an active sport or recreational activity, surgery may be your only option. It presents a complicated and lengthy recovery, however, so many older or less active adults choose to incorporate a custom-made brace into their active or daily routine rather than undergo the rigors of surgery.
Recovering from treatment for MCL tear that requires surgery can take anywhere from eight weeks for most individuals to three or five months for athletes. You should only return to your previous level of physical activity when:
As hard as it may seem, patience is key to avoiding permanent injury or chronic problems. Check with your doctor if you experience fever, redness, swelling, increased pain around the incision site or bleeding or other drainage from the incision site.
Keeping your muscles strong warming up properly, maintaining flexibility and making changes to your workout slowly help you prevent injury or further compromises to your knee ligaments. Your sports medicine and pain management doctor customizes MCL tear treatment or other ligament treatment plans to get you back on your feet pain free.
Do you have any questions about the knee ligament tears treatment we offer in NYC? Would you like to schedule an appointment with the best-rated pain management doctor Febin Melepura MD of New York sports injury and pain management clinic? Please contact our office for a consultation with the pain relief specialist in Midtown Manhattan.
Febin Melepura, MD is a top rated, best in class interventional pain management doctor. He is a nationally recognized pain relief specialist and is among the top pain care doctors in New York City and the country. He is an award winning expert and contributor to a prominent media outlets.
Dr. Febin Melepura has been recognized for his thoughtful, thorough, modern approach to treating chronic pain and, among other accolades, has been named a “top pain management doctor in New York”, and one of “America’s Top Doctors™” for an advanced sports injury treatments.