Everything To Know About Collateral Ligament Pain In The Knee

The knee is able to withstand forces of 2-3 times your body weight while walking, and loads of nearly 7 times your body weight during activities like jumping or squatting. And, if all of this is possible, it is thanks to the complex structure of muscles, bones, ligaments, and tendons that compose the knee joint. 

In this structure, a critical role is played by the collateral ligaments. These ligaments connect the thigh bone to the bones in the lower leg, and they are responsible for the stability of the knee during movement. Although these ligaments are incredibly flexible and resilient, they are not immune to injuries like sprains and strains. 

If you’ve suffered a knee injury and you are now experiencing collateral ligament pain, there are treatment options that don’t involve taking medications for months on end or living in fear of needing surgery. In this guide, we’ll look at how the Neuragenex Neurofunctional Pain Management approach can help you regain your knee health without surgery or medications. Let’s dive in.

What Are The Collateral Ligaments?

The knee structure is composed of three bones: 

• The femur, or thighbone
• The tibia, or shin bone
• The patella, or kneecap

These three bones are connected to muscles by tendons, and they are linked to each other by ligaments. The ligaments are long and flexible cord-like ropes made of fibrous tissues. Their role is to keep the leg bones in place at the knee joint. Their connective action enables motions of the knees and prevents bones from slipping out of place, which can result in dislocations. 

There are four main ligaments connecting the bones of the knee: two collateral ligaments and two cruciate ligaments. In particular, the collateral ligaments are located on each side of the knee and are responsible for controlling the side motion of the knee, preventing abnormal side movements.

There are two collateral ligaments in each knee:

• Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL): The MCL is located on the inside of the knee and connects the femur to the tibia, which is the main cone in the lower leg. The main role of the MCL is to stabilize the inner knee. 
• Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL): The LCL is located on the outside of the knee and connects the femur to the fibula, which is a second, smaller bone in the lower leg. This ligament is responsible for stabilizing the outer side of the knee.

There are also two cruciate ligaments in the knee. The anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments cross the structure of the knee to form an X, and they are responsible for controlling the forward and backward movement of the knee joint.

With 60,000 to 200,000 cases of anterior cruciate ligament tears a year, this is certainly a common injury, especially among athletes. However, the collateral ligaments are equally prone to tears and sprains, which can lead to ongoing pain, swelling, and loss of knee function. 

Here’s what you need to know about this injury.

Symptoms Of Collateral Ligament Pain

Collateral ligament injuries are often the result of a forceful blow to the inside or outside of the knee. These kinds of injuries are more common among athletes who play sports that involve rapid knee movements, such as skiing, basketball, football, and soccer.

If you injure your collateral ligament, the first symptom you’ll notice is a loud pop. This sign occurs at the time of injury and can indicate a ligament tear. Other signs that are common to both lateral and medial collateral ligament injuries include:

• Instability in the knee (i.e.: a sensation of the knee “giving away” under your body weight)
• Locking, catching, and clicking noises as you walk
• Reduced range of motion 
• Visible deformities

There are also more specific symptoms that indicate whether your injury is affecting the medial or lateral collateral ligament. Let’s look at these telltale signs in detail below.

Medial Collateral Ligament Pain

The medial collateral ligament – or the one located on the inner aspect of the knee – is the knee ligament most prone to injuries like tears and sprains. This is because blows or pressure hitting the outer aspect of the knee causes the MCL to overstretch. It is estimated that MCL damage is a complication in nearly 8% of all knee injuries.

This type of injury comes with recognizable symptoms, including:

• Knee swelling: Swelling – or the buildup of fluids around the site of injury – is a normal aspect of the body’s inflammatory response. If you suffer a medial collateral ligament injury, you’ll notice that the pain and swelling are localized on the inner area of the knee. 
• Knee locking or catching when you move the knee: Torn ligaments prevent the bones from remaining aligned during movements and slide without friction. This may impact your ability to fully bend or extend your knee. 
• Inner joint pain and tenderness: MCL ligaments can cause chronic pain. But, besides experiencing dull pain in your knee, these injuries can also cause tenderness, or pain when touching the knee.

Lateral Collateral Ligament Pain

Lateral collateral ligament injuries are caused by forces applied on the inner aspect of the knee, which put the external side of the knee (where the LCL is located) under stress. This form of injury is less common, but the symptoms it causes should not be overlooked.

Here’s what to expect:

• Pain on the outside of the knee: If the tear occurs in the LCL, you’ll experience painful sensations localized on the outer aspect of the knee. The pain may range in intensity depending on the severity of the injury, and appear as shooting. 
• Swelling: Swelling, redness, and a sensation of heat around the sign of injury are consequences of the body’s inflammatory response. This symptom occurs briefly after injuring your knee and can last up to 3 months while your body attempts to heal itself. 
• Tenderness: Experiencing pain when touching the outer area of the knee may indicate a torn or overstretched ligament.

Injuries That May Cause Collateral Ligament Pain

Collateral ligament pain, especially when associated with knee instability, is often a symptom of a ligament injury, such as sprains, tears, or ruptures. Understanding what knee pain conditions can affect the health of your ligaments is the first step to take to obtain an accurate diagnosis.

Besides degenerative conditions such as osteoarthritis, ligament pain is often the result of traumatic injuries. Traumatic knee injuries occur when excessive force is applied to the inner or outer aspect of the knee, such as during a heavy blow to the leg. This abnormal force pushes the knee sideways and bends it in the wrong direction. This motion causes the ligaments to suddenly stretch beyond their capacity in an effort to keep the bones of the knee joint in place, leading to tearing of the ligament’s fibers. 

These injuries are more common in athletes who perform quick changes of direction or participate in contact sports, such as hockey and football. Collateral ligament injuries – especially the ones involving the MCL – often occur in conjunction with injuries to other ligaments or components of the knee.

Below, we’ll look at two of the most common injuries to collateral ligaments.

Sprains

Sprains affect components of the body made of collagen fibers, such as ligaments. This kind of injury occurs when the ligament is stretched beyond its capacity or in an unnatural direction. In particular, strains to the collateral ligaments can occur when landing forcefully on the knee, when twisting your leg, or when changing direction suddenly. 

When a ligament is sprained, tears will form in the collagen fibers, weakening the ligaments and impacting their ability to keep the knee joint stable. Sprains can be mild or severe, and the symptoms you’ll experience will depend on how damaged the ligament is.

Tears

Tears in the collateral ligaments can be due to sprains. However, micro-tears can occur due to other factors, including carrying excess weight (i.e.: being overweight) or overusing your joints. The ongoing stress and inflammation can weaken the ligaments and make them more prone to tearing. 

When a ligament is torn, the bands of tissue can become loose or completely detached from the knee bones (ruptured), which can lead to severe knee instability and pain.