OT: ACL and meniscus injuries

[Uber Coca]

So I injured my left knee during a soccer game back in May. The MRI scan showed a partial or complete tear of the ACL and two different meniscus tears.

I had trouble walking after the injury (with two episodes of deep pain), but my knee is somehow getting better and better. The orthopedist told me to train with a physical therapist (which I did two times so far), and that we'll check out later in September if I need surgery or not.

This week, I had the ''go'' to start running or playing sports by my physical therapist because my knee improved a lot since the first meeting a week earlier. I need to be sure I get no instability from my knee though (which I don't).

My question : anybody had this kind of injury and didn't need surgery? Any advice? Should I still be worried even if I don't feel any instability?

Thanks in advance.

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[29dryden29]

So I injured my left knee during a soccer game back in May. The MRI scan showed a partial or complete tear of the ACL and two different meniscus tears.

I had trouble walking after the injury (with two episodes of deep pain), but my knee is somehow getting better and better. The orthopedist told me to train with a physical therapist (which I did two times so far), and that we'll check out later in September if I need surgery or not.

This week, I had the ''go'' to start running or playing sports by my physical therapist because my knee improved a lot since the first meeting a week earlier. I need to be sure I get not instability from my knee though (which I don't).

My question : anybody had this kind of injury and didn't need surgery? Any advice? Should I still be worried even if I don't feel any instability?

Thanks in advance.

I have had ACL repairs on both knees and have no meniscus left in either due to wear and tear and not listening to my surgeon oops lol. If it is a partial ACL tear your stability should be ok but know this that it will be much much easier to rupture the remaining portion that is intact unless you get it repaired.

 

[Natedawg]

Went through similar thing. Didn't get MRI right away and Physio Therapist was 90% sure it was just a meniscus tear. I did the physio for a few weeks and thought that it was getting way better. All it took was putting my weight on my right leg to take a wrist shot and boom, I was back on the IR. Finally decided to get the MRI and had complete tear of the ACL and torn meniscus. I have decided for surgery and am currently on the 9 month waiting list.

 

[ChemiseBleuHonnete]

So I injured my left knee during a soccer game back in May. The MRI scan showed a partial or complete tear of the ACL and two different meniscus tears.

I had trouble walking after the injury (with two episodes of deep pain), but my knee is somehow getting better and better. The orthopedist told me to train with a physical therapist (which I did two times so far), and that we'll check out later in September if I need surgery or not.

This week, I had the ''go'' to start running or playing sports by my physical therapist because my knee improved a lot since the first meeting a week earlier. I need to be sure I get not instability from my knee though (which I don't).

My question : anybody had this kind of injury and didn't need surgery? Any advice? Should I still be worried even if I don't feel any instability?

Thanks in advance.

The worse thing you can do is ask for advice here (hfboards). I'd have more confidence in your physical therapist and physician if I were you.

BTW, I am a physician and from reading your story, you probably don't need surgery. But I cannot make an evaluation from distance and I'm not going to give any advice over the internet.

 

[Uber Coca]

The worse thing you can do is ask for advice here (hfboards). I'd have more confidence in your physical therapist and physician if I were you.

BTW, I am a physician and from reading your story, you probably don't need surgery. But I cannot make an evaluation from distance and I'm not going to give any advice over the internet.

I hear you, but I know people who did get surgery and their knee never was the same afterwards (one in particular that has trouble playing some sports now). It looks like nobody knows for sure what is the best treatment... surgery or not? I ask because I'm quite sure I won't get surgery.

 

[YoussefianK]

I hear you, but I know people who did get surgery and their knee never was the same afterwards (one in particular that has trouble playing some sports now). It looks like nobody knows for sure what is the best treatment... surgery or not? I ask because I'm quite sure I won't get surgery.

It all depends on how your menisci heal. The healing depends on where the tear was. If it is on the outside 1/3 of the meniscus, meniscus heals by itself. On the other hand, if your meniscus tear is on the inner 2/3 of it, then you might have surgery if the tear is bothering you (having your knee locked in a position due to prolonged extension of the knee).
People can live without ACLs for years and perform very well, but your PT has to give you a very good workout for the legs when all the inflammation is gone.

Also, is this your first ACL injury?

 

[Uber Coca]

It all depends on how your menisci heal. The healing depends on where the tear was. If it is on the outside 1/3 of the meniscus, meniscus heals by itself. On the other hand, if your meniscus tear is on the inner 2/3 of it, then you might have surgery if the tear is bothering you (having your knee locked in a position due to prolonged extension of the knee).
People can live without ACLs for years and perform very well, but your PT has to give you a very good workout for the legs when all the inflammation is gone.

Also, is this your first ACL injury?

