Footy injury (recovery) question...

[hardtack 10,433]

Not really a Dees question, but...

My 13 year old son had the misfortune of getting his foot caught in a hole on the field while laying a tackle and as a result twisted his left knee, tearing the medial collateral ligament.

The doctor in attendance at the hospital simply stated "a few weeks" but he does not specialise in the area so I am asking in the hope that someone here may have had experience with such an injury and be able to give me some indication of an expected recovery time (he has it in a zimmer splint so hopefully recovery won't be hindered by too much unnecessary movement).

I'm trying to give him some hope to hang on to as footy is the one thing he looks forward to each week and there are only a few (possibly 6) weeks left before finals start and his team (Newtown Swans) are sitting at the top of the ladder. So...draws a deep breath...what are his odds of getting back in time (and please don't butter it up)?

Edited July 14, 2015 by hardtack

[Gorgoroth 12,752]

I missed 6 weeks with mine (to play), but TBH it took about another 6 to feel full strength. I prob should have waited 2-3 more before playing.

[chook fowler 19,291]

Medial collateral ligament injuries are often associated with meniscal tears so if he hasn't had an MRI he probably should.

I would also get an opinion from a sports medicine physician to coordinate rehab.

Good luck to your son for a quick recovery.

[daisycutter 29,429]

Not really a Dees question, but...

My 13 year old son had the misfortune of getting his foot caught in a hole on the field while laying a tackle and as a result twisted his left knee, tearing the medial collateral ligament.

The doctor in attendance at the hospital simply stated "a few weeks" but he does not specialise in the area so I am asking in the hope that someone here may have had experience with such an injury and be able to give me some indication of an expected recovery time (he has it in a zimmer splint so hopefully recovery won't be hindered by too much unnecessary movement).

I'm trying to give him some hope to hang on to as footy is the one thing he looks forward to each week and there are only a few (possibly 6) weeks left before finals start and his team (Newtown Swans) are sitting at the top of the ladder. So...draws a deep breath...what are his odds of getting back in time (and please don't butter it up)?

hardtack, there was a legendary trainer down at south melbourne called mitchell

i would have advised you to seek him out, but he passed on a few years ago

i had a similar thing once. after 5 minutes with him i only missed a week

[Devil is in the Detail 883]

hardtack, there was a legendary trainer down at south melbourne called mitchell

i would have advised you to seek him out, but he passed on a few years ago

i had a similar thing once. after 5 minutes with him i only missed a week

You must not have done much damage.

I did my MCL chasing the dog around the backyard. Could not walk for three days. Ice and anti-inflammatory tablets for one full week. three weeks before I could do non-load bearing exercises, eg bike riding. Then one more week before straight line exercises, eg running. Then one more week before I could go back to sport. Even then when I had my knee bent for prolonged times the ligament would still be stiff and sore when i walked after the knee had been bent. 9 - 10 weeks down the track and I am now fully healed.

But first thing get an MRI to determine the damage then see physio or osteo for treatment.

[hardtack 10,433]

hardtack, there was a legendary trainer down at south melbourne called mitchell

i would have advised you to seek him out, but he passed on a few years ago

i had a similar thing once. after 5 minutes with him i only missed a week

Unless he had moved up here with the Swans, it would have been out of the question anyway DC ;-)

Thanks all for the responses so far... appreciated... even if it isn't looking good for him re playing again this year. Still, I will be taking him down to Melbourne for the GF weekend so we can go and watch it on a big screen somewhere (Fed Square?); that should ease the pain a little.

[Devil is in the Detail 883]

FYI MCL is a touch higher than a foot injury.

[Sideshow Bob 2,297]

Hi hardtack - get your son to a sports doctor or a sports physio. You are right in the ED doctors don't specialise in the area. Medial ligs need time to heal, preferably in a brace to allow the ligament to tighten up. 3-4 weeks should see a return to footy for a minor injury 6-8 for a moderate one and longer again for complete ruptures. They inevitably heal well, however if not adequately braced early will always be a bit loose. Need to get an accurate assessment to determine how long it needs support for and then whether he will need to some strengthening work to regain lost muscle bulk from the time out. If it is a pure MCL there is no need for an MRI, however if there is any other damage or queries of other damage(meniscus/ACL etc.) MRI will show it up to determine the next steps

[daisycutter 29,429]

You must not have done much damage.

