Partial ACL tear - no surgery

[Kevoras]

Just an update on my status.

I been through 5 months of Physio, and thought I got a good set of control over my partial torn ACL.
I passed all tests given, and the doctor was confident.

then on my FIRST day of returning to football, 15 mins into a warm up game, a side step totally wrecked my knee.

My ACL is now completely torn, and I am suffering from meniscus injury as well.

So to whoever is out there, with ACL partial torn... Don't listen to the doctors, they DONT understand the physical demand of a game on your knee, and anyone that said they manage to get well with physio therapy probably didn't even have the ACL damaged in the first place. (or rather, very minor injury only.)

Your knee muscles CANNOT respond quick enough to hold the knee together when it is happening very fast, I read about it, and that's why all professionals always get an ACL reconstruction almost immediately. MY ACL partial torn was actually my chance of not getting my meniscus torn... but I thought my knee was strong enough to recover...

If anyone has ACL damage, and your knee feels 'any bit' loose, I will strongly suggest you push for ACL reconstruction from a professional sports injury doctor.

Just sharing.

[Linz_89]

Hi folks,

I injured my knee by falling a fair height, wrenching my knee, leaving me unable to walk without crutches for about a week. When I went to hospital on the day of my injury I was given an x-ray and told that it was just a sprain. Since then, I have fallen twice because my knee has completely collapsed under me, leaving me in great pain and unable to bear weight again for many hours (thankfully, both times friends were there to help me get home).

After some internet research I became fairly sure I had torn my ACL so I booked an appointment with my GP. She told my that there was laxity in my ACL and has referred me to an orthopaedic surgeon. I am now waiting to be contacted and given an appointment with the surgeon.

My knee is very unstable - both times that I have fallen (since the original accident) I was not doing anything even vaguely strenuous. I'm therefore hoping that I won't be fobbed off with physio as I really feel I need the surgery. Even just doing everyday walking I don't feel confident in my knee. I stress out if I have to get on a bus, cross a road, climb stairs, walk on anything that isn't completely flat, basically do anything!.

My main question for those that have been treated by the NHS is what was the timescale of treatment? How long did it take for you to get an appointment with an orthopaedic surgeon after initial referral and how long after that did you receive physio/surgery? I'm really hoping it that it doesn't take too long because I feel the chances of me falling again are high and I know each time I do I'll probably be doing further damage

[Kevoras]

Hey Bud.

I am no doctor.
but I recently had my surgery. so I feel I can say something..

immediately after my surgery, my knee already feels better, albeit, right now I can really straight it all the way.. but that's expected, need to do physio for that.
the time you need to book the surgery is NOT very long at all, maybe 2 weeks in advance will do, for me, it was really more about the demand of the hospital's operation theatre more than anything.

you however, must expect a lengthy rehab afterwards though.
as all doctors are telling me now, the rehab, is more important than the surgery afterwards.

GOOD LUCK.

Hi folks,

I injured my knee by falling a fair height, wrenching my knee, leaving me unable to walk without crutches for about a week. When I went to hospital on the day of my injury I was given an x-ray and told that it was just a sprain. Since then, I have fallen twice because my knee has completely collapsed under me, leaving me in great pain and unable to bear weight again for many hours (thankfully, both times friends were there to help me get home).

After some internet research I became fairly sure I had torn my ACL so I booked an appointment with my GP. She told my that there was laxity in my ACL and has referred me to an orthopaedic surgeon. I am now waiting to be contacted and given an appointment with the surgeon.

My knee is very unstable - both times that I have fallen (since the original accident) I was not doing anything even vaguely strenuous. I'm therefore hoping that I won't be fobbed off with physio as I really feel I need the surgery. Even just doing everyday walking I don't feel confident in my knee. I stress out if I have to get on a bus, cross a road, climb stairs, walk on anything that isn't completely flat, basically do anything!.