It is my first ACL injury. I might add that my orthopedist wouldn't believe everything that appeared on the results of my MRI (said there are 20% of chances the MRI could be wrong), and it didn't know for sure if I had an ACL or not after some test (well, he couldn't confirm anything). The results of the MRI couldn't tell if it was a partial or complete tear of the ACL.

The meniscus tear looks to be on the seal cove [anse de sceau?] (outside) and there's a light tear on the inner.

 

[Pavel_Bure]

Tore my ACL about 20 years ago. Hardest part was the amputation. After 12 years I finally got back full functionality of my penis though. Good luck with your recovery.

 

[JusticeBeaver]

Tore my ACL about 20 years ago. Hardest part was the amputation. After 12 years I finally got back full functionality of my penis though. Good luck with your recovery.

Reminded me of this haha

 

[YoussefianK]

It is my first ACL injury. I might add that my orthopedist wouldn't believe everything that appeared on the results of my MRI (said there are 20% of chances the MRI could be wrong), and it didn't know for sure if I had an ACL or not after some test (well, he couldn't confirm anything). The results of the MRI couldn't tell if it was a partial or complete tear of the ACL.

The meniscus tear looks to be on the seal cove [anse de sceau?] (outside) and there's a light tear on the inner.

I had a patient who had a ruptured ACL and didn't even know it. He was very fit so his leg muscles were able to compensate and stabilize the knee joint. He played hockey 2-3 times a week and the only way he learned he had a ruptured ACL is due to a meniscal injury.
If your ACL rips slowly over time, you will never feel it, especially if you are very fit. That's what happened to him.
All this to say that you can be very functional without an ACL, but obviously you'd prefer to have one.
Also, rehab is very long (6-12 months, depending on patient progression) for ACL surgery, thus if they can avoid it, they will.

I wish you the best and hopefully you can get back to soccer asap.

 

[Uber Coca]

I had a patient who had a ruptured ACL and didn't even know it. He was very fit so his leg muscles were able to compensate and stabilize the knee joint. He played hockey 2-3 times a week and the only way he learned he had a ruptured ACL is due to a meniscal injury.
If your ACL rips slowly over time, you will never feel it, especially if you are very fit. That's what happened to him.
All this to say that you can be very functional without an ACL, but obviously you'd prefer to have one.
Also, rehab is very long (6-12 months, depending on patient progression) for ACL surgery, thus if they can avoid it, they will.

I wish you the best and hopefully you can get back to soccer asap.

Thanks for the info and the wishes. I believe Josh Gorges played a lot of years with a torn ACL but he needed surgery at one point. Anyway, I'll test it and hope the knee will respond well.

 

[lillypad33]

Thanks for the info and the wishes. I believe Josh Gorges played a lot of years with a torn ACL but he needed surgery at one point. Anyway, I'll test it and hope the knee will respond well.

I've had both my ACL's done....
One was about 20 years ago, and the other was about 15 years ago.

When I was in high school, I had a "partial tear"... I believe that there was no real pain involved in this. It's when you do a full on tear with the meniscus as well that it really hurts.

Anyways.... My surgeon told me that tearing a ligament is similar to tearing one of those yellow nylon ropes.... It just begins to unravel and gets weaker over time.

The best thing you can do to stabilize your knee is to work out your VMO ( Vastus- Medialus Obliquus )...

Here is a link to a website that will give you some exercises.

http://www.theinjuredknee.com/knee-...s-to-strengthen-vmo-vastus-medialis-obliquus/

 

[Uber Coca]

I've had both my ACL's done....
One was about 20 years ago, and the other was about 15 years ago.

When I was in high school, I had a "partial tear"... I believe that there was no real pain involved in this. It's when you do a full on tear with the meniscus as well that it really hurts.

Anyways.... My surgeon told me that tearing a ligament is similar to tearing one of those yellow nylon ropes.... It just begins to unravel and gets weaker over time.

The best thing you can do to stabilize your knee is to work out your VMO ( Vastus- Medialus Obliquus )...

Here is a link to a website that will give you some exercises.

http://www.theinjuredknee.com/knee-...s-to-strengthen-vmo-vastus-medialis-obliquus/

Great, thanks for the link. Will definitely work it out.

 

[MTL-rules]

Went through similar thing. Didn't get MRI right away and Physio Therapist was 90% sure it was just a meniscus tear. I did the physio for a few weeks and thought that it was getting way better. All it took was putting my weight on my right leg to take a wrist shot and boom, I was back on the IR. Finally decided to get the MRI and had complete tear of the ACL and torn meniscus. I have decided for surgery and am currently on the 9 month waiting list.

9 months ? You live in Alberta ? In Quebec, there's ways around these waiting lists... took me less than five months... and it's actually because I chose (that's right) a specific date (wanted to be right after the fall semester so I could rehab during the holidays and be ready for the start of the winter semester)... could have been a lot sooner...