I did my MCL chasing the dog around the backyard. Could not walk for three days. Ice and anti-inflammatory tablets for one full week. three weeks before I could do non-load bearing exercises, eg bike riding. Then one more week before straight line exercises, eg running. Then one more week before I could go back to sport. Even then when I had my knee bent for prolonged times the ligament would still be stiff and sore when i walked after the knee had been bent. 9 - 10 weeks down the track and I am now fully healed.

But first thing get an MRI to determine the damage then see physio or osteo for treatment.

you might be right diitd

at the time i was in quite a bit of pain and had a bad limp. when i limped into his room he just glanced at me and said "ligaments left knee"

he inspected my knee with his hands and said "three twisted ligaments. i've untwisted them. don't play this week, give nature time for it to settle"

i hadn't felt any pain whatsoever and was unaware he had manipulated any ligaments and i was very used to ham-fisted trainers in those days who knew how to hurt.

total time had been less than 2 minutes. i walked out with just the slightest limp.

the guy in front of me in the waiting room was down from the country and told me he came about every 1-2 years. had a chronic bad back problem that no-one else could help with except mitchell. he was there with his son who had to help every time he moved around the queue. he was obviously in a lot of pain. he too was in the room for only a few minutes. when he came out he had the biggest smile was unaided and upright.

there were lots of stories about bill mitchell's "magic" and people travelled from everywhere to see him

he treated from the trainers room at lakeside oval and the waiting room was the player's change rooms.

fee was a token fixed charge

http://midlifexpress.com/great-healers-born-healers/

[hardtack 10,433]

Thanks jako13... they gave him a zimmer splint which has braced the leg well (and a pair of crutches) and now we are just waiting for the swelling to subside. He is already finding his leg straightening almost completely where a couple of days ago that was not possible, so hopefully that is indicative of a relatively minor injury (but will probably still do the MRI just to be sure). As for muscle... he never had a lot to begin with, so it shouldn't take him too long to get back to where he was :-) I think loss of general fitness and endurance will be the main issue for him (plus the fact that it is his left knee which is on his kicking leg).

Edited July 15, 2015 by hardtack

[Webber 10,442]

Not really a Dees question, but...

My 13 year old son had the misfortune of getting his foot caught in a hole on the field while laying a tackle and as a result twisted his left knee, tearing the medial collateral ligament.

The doctor in attendance at the hospital simply stated "a few weeks" but he does not specialise in the area so I am asking in the hope that someone here may have had experience with such an injury and be able to give me some indication of an expected recovery time (he has it in a zimmer splint so hopefully recovery won't be hindered by too much unnecessary movement).

I'm trying to give him some hope to hang on to as footy is the one thing he looks forward to each week and there are only a few (possibly 6) weeks left before finals start and his team (Newtown Swans) are sitting at the top of the ladder. So...draws a deep breath...what are his odds of getting back in time (and please don't butter it up)?

See a sports Physio, and all your questions will be answered. Spoken as a sports Physio who gets frustrated when patients try and self manage from the Internet or through the suggestions of mates.

[monoccular 17,345]

Realistic nobody here can possibly give accurate advice - he needs to see someone who can look, feel and assess.

A sports medical person, or a physio with sports interest

[Ethan Tremblay 30,403]

All the best in his recovery ht.

[hardtack 10,433]

image.jpg

All the best in his recovery ht.

Thanks ET... pain and discomfort aren't bothering him at all... it's missing out on game time that's killing him.

[dpositive 1,662]

Webber has provided some fantastic insight into injuries and treatment in the past.

Is a fine representative of his profession

Not sure where he practices but I would take his advice without hesitation.

My old man used to go to Mitchell at the SM rooms said he was sick of paying for the local chiros new car each year.

Mitchell had one treatment cured until Dad did his back again throwing 44 gal drums around.

[hemingway 7,615]

Realistic nobody here can possibly give accurate advice - he needs to see someone who can look, feel and assess.