My main question for those that have been treated by the NHS is what was the timescale of treatment? How long did it take for you to get an appointment with an orthopaedic surgeon after initial referral and how long after that did you receive physio/surgery? I'm really hoping it that it doesn't take too long because I feel the chances of me falling again are high and I know each time I do I'll probably be doing further damage

[Dolores]

GLad to hear your knee feels better after the ligament reconstruction! I can imagine all you had to go through to get to that point...But hard work pays off and now you are on your way to recovery, just take your time and take it easy you might want to wait until the joint feels more stable before going back to the field or just cut down on the sports,,,I know its hard but focus on healing your knee so it can get strong...I've considering a ligament reconstruction too because the PT hasn't been very effective for me,,,I can't hardly work out the muscles on the injured leg because the ligaments are not a 100% there,,
I have a feeling its a partial ACL & Patella tendon rupture with a quad muscle overstretch,,,I was just running fast
(well more like hovering...)
What a retard...I really wish I could go back in time and just Walked,,,but it is what it is and the damage is done,,,ugh
Well i wanted to ask you what type of graft did you use for the reconstruction and if you don't mind describing the experience a bit more..
Can you bear weight on the repaired knee without feeling pain at all, is it stable?

Thanks and I wish you a lot of success on your rehabilitation! Be patient and just take it one step at a time.

[anka_nikoleta]

Hey Bud.

I am no doctor.
but I recently had my surgery. so I feel I can say something..

immediately after my surgery, my knee already feels better, albeit, right now I can really straight it all the way.. but that's expected, need to do physio for that.
the time you need to book the surgery is NOT very long at all, maybe 2 weeks in advance will do, for me, it was really more about the demand of the hospital's operation theatre more than anything.

you however, must expect a lengthy rehab afterwards though.
as all doctors are telling me now, the rehab, is more important than the surgery afterwards.

GOOD LUCK.

Hi Guys,

Just a quick questions for the patients that have been managed with conservative treatment or for the physios here which have had patients referred from Consultants: what kind of braces were you given initially ( if advised on any). Did you have a brace with an extension lock ( limited into straightening your knee) or just a hinged one, or none at all?

Thank you in advance for your answers.

[samhughes1398]

Have you tried a stem cell treatment? I am a personal trainer and I had a terrible pain in my knee. I kept waking up with pain after an injury; just going to do my shopping was painful. I had to have a knee replacement surgery recently with Dr. Zanasi, I was really happy with the treatment. The recovery was really fast and now I can do my normal activities, as there’s no downtime with this kind of treatment. I highly recommend him, this is his website Home – Dr Zanasi Stem Cells
Best wishes
Sam

[syamir]

Hi guys,

i'm 22 and a very active sportsmen.. i play rugby (club level), football/futsal (college level) and tennis/badminton (occasional)..

He asked me to do some self physio such as cycling and swimming for rehabilitation. a need for immediate surgery was not neccesary in late nov 2011 i partially torn my ACL at rugby training while i was side stepping.. went to see the specialist & got myself an MRI scan.. the doctor confirmed that it was a partially torn ACL..

an immediate surgery isnt necessary.. since i'm still doing my internship, the specialist gave me time to regain strength and rehab my knee before the next check-up.. if there is still signs of instability, a full reconstruction may be required.. after 2 months of occasional swimming, cycling & weights training, i do have full motion of my knee but it still hurts at times..

My questions are:
1) can anyone define "instability"?
2) is there much benefit of "arthroscopy"? *arthroscopy: trimming out the torn portion
3) after rehab, the chances of turning a partial tear into a full tear is there. does strapping tape help in anyway during sports?
4) after a complete reconstruction, does the possibility of the same injury increase, maintain the same or decrease? Is the new ACL stronger, the same or weaker than the original ACL?
5) trough the thread, there are contradictions between PTs and patients.. PT says use what u hv left (use it until fully torn with possibility of MCL injuries as well), patient says straight reconsruction.. can anyone verify who to follow?

hope someone can help out.. really want to get back on to the field.. a young man that really wants to get back on his feet..

