How long should a sprained MCL take to heal?
925842
I'm an ice hockey goaltender and have sprained my MCL pretty badly before. At its worst, it took several weeks to heal completely, probably about 6 weeks total. I'm sure the length varies depending on how badly you injured it, but can still ice the knee to keep the swelling down. \n\nThe real problem is that you still have to use it so much during the day. If you could just rest and rehab it, it might heal faster, but unless you're unemployed (which I don't think you are), you won't get to do that. Try icing it down for about 10 minutes at a time when you are resting in the evening. Don't overdo the stretching, either. In a few more weeks, you should be pain free.
319386
Well you should get clearance from a doctor before you start playing again.  Depending on how bad the sprain is it could be 4-12 weeks before it's 100% recovered, you may be able to play earlier with a brace and some painkillers.  Again check with a doctor (a sports specialist if you can).
614442
Basic sprain proceedure: When you first get the sprain get off your feet. Elevate the sprained area, in this case your ankle, then use ice for two hours wrapped in a towel. After two hours switch with a warm pack. Do this several times and it will signifigantly take down the swelling and pain. Next take an anti-inflamatory. These are over the counter pain meds that say anti-inflamatory in their lable. IBprofin falls in this category. You can also take this before the ice and heat if the pain is bad but it can be useful to monitor your pain in the beginning to guage how extensively you are injured. Next get an ace bandage for support and wrap it snugly around the area being careful to not cut off circulation. They are the elestic bandages that stretch well. After this treatment relax and try to avoid putting weight on the area for a few days. After 2-3 days start easing back into normal activity slowly. If you wait more than that you will begin to get stiff. Do not wear the ace bandage longer than 3 weeks with a sprain, at that point it will actually weaken your ankle because the muscle doesn't have to support the bone like it used to. If after all this you still have alot of pain there is a possibility it's actually a fracture and not just a sprain. At that point go see and orthopedic specialist.
978008
If you have not had it x-rayed it may be a broken bone. You can walk on broken ankles and you never even know until it's x-rayed. For soft tissue injuries expect at the least 6 weeks to heal. Where do you hear the clicking sound? If it's from your knee it may be the meniscus the cartilage under the knee cap that is torn. I would suggest being seen.
1004977
About 4 hours.\n\nYou're dribbling a bit there, you might want to get a tissue.
172738
sprained wrists take anywhere between 3 months to a full year to fully recover. If you want to help speed up the recovery, i would advise a good multi vitamin every day so that your body has all the building blocs to repair the problem. Also apply cold compress for 30 min and alternate with a hot pad. do this once a day. i hope you get better quickly, i know its not fun to have a sprained wrist!
622330
I think he'll start seeing it in 2-3 days. How much time will the full process take? Depends on the extent of injury.\n\n1 week to 1 month.
641961
I'd say 3 hrs. in the O.R.   Two days as an in-patient.\nYou'll be on a continuous-motion machine to gently move the knee, slowly and painlessly immed after the replacement and for some time at home as well. Lots of cold to control the bleeding and swelling. No full weight bearing for weeks and weeks( depending on your Ortho-surgeons preference. This means Crutches or a non-weight bearing walker. Touching your foot to the ground to gain balance ( touch balance ) only can be expected as well as a knee immobilizer when your up and attempting the crutch -thing ( to protect the knees' position) Physical Therapy is essential to build the musculoskeletal strength that will hold your knee intact. Full recovery if you've behaved yourself only...12 weeks.\nCHAS.
102103
Since there is ligamentous injury, recovery is usually 6-8 weeks depending on treatment modality and cessation of activity affecting joint.
