Partial ACL tear solution

[birdy1980]

I am 28 years old, male and fairly fit.
I had a partial ACL tear when I was 21, which was just allowed to heal thanks to the doctor I was consulting. He said nothing is wrong but a year later I found the real cause.
I tried physio therapy for 6 months after that, but the pain did not reduce. The doctors looked at MRI scans and saw a cyst of fibers developed at the place where the ACL had torn.
They trimmed out the torn portion of ACL through arthroscopy and that reduced my ACL width to around 85% of its actual width. I followed the same with 6-7 months of physiotherapy. Since then I am able to do normal activity but not something like badminton or cricket with ease.

For the past 1 year now, i have been a regular at the gym, running, cycling, performing sqats, leg presses and all and doing yoga with no problem.

But recently I played badminton and heard a small click or pop in my knee after which there was pain but no swelling. I am not sure what the problem could be but I have experienced this before. The knee has been feeling like it will give way if I bring it at certain angles(inwards). Also If I fold my knee joint fully, there is appreciable pain.

I definitely want to get back to having a strong knee/leg and am willing to work like hell to get there

I also wanna get to a level of being able to run confidently and play football or badminton or cricket where the knee sustains twists. Not to a high level but to a fairly decent standard

Has anyone recovered fully from a partial ACL tear like this?

Also can any physios who actually do the treatment give me a rough idea of what to expect? What kind of treatments do you do that i wouldnt think of myself (i.e squats/ankle weight exercises etc)

Any help ?

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[physiobob]

I'd suggest a reassessment. Perhaps you ruptured it a bit more? (despite no swelling).

The click might also just be the bones trying to relocate from a less that idea position. You brain will be hesitant for a while following but your PT should be able to assist with working this out.

You need to rehabilitate more for lunging, side-stepping, running diagonals etc etc before you take on badminton etc. Emphasise this to your PT that you need a more 'aggressive' strategy now for returning to sport. The activities you mention in you post don't really test the rotational stability of the knee so those alone are not enough.

Badminton/squash etc would be considered a difficult sport to contend with following a stretching/incomplete tear of the ACL. Best of luck though.

[birdy1980]

Hi Bob
Thanks for the quick answer. PT if i am correct refers to the other ligaments around the kneew joint? Sorry I am not really well-versed with the terms.
You could be right when you say there might be a rupture but the feeling of giving away or pain occurs only at one certain angle. Also there is no swelling which I had previously when I had ruptured it the first time(my knee joint looked twice its size then)
Yes when I fold the knee there is distinct pain. I am thinking of giving some of my regular activities like running, cycling etc a rest for some time and see how my knee scenario progresses. I had given badminton a rest for a long time but the fact that I could do so many activities spurred me to try to play it again. .... and I am facing the consequences now.

If you do have any suggestions regarding anything I should avoid doing or continue to do, and food wise as well to help reduce the pain, do let me know

Cheers
Birdy

[physiobob]

PT is short for physiotherapist/physical therapist (sorry not ligaments about the knee). This make more sense when reading my posting.

[birdy1980]

Thanks for that clarification. Now it makes much more sense.

Just a quick update. The pain has receded, there is no major wobble or give away feeling though there is a feeling of weakness. Not sure whether it is more mental than physical. I am not as confident of making some moves with my knee as I was before. I bought a knee support band to help me build confidence during the first initial days of recuperation.

Lets see how it goes.

[Dolores]

I cant any weight on the injured knee for more than 10 minutes without feeling an uncomfortable stretch in the back muscles just wondering if this because my back is compensating for the lack of support from the knee joint....I ve been going through this disabling condition for the past 10 months,,,I was running and somehow ended up with a very strange left knee injury. I never fell so I must have just stepped wrong or hyperflexed the ligaments,,,its been hell though I lost complete support on that joint feels very unstable kinda mushy and it looks like my back is now compensating,,,2 orthopedists said theres nothing wrong with my knee and recommended me to do physical therapy to strengthen the quads buttocks and hamstring muscles but it has not been very effective for me on the contrary it just makes the interior of the knee hurt a lot more i might have injured the pcl or acl,,,,im gonna see one next week hopefully Ill be able to get another mri to figure out whats wrong...I just stay positive trying not to overdo it and being patient...but the reality is that this injury sucks...does anyone know how long it takes to heal if it can actually heal on its own...or would it be better to get a knee joint replacement ,ligament reconstruction or an above the knee amputation? i know how drastic all these alternatives sound but Im just so confused....is it just a very slow healer?

[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..