The "I tore my acl" thread

[89revival]

So I was playing ball hockey in a mens rec league where i live in Mississauga and during my second shift of the game while hustling back into my zone to retrieve the ball (i was playing d) with an opposing player on my butt, running pretty well full out towards the boards behind our net when i felt a pain like i've never felt in my life in my left leg.

I dropped to the floor and immediately grasped at the knee. I did not hear the "pop" that so many claim to hear but it hurt really bad. After a couple of minutes i was helped off to the bench with a team mate on either side of me. Sitting on the bench with adrenaline kicking i tested the leg by trying to stand on it but it gave right out and slipped inwards. Right then and there i knew it had to be pretty bad.

I saw a specialist who pushed and pulled on the knee and explained he thinks it's my acl and maybe mcl as well.

This happened on June 13th....fast forward to today and i'm getting my MRI tomorrow night. Originally the MRI wasn't going to be until Aug 29th, but by going on a cancellation list I got bumped up...thank God!

Anyone been through an acl/mcl injury? I've been off work since it happened and i'm goin crazy sitting at home. It's actually healed to the point that I can walk on it.... with a limp of course. I don't want to push it too hard so i limit the amount of walking I do.

I'm more curious about rehab and how long to expect to be down after surgery which i figure i'll need.

Any info appreciated, cheers.

[Flames in 07]

I think the most important thing by far is to rehab it. Who cares what the MRI says, I'd go get regular physio appointments. You need to strengthen the ligaments back up or you will be (very) prone to re-injury.

I tore the tendons (ligaments? dunno) in my ankle that are above my foot, basically the outside bone on my heal hit the hardwood of a gym floor pretty hard as i rolled it, and the best advice I got was to get into physio as soon as doc said it was ok (i think like 1-2 weeks after the injury)

[cavalera403]

Hope beyond hope that you tore through completely. I don't know what the waiting list for that surgery is out there but I have a partial ACL and MCL and they won't even put me on the list.

[Hatter]

Originally Posted by cavalera403

Hope beyond hope that you tore through completely. I don't know what the waiting list for that surgery is out there but I have a partial ACL and MCL and they won't even put me on the list.

Take with a grain of salt as I'm no doctor, but I've heard that the repair is easier if it's completely torn as well.

[NBC]

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=80163

[8sPOT]

I partially tore my ACL about a year ago, in June 2011. By January 2012 I was at the surgeons office and decided not to get surgery. Wrong choice. I didn't get the brace he reccomended (wrong choice) and played sports he didn't reccomend (wrong choice).

Re-injured it again and am now going through the whole process again. Luckily I know what the physio entails, and that is absolutely crucial to your long term health. Get that leg really strong, and get as much mobility as you can.

Good luck to you! And I strongly advise having it repaired via surgery.

[Old Yeller]

I got the surgery and was running (somewhat awkwardly) within 3 months , playing squash within 6 months and back to soccer within a year. I'm still wearing my brace anytime I'm doing anything other than jogging as it's somewhat of a safety blanket, but my knee has been pain free and almost as good as before I blew it out. If you get the surgery, stick to the rehab and there's a light at the end of the tunnel.

[sa226]

I tore my ACL about 2 years ago now. I still have yet to go under the knife and I'm not sure when I will.

My choice was based on just not willing to take the time for rehab at that point in my life. Also my quality of life has changed very little. I can't confidently play volleyball and basketball, but I can still ride my bike and golf. I do feel it from time to time, especially when something I do requires a pivot, but stability wise its pretty good.

For those that said they were playing sports by 3-4 months, according to my surgeon at that point that is the worst thing you can do. Apparently the most re-injuries happen at the 3-4 month point.

By that time the muscles have regained much of their former strength, and your confidence and restlessness is at an all time high, so you feel like you are ready to go hit the ice, court or whatever. But the cells where the new ligament is fusing to the bone are at their weakest. So while strength wise you feel great, but if you fall, take a blow to the knee or plant awkwardly the chances of detaching or re-tearing the ligament are extremely high.

[undercoverbrother]

You have my sympathy.

I have strained/sprained almost all the major joints in my body, but never torn.

Good luck with your recovery.

[89revival]

Thanks for the info and direction to the other thread, lots of good info/experiences within it. It's been roughly 5 weeks since i injured it and i am able to walk on it, wondering if that sounds like a complete tear or a partial, i'm actually hoping it's a full tear as the surgery is the only way to really fully fix it. I'm hoping it's not a partial as it's likely to be re-injured playing sports which i'm likely to do.

Specialist said he thought it was the acl and perhaps the mcl too.....anyone torn their acl an were able to walk on it within 5 weeks?

[Old Yeller]

Yeah I was able to walk on mine easily enough after the swelling had gone down, so within a couple of days.

I originally had mine diagnosed as a partial tear (no MRI) but had a lot of problems with it, went back and got a second opinion from the UofC Sports Med clinic and was diagnosed with a full tear.

[8sPOT]

My original injury was a partial tear. And this time, the specialist isn't even order an MRI, did his tests, took x-rays and determined its completely torn now. I don't know if thats just experience or BS but he seemed to think that surgery is my only option and thats where I'm heading. The rehab takes a long time but really its not long when I consider I would like to be active for the rest of my life.

[AR_Six]

Killed mine skiing this winter. Flat light day, cornice, thought the ground was farther than it was. Tip dive, tomohawk, complete rupture.

Very lucky that there was no significant meniscal damage as far as anyone can tell and all my other ligaments are intact. I'm on the list and waiting for my day on the operating table. Skiing is like... the best thing in my existence so I'm anxious to get it done and do it right. I have gained a bunch of muscle in pre-hab and am hoping to come out of this stronger than I went in.

You have to really push the leg exercises, but maintain a careful balance because you don't want to overstress an injured knee. Certain motions allow your knee to tolerate more weight - leg press and hamstring curl (i.e., NOT leg extensions) are pretty key. Wall squats help a lot early on. You can also ride a bike without any real issue, though for me it does cause soreness the next day when I ride for more than 3 hours. I haven't driven anywhere in about 2 months - all bike all the time.