A sports medical person, or a physio with sports interest

See a medical professional/doctor first, physio second. See someone you know is good or who comes recommended by others whether it be a GP or specialist. A good GP will have a network of competent specialists. With all medicos and physios there are good ones, the not very good ones and the bad ones. Also with sports medicos or physios. Over many years, I have seen a lot of poor sports medicos and physios. There are GPs, Specialists and Physios who are just as good as sports medicos and physios in dealing with sports injuries As a general comment, the best graduates and doctors do not go into sports medicine. The most important thing is to see someone who has a high standard of patient care and management, and whose objective is to fix the problem. The medico should be a good diagnostician and have a good management plan that is not influenced by the need for a short-term fix or patient demands. The medico should not be afraid to say it as it is, and not just string the patient along. What is important is the capability, skills, experience of the practitioner, not that they have "sports" in front of their professional title.

[hardtack 10,433]

Thanks H.

[dee-luded 2,959]

Not really a Dees question, but...

My 13 year old son had the misfortune of getting his foot caught in a hole on the field while laying a tackle and as a result twisted his left knee, tearing the medial collateral ligament.

The doctor in attendance at the hospital simply stated "a few weeks" but he does not specialise in the area so I am asking in the hope that someone here may have had experience with such an injury and be able to give me some indication of an expected recovery time (he has it in a zimmer splint so hopefully recovery won't be hindered by too much unnecessary movement).

I'm trying to give him some hope to hang on to as footy is the one thing he looks forward to each week and there are only a few (possibly 6) weeks left before finals start and his team (Newtown Swans) are sitting at the top of the ladder. So...draws a deep breath...what are his odds of getting back in time (and please don't butter it up)?

Hi hardtack - get your son to a sports doctor or a sports physio. You are right in the ED doctors don't specialise in the area. Medial ligs need time to heal, preferably in a brace to allow the ligament to tighten up. 3-4 weeks should see a return to footy for a minor injury 6-8 for a moderate one and longer again for complete ruptures. They inevitably heal well, however if not adequately braced early will always be a bit loose. Need to get an accurate assessment to determine how long it needs support for and then whether he will need to some strengthening work to regain lost muscle bulk from the time out. If it is a pure MCL there is no need for an MRI, however if there is any other damage or queries of other damage(meniscus/ACL etc.) MRI will show it up to determine the next steps

Medial collateral ligament injuries are often associated with meniscal tears so if he hasn't had an MRI he probably should.

I would also get an opinion from a sports medicine physician to coordinate rehab.

Good luck to your son for a quick recovery.

definately chook:

take him to see an AFL sports doc up in Harbour town,Hardtac. & tell your boy he's seeing a Swans team Doc.. & the mri for insurance. best to be sure what your dealing with first, & straight away.

[daisycutter 29,429]

just tell him to run it out, ht, and stop whinging

just joshing

[The Chazz 4,077]

Can I suggest when you're down in Melbourne with him that you take him to the Richmond Footy Club so they can have a look at it. Their medical staff see things the average medico doesn't...

[Its Time for Another 4,088]

Hi Hardtrack, as an ex Easts Bulldogs coach I hate to give advice to a Newtown adversary but as its you I'll relent.

If you have a knee issue, Nathan Gibbs, the Swans Doctor is based in Kensington and is one of the very best for these sort of issues. He will advice on MRI's etc. I know of an outstanding physio based in Mosman who is a guru on knee injuries .She is the Queen of taping techniques. In fact they are named after her and she travels the world spreading the knowledge. Her name is Jenny McConnell. I was put on to her by an orthopod who works out of Gibbs rooms.

It's really worth getting it checked out by the best otherwise you could end up with long term problems. My son did a meniscus tear a few years ago playing for the Doggies, would have been 14 from memory we got the advice and treatment asap and he was back in your sort of time frame.

[Bluey's Dad 3,419]

Can I suggest when you're down in Melbourne with him that you take him to the Richmond Footy Club so they can have a look at it. Their medical staff see things the average medico doesn't...

Very good

[deanox 9,772]

Go see Webber.

As someone who has seen lots of physios in my day he gets my recommendation. Knows his stuff plus you get some footy chat while waiting!

[Red and Bluebeard 2,080]

I have no relevant knowledge to add, but I am sorry to hear it, and I hope your son is back on the park asap, hardtack.

[hardtack 10,433]

Thanks all for the advice and for the best wishes... really greatly appreciated. I may follow up on your advice It's Time... I might get him down to the local imaging centre in Marrickville to get an MRI and then head over to Nathan Gibbs in Kensington to have it reviewed.