479846
A sprained ankle happens when the ligaments have been damaged by the joint being twisted.\n\nWhen you twist your foot or ankle, it usually twists inwards damaging the ligaments on the outside of the ankle. Outward twists damaging the inside ligaments are rare.\n\nThe majority of cases are sports injuries but a sprained ankle can also happen in everyday life.\n     Injuries of this kind should receive first aid treatment following the RICE principle, which stands for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. Cooling the injury as fast as possible will reduce the swelling and pain.\n\n\nRest\n\nThe injured foot must be rested for the first 24 to 48 hours to prevent any further injury.\n\n\nIce\n\nThe damaged area must be cooled by using an icepack or a packet of frozen peas. The ice must never have direct contact with the skin or the patient could get frostbite. A cloth should be placed between the ice and the skin. Ice can be laid on the affected area for up to 20 minutes every hour, but for no longer than three hours in all. Ice treatment has been known to be effective for up to 24 hours after the injury occurred.\n\n\nCompression\n\nThe compression must be firm but not too tight. It must not be allowed to affect the blood circulation. An elasticated bandage from the toes to the middle of the lower leg would be ideal.\n\n\nElevation\n\nThe foot must be elevated above heart level. It is most comfortable to lie down and elevate the limb with a few pillows. If you are sitting down, the legs can be raised on a chair or a table. This elevation should be maintained for a few days.
482255
I fell down the stairs, and bruised my tailbone.  It took almost 2 months to heal.  All I could do was stand up and sit down.  Not much sense in going to the Dr.  He won't do anything except tell him to take tylenol or something.  I suggest naproxen.
960020
Everyone heals differently, so there is not a firm answer to this.  Also, what is your definition of "recover"?  You'll be out of the recovery room in a matter of minutes to hours.  There will be swelling and soreness for a week or so.  Full tissue strength after any surgery takes 12 weeks.\n\nCosts vary widely based on location, and by practitioner.  Call some plastic surgeons in your area and ask them.
282036
Ouch.  That is a serious injury.  Any time you injure a weight bearing bone, you will need a professional assessment and ongoing rehab with your Physical Therapist.  Rehab and recovery from this type of injury can take up to 6 months or longer.\n\nYou can probably look up treatment modalities for this injury on the internet (or take answers from those who do the same), but I would strongly suggest you stick with your Physical Therapist as a source of information, as your situation may be unique in relation to location of fractures, muscles affected and rehab protocols necessary for healing.
244512
If you sprained it and did not acutally break anything, it could take LONGER to heal than if you had a fracture. STAY off of it for at least two weeks if at all possible, and when you're sitting, keep it ABOVE YOUR HEART, not just up off the floor. This will help with the swelling and pain.\nAspirin, Ibuprofin, Motrin or Aleve are also good for swelling and inflamation, and you can take Tylenol in between doses to help more with pain. If it is a sprain, it could take MONTHS to heal right, or YEARS if you don't treat it right. Sorry. That's the best I can do sweety. Feel better soon!
942785
A good rule is to use ice on the injury for 20 min, then off for 20 min, then ice again for 20 minutes in the first 24 hrs.  NO HEAT until you ready to start exercising again, it can cause the injury to swell/ hurt/ deteriorate if you start to soon though.
195174
ice 20 mins if its swollen, heat 20 mins for pain.  if your knee is giving out you should have an MRI to make sure nothing is torn.\n\nyes, you will get crutches if you go to the er. even if nothing is wrong. and a full leg brace with velcro straps.
784310
That soreness is referred to as DOMS or delayed onset muscle soreness.This is tearing of the muscle tissues,resulting in soreness.It is most certainly not lactic acid,that's soon cleared from the muscle tissue once circulation returns.As a general rule of thumb you should never exercise a muscle group that's still sore.This results in compounding this microtrauma thus taking even longer to recover.The only two things that will heal this trauma are rest and proper protein intake.\nIt would be advisable to rest until the soreness is gone.Stretching can further compound this microtrauma so that's best done after the work out than when you are sore.If you're only walking,you can continue doing that same exercise without risk of undoing what you've done,but absolutely no weight training or other anaerobic work.\nHot baths and ibuprofen(not Tylenol) will help with the inflammation.If it's ever really bad then ice for twenty minutes then heat for 20 and one hour off,repeat.\nHere's some proof here,the article clearly states it's not lactic acid,but microtrauma.\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delayed_onset_muscle_soreness\nEdit:Nice ad below,but it doesn't say anything about lactic acid,because lactic doesn't cause DOMS.