[Dolores]

First of all you are very young so that's a good thing!
If you allow it to heal and stop doing the activities that are making your knee pain worst then it might get better,,,but if the MRI has confirmed that there is a partial tear then it's time to make adjustments in your life by modifying your level of activity,,,Many people who continue their active life styles after partially tearing their ACL, end up breaking it completely,,,,
I would recommend that you take it easy with the physical therapy,,,I know its hard but just try not to overdo it and listen to the signs that your knee is sending, if its painful just give it a rest, ice it, wait until the pain is gone before doing more training and wait until the ligament feels stronger before doing the cycling movement and especially the weight training...avoid painkillers as they trick the mind by masking the sensation of pain and puts your ACL at more risk for further injury,,,BE VERY CAREFUL
I've been dealing with a similar injury for 11 months and was able to start walking with a cane just 3 months ago,,,It took me so long because I wore a brace that immobilized the entire leg for 5 months,,I probably over did it so my quads and calves muscles on that leg shrunk drastically making it a lot harder to stand on it but I had to brace it because at the time of the injury my ligament was so sore I couldn't even bend the knee,,and
i kept on making it worse by forcing myself to walk when it wasn't ready,,it's definitely been a slow recovery but I've had to deal with other issues too,,,
what I've learned is that the less stressed out you get, the faster it will heal,,,but the healing process does takes a long time,,, my ligament still hurts a lot at times and feels unstable unlike my other knee which feels solid and strong,,
At this point I'm trying to avoid the reconstructive surgery to see if it can heal on its own mainly because I don't trust "Doctors",,don't have insurance, a place to live nor anyone who can take care of me if I get a surgery,,,that's something you must keep in mind, a lot of assistance and proper accommodations will be required after surgery,,,but if you fully trust your surgeon, have a comfortable place to stay plus someone who can help you during your recovery then consider yourself blessed!
Just follow up with your orthopedist surgeon,,,and take it easy,,,eat very healthy,,,fruits, vegetables, legumes, drink lots of water,,,try quinoa, it aids in the repair of tissues...Do stretching exercises like soft yoga but take it slowly,,,breath deeply,,,Google the knee pain guru,,it's got a lot of useful and conscientious information about knee injuries and how to deal with the pain,,,it's the anti-surgery approach,,,
I don't know man but I think that the proper treatment for this injuries is complete rest,,,unless the tear is so bad that the tibia is completely dis attached from the femur,,,there's a couple of videos on you tube that show an ACL tear and it looks terribly painful! Check them out when you get a chance,,,
just avoid forcing yourself to walk if the knee is not responding well because you can actually cause more damage, delay the healing process and/or injure your good knee...so try to stay off of it as much as you can,,,and by that I mean get a wheel chair while its healing and keep strengthening the quads and calves without putting too much pressure on the injured ligament...play it by ear,,,listen to your body
In my opinion, instability of the knee is the symptom of an injured ligament, tendon or cartilage in the joint. It's caused by the inability to properly bear weight on the knee making it hard and almost impossible stand up for more than 10 seconds because of the lack of support in that mid joint. So instability is basically whenever a cane, a walker, a crutch, walking stick, or anything that can aid in regaining some sort of balance in order to keep the upper body perpendicular to the ground is needed.
Arthroscopy may sometimes be necessary,,I'm not sure how effective it is,,,Ive heard in some cases it can be helpful but I've also read/heard that it can increase the risk for future arthritis...just keep doing more research and talk to people who have had the procedure done...As far as the ligament reconstruction is concerned,,,same thing, Ive heard positive things about it like people being able to walk, go back to their active lifestyles and even play sports again! but just like with any other surgeries there's always a risk for complications. I've heard/read negative things like the reconstructive tissue getting infected, breaking again or not being flexible or strong enough, or irreparable damage on the site used for the graft ,,so I guess it depends on many factors...it's a tricky one that's why you must be very selective with the surgeon you choose ...Good Luck to you!

[Dolores]

Are you able to walk at all? When are you planning on getting the ACL reconstruction surgery? What type of graft are you planning on using?

[syamir]

Are you able to walk at all? When are you planning on getting the ACL reconstruction surgery? What type of graft are you planning on using?

