Partial ACL Tear....

[sixphysio]

that's not a bad place to start with the plyometrics. it's controlled, explosive, functional, multidircetional stuff.

keep cracking on. control is key!

cheers

sixphysio

[MrDJB]

So i've been jogging and trying to do some plyometric excercises (ie jumping up stairs and hopping over objects) without the knee brace. I gradually took that off throughout the last few weeks.

All in all, my knee feels pretty much as stable as it ever has. I get the occasional twinge which is nothing more than i get in my left knee which has never been injured, but i only notice it because of the injury. If i had the same twinge in the left knee, i carry on regardless.

What i'd like to know is, what sort of timescale are we looking at from starting to work on hamstrings and everything else etc to actually going out for some casual laid back 5-a-side footy? Is the test, just to go out and play and see how it goes - because, although i feel stable, that scares the crap out of me! lol

Another thing is, when i do go out and start doing some twisting and turning, whats likley to happen in the worst case scenario, ie, i suffer another partial tear, or tear it where it is weak? I can't afford to take time off of work like i did last time because i was unable to drive therefore unable to work.

Was my problem with not being able to stand due to the ligament tear or the cartlidge tear? I've never been too sure. I've heard of people who tear their ligament and can still walk although they lose alot of balance and stability. If i tear my ligament again, am i likely to able to walk, drive?

[MrDJB]

Hi All,

Thanks for all the help so far...thought i'd update my story.

Last friday, i took the bull by the horns and decided to try football. i've spent a lot of time running, and trying to build up my leg muscles. I have to say i haven't really had chance to try the plyometrics which were recommended on a regular basis. I had been doing figure 8 runs at a fairly quick pace - hence the reason i thought i would give football a go.

Anyway, football was fine, apart from one twist where i felt a short sharp pain in the knee and went to the ground, partially precausional and partially because it hurt! Within 5-10 seconds, pain was gone and i was able to continue playing. Now i did take it fairly easy in comparison to how i used to play, but all in all i found twisting and turning to be ok....but it was never really sharp.

For the last couple of days, i've had a niggley pain in the knee. nothing really sore, but it hurts a bit if i stretch my leg fully.....a little bit like it did a week or so after i had my cartlidge done. I'm not sure now whether playing was the right thing to do!!

Am i likely to be making a partially torn ACL worse every time i feel the pain? Or is it normal for something thats not been really tested for consiberale length of time to hurt the first few times its used?

I've got an appointment in a month or so as the physio/surgeon told me to let them know how i've got on at football....but am unsure as to whether to try again now!

[Canuck Physio]

I would consider taking it easy and just allowing yourself to be reconditioned in a controlled rehabilitation environment.
It was good of you to take the fall and not allow your knee to take the full force of the twist.
For longevity's sake it is best to heed caution to the wind.

Regards

[MrDJB]

New update!

Since the football, i've experianced pain more often than i did before. I still have full range of motion in the knee but there is a slight pain at both extremes (Ie Pulling knee towards myself and pushing knee down towards floor if sat down).

I can still jog and hop fine and i can also still do the one legged squats, but there must be some reason the pain is still there. Originally i thought it was because i hadnt played football for 12 months but now i'm wondering if i've made it worse.

Is it time to admit defeat and go and see about a full reconstruction?