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May have torn acl

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durmz
Posts: 20 - Karma: 11

hey guys wont bore you with the details as im sure this comes up all the time, but basically after hurting my knee on a ski holiday like a month ago and starting physiopherapy, the doc thinks Its head or tails, I may have ruptured my acl, may not have, going to do 4 weeks of physio appointments, then may have a scan. so my question is basically whats my best course of action, what exercises and stuff should I be doing, i can walk, its fairly flexible now, I can ride a bicycle again. I basically want to do everything I can without over doing it, thanks for the help.

Apr 13 2010 6:09PM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,385
Your best course of action is to have a scan right now. Like, tomorrow.

Don't waste your time on PT if you aren't going to get any better. that's a TON of wasted money.

You probably got this advice because you didn't go to a sports specific doc/PT place. If you did, they would understand. Get yourself looked at, and make sure it's someone who specializes in sports orthopedics, knows what he or she is doing and comes with recommendation. Don't fuck around with something that could potentially change everything about your active lifestyle for years to come.
Apr 13 2010 6:19PM
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casual
Posts: 6712 - Karma: 6,746
Even if the ACL is a done deal, PT is still a good idea...the better shape everything is in pre-surgery (strength of surrounding muscle groups, flexibility, range of motion, etc.) the more successful the surgery and the quicker the recovery.

But, yeah, not really any point in delaying the MRI. What I'm confused on though, is how the doc doesn't know whether it's torn or not. In almost every case, the doctor's physical exam (testing for movement/stability/laxity in the joint by pulling on the leg) is conclusive. Most view MRI's as a formality and as a tool to petition insurance companies for approval on covering reconstruction.

How long ago was the injury?
Apr 13 2010 6:40PM
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sxfan91
Posts: 8 - Karma: 17
dude i just tore my mcl and patellar tendon 3 weeks ago and you need to get an mri go to pt for sure tho it will help it get better but the scan will help the docs decide what ways you really need to strengthen it. vibes man get better
Apr 13 2010 8:42PM
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pjbauer
Posts: 2145 - Karma: 480
THIS!!
Take a look at the thread i posted all about ACL recovery!
Apr 13 2010 9:11PM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,385
Yea, well that's what I was trying to get across. 4 weeks of PT THEN going in is a waste. doing PT with a therapist is a waste of money pre op in my mind too though, I did all my pre op PT on my own and it worked out great.

The reason why I stressed a sports specific ortho is because he said that it "might" be done and because he said to wait on the MRI. I've heard of plenty of general doctors or non-specialists being dummies like that.
Apr 13 2010 9:14PM
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dave44
Posts: 11052 - Karma: 113
This is true, true, and true. The doctor should be able to come up with a conclusion (or even the physio should be able to).

And yes, proper PT done before the op can speed up post-op rehab...

It sounds like you've got most of your range of motion (ROM) back. Talk to your physio, but I'd just stick to some cycling, and some quad/ham strengthening exercises (work on the VMO!) should keep you occupied up till your op.

I'm about 14 weeks post op and feeling great. Good luck with your knee!
Apr 13 2010 9:17PM
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Lemuel
Posts: 14477 - Karma: 10,515
Being about 6 weeks post surgery, I will tell you everything.

Do not go to the emergency room, it is a waste of time and money.
Get an MRI immediately, because you basically need one anyway.
Surgery is your best bet, and I did 4 weeks of pre-surgery PT and it helped.
As far as exercises, do single leg presses, hamstring curls, calf exercises on the leg press (put your toes at the bottom and push as if you are going on your tippy toes), leg lifts in every direction, some minor squatting, monster walks, quad sets (tightening your quad muscle), lie down with your leg out straight and relax the muscles and then move your knee cap around in every direction (it's a very weird feeling and was almost impossible for me to do just because of the way it felt), balance exercises on bosu balls (esp. on just the bag leg).  that is all I can think of now that it in my routine at PT. 

I would definitely suggest getting the MRI now.  That way you can schedule surgery and get it done.  Believe me, you want to have surgery as soon as possible and have it done.  Usually they say wait 6 weeks post injury to regain your motion and strength.  I was debating whether to do that (I would have to/ am spending the rest of school recovering, which isn't nearly as bad as I thought) or to have surgery when the semester was over.  I am so glad I did it back in March because I am already 6 weeks through recovery, instead of 4 weeks pre-surgery at this point.
Apr 13 2010 9:21PM
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twin-tip-hero
Posts: 2896 - Karma: 277
yeah dude go and get that scan ASAP.  don't waste your money on PT if it is going to do nothing.  but if the worst news comes out and you have torn it, you must work out like fucking crazy before.  get the muscles around the knee fucking jacked and in tip top shape.  this will reduce your recovery time by alot!  when i tore my ACL i worked out a shit load before and worked my ass off  in PT and when most people are walking out of a limp at 4 months, i was running and playing soccer.  so yeah get that scan dude it will be the best thing you can do at this stage in the game.  if it comes back negative then keep working your ass off in PT and you will be back at it in no time.  lets hope thats the case here, and hope everything goes well dude.  ++vibes++
Apr 13 2010 9:32PM
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dan4060
Posts: 1458 - Karma: 847
Good luck.  I would not do leg extensions, but get on it with weights.  You need your leg to be as strong as possible before you go in for surgery, as you will lose a ton of muscle.  I might go to PT just to get a program, then do the program on your own.