Thanks for the info and the wishes. I believe Josh Gorges played a lot of years with a torn ACL but he needed surgery at one point. Anyway, I'll test it and hope the knee will respond well.

Be carefull... it hurts like hell if you tear it... and if you're dumb enough like me to wait too long, it hurts everytime you do somekind of exercice on it (sports of course, but jumping and even dancing too)... feels like your lower leg just detached from your body... then you look at it and everything looks alright (but for a couple of days you can't put any weight on your leg).

 

[Brainiac]

Real men don't need ACLs... pfft!

 

[29dryden29]

Went through similar thing. Didn't get MRI right away and Physio Therapist was 90% sure it was just a meniscus tear. I did the physio for a few weeks and thought that it was getting way better. All it took was putting my weight on my right leg to take a wrist shot and boom, I was back on the IR. Finally decided to get the MRI and had complete tear of the ACL and torn meniscus. I have decided for surgery and am currently on the 9 month waiting list.

That sucks I just call my surgeon at the Fowler Kennedy Clinic now and I am in within 48 hours and if an MRI is needed I am done within a week and booked for whatever procedure is needed within 30 days max.

 

[calder candidate]

I've torn ACL and PCL and partial LCL, both meniscus, fractured femur and somekind of trauma to every part of my knee all at once playing sport

One get a knee brace a real one molded with hinges not something you get at the pharmacy, wear it anytime there is a risk of instability sports, hinking, getting crazy drunk...

the ACL knee will never improve, but surgery isn't always 100%, so if there isn't any instability I would delay surgery but you need to keep rehab like crazy, gain strenght and balance. More you gain the more you will recover and the more you able to delay surgery with causing more trauma to your knee. Age might be factor as well it easier to get surgery before 35.

Make sure your Dr. is a knee speacialist not some generalist.
Get a a Allograft (patellar tendon, anterior tibialis tendon, or Achilles tendon recovered from a cadaver) if you can, if not I strongly recommend Autograft using part of your hamstring, I wouldn't touch the patellar tendon that the best way to end up with permemant.

 

[Belso]

So I injured my left knee during a soccer game back in May. The MRI scan showed a partial or complete tear of the ACL and two different meniscus tears.

I had trouble walking after the injury (with two episodes of deep pain), but my knee is somehow getting better and better. The orthopedist told me to train with a physical therapist (which I did two times so far), and that we'll check out later in September if I need surgery or not.

This week, I had the ''go'' to start running or playing sports by my physical therapist because my knee improved a lot since the first meeting a week earlier. I need to be sure I get no instability from my knee though (which I don't).

My question : anybody had this kind of injury and didn't need surgery? Any advice? Should I still be worried even if I don't feel any instability?

Thanks in advance.

I never tore an ACL but I tore a meniscus pretty bad when I crashed snowboarding. I had a limp for 6 months and it hurt for almost a year. I didn't get the surgery. I walked a lot of stairs though.. I was about 20 at the time. It's been fine ever since. I'm 39 now. I ran a half marathon last summer. Unfortunately I tore an Achilles tendon playing ball hockey last September. The good news is my knee outlasted my foot ;-) But seriously, just take it easy till you feel better. I'd avoid doing sports till you feel your strength is back. You have your whole life to play sports. Don't rush an injury.

 

[TRG]

I tore an ACL last year playing hockey and damaged both meniscus on that knee. At first, I didn't know it was a torn ACL. But after a month of no improvements, I went back to the doctor and he told me to get an MRI. That's where I found out about the whole injuries and 8 weeks later, I went through a surgery to repair the ACL and cut a piece of one of my meniscus. Rehab was long. Played hockey for the first time this week, 9 months after surgery.

But hey, whatever it takes.

 

[AntonCH]

For the love of god do not let them do anything to your meniscus other than resection it.
If anybody even utters the word remove - RUN away as fast as you can

I had mine resectioned and 15 years later no issues
A friend had his removed - lost all form of stability in the knee

 

[Uber Coca]

Thanks for all the info.

I played Ultimate Frisbee last night and the knee held up. Putting weight on it is harder this morning but I never felt unsafe yesterday. The knee looked stable but was obviously not at 100%, and I was much slower.

 

[calder candidate]

Thanks for all the info.

I played Ultimate Frisbee last night and the knee held up. Putting weight on it is harder this morning but I never felt unsafe yesterday. The knee looked stable but was obviously not at 100%, and I was much slower.

I'm a ultimate player as well, Ultimate is probably the most demanding sport after AUS. rule Ruby, if your ACL is torn don't play ultimate or any stop and go sport without a brace it might hold up but at some point likely when you don't expect it it will give out and you'll have even more damage meniscus or other ligament which lower your chance to successfull surgery or will lead to more longer term effect.