Quote Originally Posted by mouk786 View Post
The partial ACL cannot heal properly right? but can it still send signals back?

I have felt a difference and slight instability in my knee (i.e no confidence to play football/soccer) so that must mean the partial tear is fairly significant - the Dr wouldn't say how much though.

Any info on arthritis on surgery v no surgery scenario? i am thinking long term effects here. should i give up footy?
Hard to say what fibers are torn and therefore how much that relates to the signals going to the brain. The feeling of laxity often increases with time but in terms of the early onset of arthritis that is more related to intact menisci (knee cartilages). Surgery is likely to involve trimming or removing some of that which if possible is best avoided as we are making steady progress in the medical fields or tissue replacement, growth, repair etc so the longer the joint surfaces are protected the better.

As for "footy", this is something hard to play without an intact ACL due to the pivoting and side to side movements. If the knee is unstable and you continue to play chances are you will progress to a full tear and the likelihood of injuring the menisci at the same time.