I would get the scan as soon as possible.
Apr 13 2010 10:44PM
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durmz
Posts: 20 - Karma: 11

ok, first of all massive thanks for the responces guys and the vibes haha, really appreciate it.

something i should say is that in the uk we have the nhs, national health service, this means we basically pay for hospitals and stuff out of everyday taxes, so all this pt, the scan and surgery wont actually cost me anything, however, if i can spend money to get a better job, a better recovery I will, so, plan of action, im gonna speak to somone who specialises in training for this sort of injury, ie a personal trainer at the gym, see if i can push the scan ahead etc. and also get a 2nd professional opinion on wether or not ive done it.

as some guys have said, yeah im getting better motion, but at my first pt i noticed a few things, i cant fully straighten my leg, feels straight, feels as far as it usually goes, but its not. i cant get my heel to touch my ass, it gets like a few inches away, then starts to hurt alot, last thing really, if i do alot of walking, i get a clicking, like something in theres moving, not fun

Apr 14 2010 6:36AM
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Lemuel
Posts: 14477 - Karma: 10,515
Yea you probably won't be able to kick your butt until after surgery.  I am like 2 inches away now.  And getting your leg straight is the most important thing before surgery.  If you do not get your leg straight or your ROM back before surgery, you won't after/ you will have a very very hard time doing it.  Good luck man.
Apr 14 2010 10:17AM
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Pahina22
Posts: 151 - Karma: 13
isnt this a question you should have asked your doctor....not random people on NS?
Apr 14 2010 11:18AM
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Riser
Posts: 73 - Karma: 60
Don't take shit from the NHS. Complain and say you're in more pain to your consultant because it sounds pretty obvious your knee's fucked. Get an MRI asap.
They tried to tell me my collar bone wasn't broken when there was a fuck-off step in it, it's still there. If you know something's wrong but man-up when you're assessed then they think you're fine.
A friend's dad went in with back pain after a fall. He manned his way through the exercises they used as tests. 6 months later, still in pain, gets an x-ray, broken back.

Don't wait, get the MRI by any means
Apr 14 2010 4:25PM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,385
Well, you definitely fucked something up. You are lucky that you are walking though, I couldn't do shit besides stretch before my surgery.

My surgery was 4 weeks after I did it. For the first two weeks I had to rock crutches. I know some people that skied after they did it before surgery, which was unimaginable for me based on how unstable I was.
Apr 14 2010 4:50PM
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dbstar
Posts: 2038 - Karma: 20
you americans just dont get it....
healthcare is free everywhere else!!!
Apr 14 2010 5:24PM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,385
i think we get it.
Apr 14 2010 9:49PM
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durmz
Posts: 20 - Karma: 11

I did, its called, gathering as much info as you can, and my physio pherapist/ doctor, is not a skiier, and I mainly wanted to know how I could do whatever possible to reduce to the problems with my future skiing.

ok guys im gonna push for the mri, get it done

Apr 15 2010 3:15PM
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c.hale
Posts: 636 - Karma: 50
I tore both of my ACLs overshooting a booter this winter and I have those exact same symptoms in both. It's been about a month since I tore them and I have some better motion now, but I'm not scheduled for the first surgery till the end of may.
Apr 15 2010 5:31PM
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durmz
Posts: 20 - Karma: 11
shiiittttt, that sucks! how does that work? one knee operated on at a time? do you let one recover a bit before the next so u can still walk ok'ish?
Apr 16 2010 1:43PM
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Lemuel
Posts: 14477 - Karma: 10,515
There are probably 6 months in between (6 months is the amount of time until you are usually cleared for normal activity). 

I was able to ski literally a minute after I did mine.  I had almost no pain at all besides that first minute where I didn't think I would be able to stand up/ I couldn't even talk or yell loud enough for the ski patrol standing up the hill.  After I got up, I skied down to the bottom, slowly, but confidently.  I had very little instability in my knee before surgery, it only gave out on me 3 times in 6 weeks, and they all happened to be on the same day.  Just be careful not to do anything to it again before surgery, I fell on some ice trying to dodge some snowballs and tore my meniscus a week before surgery.  I'm not sure If I already posted that or not.  Good luck with it and +vibes to everyone in teh same situation, especially the one with both torn.
Apr 16 2010 2:33PM
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KennyC
Posts: 1922 - Karma: 46
go to that one dude in vail who did jen hudak's knee. he seems to know whats up.
Apr 16 2010 5:45PM
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DrZoidberg
Posts: 5675 - Karma: 4,268
Late on this thread? Get the MRI though, I just got one and it confirmed the tear. The doctors did some movements and said she thought everything was intact, but the scan revealed total carnage. Fully torn acl and minor damage to other things like the mcl and lateral and medial meniscus. There goes my summer.

I was reading through the report, and I have anatomy in school so I got most of what they were saying. Two things made me laugh.They call it a "Full thickness disruption of the anterior cruciate ligament." That's doublespeak if I've ever heard it. Why not just say total carnage or full tear. Doesn't sound smart but it's accurate. It also says "the lateral collateral ligament is intact" HAHAAHAA at lateral collateral. For whatever reason I laughed really hard at that.
Apr 16 2010 6:31PM
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durmz
Posts: 20 - Karma: 11

Well a long time on I thought ide get back to this thread, its been a bit of a joke in terms of time but an arthroscopy discovered that basically my acl is partially torn, so my knee still has a bit of stability.

this would explain why I didnt hear a pop or wasnt in complete excruciating pain I suppose. now my doc advises not getting the op for this unless the knee is giving way, which has never happened, so ive been bang on the pt and all and am going skiing this year for an easy going week to see how I get on.

anyone thinking this is a bad idea and ide be better off getting the operation anyways? im thinking getting an acl while skiing may help

Jan 20 2011 5:09AM
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