I can walk 3 days after I torn my acl.. the problem is not walking but getting back to competitive sports as I am a sportmen.. my target isnt just to be able to move but run, side-step, tackle & hope as soon as possible..

it should be done by march and i'm using the hamstring as recovers faster.

[Dolores]

I can walk 3 days after I torn my acl.. the problem is not walking but getting back to competitive sports as I am a sportmen.. my target isnt just to be able to move but run, side-step, tackle & hope as soon as possible..

it should be done by march and i'm using the hamstring as recovers faster.

I wish you the best on your recovery and future plans! Take it easy though, try not to overdo it until your knee is fully healed. I totally understand your need to get the surgery,,trust me, I've been struggling a lot for the past 11 months with this disabling injury waiting to see if it's ever going to heal at all and I still can't walk without a cane,,,can't stand nor bear weight for more than 2 minutes on the injured leg because the knee joint just gives out and then my back starts hurting from overcompensating, and to make things even worse now I sprained my ankle for putting all the weight on it,,,so I can't stand on the foot with confidence anymore and im afraid my hip joint is also suffering the consequences of that torn acl or knee joint derangement because it also feels funny,,,

Whoever wrote in this forum that the acl is not a supporting structure might just want to re evaluate that because if it wasnt a supporting/stabilizing structure in the knee joint, then the ankle, the hip and the back would not be overcompensating for that lack of SUPPORT.
The fact is that once any ligament of the knee joint is damaged in some way, it off sets the balance of body and starts a domino effect of injuries that simply leads to more problems and a disjointed way of life, I know this because it's exactly what I've been having to go through,,,and its a very complicated situation because I can't even get a job with this injury,,,I'm totally broke and actually making arrangements to go to a woman's shelter until my disability claim comes through, well that's if it gets approved,,so getting that sucker repaired it's definitely the way to go especially for a young competitive athlete. Keep us updated on your recovery,,,I'm interested in learning more about your surgery, maybe I'll go get one too! Take care

[Dolores]

Has anyone heard anything about the arthrogram/mri contrast agents “gadolinium”?
The reason why Im asking is because the ortho sent me to get one so he can figure out what is wrong inside the knee joint, but I still havent had the guts to schedule the appointment.

After reading about the adverse side effects and countless law suits against it, I just got very skeptical about the procedure. I'm just wondering how safe it really is? The last thing I need is to have more damage done to whatever is still semi holding my knee joint together,,but I may be wrong and perhaps that silver based agent is not that harmful,,but I'm still VERY confused....

[Dolores]

Has anyone had an arthrogram with contrast done to diagnose their torn acl or knee joint problem? The reason why I'm curious to know is because my orthopedist surgeon is sending me to get one done but I've read that the the Gadolinium (fluid dye) that is injected on the joint can cause infection and other adverse reactions such as tissue degeneration when combined with the radiation,,,,so,,,Im kinda skeptical about the whole procedure,,,and quite confused,,,I've already had 3 x-rays and 1 MRI done on the knee so I don't know if it can get worse from more radiation....

[archenstone]

I had a martial arts injury in 2012 that left my knee freely rotating. The hospital said nothing was broke and gave me a used pair of crutches, said don't wrap it and go see an ortho [Indiana, USA if your curious] At the time I was in a bad living situation and could not go to a doctor. I had to wrap it, keep it straight and non load bearing as much as possible while taking care of 3 kids. After I could set weight on it again I did my own therapy...gentle stretches and practicing weight load, slowly easing it back to normal weight distribution....but its still not perfect. For one the leg feels shorter and the knee doesn't straighten entirely..it gets close.. and even now if have moderate to heavy strain the knee which gives inward a little. About a year ago I could finally feel confidant in walking a flight of stairs with out fear of the knee buckling as for many years it would buckle under stress like...walking down the road, getting in and out of the car, up or down stairs or playing dance dance revolution. Weight gain from various activities hasn't helped either in all honestly...

But as of about October on last year I am finally able to roundhouse, front kick and side kick lightly which I couldn't before. Very slow recovery if you do it by yourself and kills your chance at doing sports activities. Definitely see a doctor and if your not sure then get other opinions.