Partial ACL Tear....

[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?