Can a UCL tear heal on its own? UCL Tears Can Be Managed Without Surgery: Depending on how bad the injury is and what level of activity you are looking to get back to, Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) tears can still heal without going under the knife. How long recovery takes depends on the individual and can be as little time several weeks or last for many months.UCL tear (ad) Learn more about how long it takes to heal,a variety of treatments, and other factors affecting recovery.
Understanding UCL Injuries
UCL injuries, meanwhile: Overuse or acute trauma. The risk is typified by athletes, especially those in sports that engage repetitive overhead motions such as baseball. The symptoms typically present as interior portion of the pain, but occasionally are combined with sensation of instability and a “pop” at an injury.
Nonsurgical Treatment Options
Nonsurgical options can be quite successful for UCL tears that are mild to moderate. These may include:
Rest — Letting the ligament heal without added stress
Ice pack: To minimize the swelling and pain, apply ice.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): For pain relief, such as ibuprofen
Physical Therapy: For strengthening surrounding muscles and improving mobility.
Recovery Timeline
The time it takes for a recovery is determined by several things:
Severity of the injury: Light sprains may heal within a month to 6 weeks, moderate ones might take more time.
Hero material, in that it shows we heal faster when your tissue regeneration powers are at their peak? — Sort of.
Lifestyle: More active people may have difficulty relaxing, but should avoid intense movements during recovery.
Recovery time can range from 6 months to a year or longer in surgery is required, especially for procedures like Tommy John surgery.
By and large, though some UCL tears can heal without surgery with care and rehabilitation based on the severity of your situation you may opt for marginal brace or 6 weeks to several months following full-blown ligament replacement.
