"Slightly torn" ACL

(centralcali) · (centralcali) **Join Date: Jan 2005** 05-11-2006, 4:43 PM

Hurt myself on a stupid 180 about 10 weeks ago. Went to the doc asap and he told me my knee was only sprained and it would be better in 6wks. After 8wks I went back and demanded a MRI. He told me today that I have a slightly torn acl and a bone bruise. When it first happened I lost a lot of mobility in my knee but it has been progressively getting better. I almost have full mobility back and it isn't as sore now as it has been. The doc is sending me to a specialist and I am hoping to get a good brace. I definately have to take it easy so that I don't tear it all the way.

Here is my question: Have any of you had a slightly torn acl that has healed itself? Because it has been feeling progressively better, I am hoping that I can use a brace for the summer and I will resolve itself.

(thane_dogg) · (thane_dogg) **Join Date: Jun 2002** 05-11-2006, 4:50 PM

I completely tore my ACL in August of '05, but my surgeon thinks that I tore it partially or mostly when I first hurt it in October of '02. In '02 I went to the doc and he said same thing your doc told you. I never got an MRI, and rode pretty hard on it for 3 years, without a brace until one day last August, on a ts 3, POW! and I knew it was gone then. Funny thing was that I didn't have very much swelling.

Just thought I would share my experience.

(thane_dogg) · (thane_dogg) **Join Date: Jun 2002** 05-11-2006, 4:50 PM

oh yeah I had different docs between '02 and '05, sorry for the confusion.

(buzz_grande) · (buzz_grande) **Join Date: Mar 2004** 05-11-2006, 4:51 PM

My friend Katie had something similar. They told her that she tore her ACL. They eventually scoped her knee, told her that it was partially torn, snipped off the torn piece, and left her with what was left. A few months later she tore it the rest of the way. Since then she has switched to a knee specialist who does not have his head up his ..., has had a second surgery (the right way)and has a much better knee. Still has a brace, but snowboards, surfs, and has been wakeboarding again.

Having a partial ACL is not that great of a thing, as far as I know. Best recommendation is to get a second, and 3rd opinion, MRI, etc. Best of luck.

(super_air) · (super_air) **Join Date: Jun 2005** 05-11-2006, 4:51 PM

Trevor- It is feeling better because the swelling has been going down over time which will let you have your mobility back. When your knee is swollen it lifts your kneecap up off of it's socket and you fell pain. I have never heard of a partial tear healing itself but I could be wrong. I have torn the same ACL twice and so far it has not healed any the second time around. The brace will prevent you from hyper extending your joint and that is it, by no means will it prevent it from tearing.

(thane_dogg) · (thane_dogg) **Join Date: Jun 2002** 05-11-2006, 5:04 PM

If I was in your situation (which I was, but I didn't know it) I wouldn have done some things different like: get a brace, and do what I could to maintain leg strength, and stretch more. I wouldn't go under the knife for a partially torn ACL. Odds will say that you're going to tear it all the way sometime anyway. I don't think I would have torn mine if I would have stayed up on my leg strength, and stretching. I don't think a brace would have made a difference.

(treycleaton) · (treycleaton) **Join Date: Mar 2005** 05-11-2006, 7:00 PM

It is a fact that the ACL ligament will not repair itself: no blood supply. Blew my MCL and ACL, since MCL has a blood supply it healed on its own. Got my ACL reconstructed after MCL healed itself.

(foxrepdc) · (foxrepdc) **Join Date: Oct 2005** 05-11-2006, 8:04 PM

OK...big question for me is....where does a slightly torn ACL hurt or stay tight?? Lower knee, upper, side, or deep knee???

(thane_dogg) · (thane_dogg) **Join Date: Jun 2002** 05-11-2006, 8:25 PM

The ACL itself doesn't hurt at all. Usually when you tear a ligament, the joint displaces greatly, tearing cartilage and surrounding tissue. The tearing of the surrounding tissues is what gives the swelling and the pain. It is possible to tear your ACL and really not have that much pain at all.

Swelling also causes the "tightness".

(kylielogan) · (kylielogan) **Join Date: Apr 2006** 05-11-2006, 9:05 PM

I've known 2 girls who've had ACL surgery. One is still recovering and it's taking a long time; the other kind of regrets having the surgery, even though she really had no choice, because her knee still bothers her, just a different set of problems. I've had 3 knee surgeries, but for torn cartilage, and agree with g/f #2 - different set of problems. I'd definitely get a 2nd opinion before making a decision. Ask your PCP specifically for a conservative ortho surgeon and see what that person's opinion is.

(foxrepdc) · (foxrepdc) **Join Date: Oct 2005** 05-11-2006, 9:12 PM

The reason I ask...I caught a toeside and face planted Easter Sunday. When I got in the boat, I had a sharp pain under my knee, top inner area of the shin. I kept it wrapped, iced, took Motrin, it felt better. Last week...I'm stretching about to slide off and get the same sharp ass pain again. I went ahead and rode, no falls for almost 3o minutes and it never got worse. I am keeping a neoprene support on it everday. I have NO swelling, just a soreness in the upper shin area, and a little sharp pain deep knee a few times a day.
Anyone else had that same kind of pain?

(kylielogan) · (kylielogan) **Join Date: Apr 2006** 05-11-2006, 9:40 PM

Maybe bursitis?? That would be the right area for that type of pain (shin/kneecap).

(thane_dogg) · (thane_dogg) **Join Date: Jun 2002** 05-11-2006, 9:45 PM

sounds like tendonitis or something. The symptoms don't sound concurrent with an ACL tear if that's what you're thinking.

(yosquire) · (yosquire) **Join Date: Jun 2005** 05-14-2006, 8:00 AM

IMO:

Ditch the neoprene support brace. By wearing that everyday, the muscles don't have to work. So they deteriorate. The problem then is that your knee gets weak, the next hard impact and bang.

(rnopr8) · (rnopr8) **Join Date: Apr 2005** 05-14-2006, 8:32 AM

Think of a thick piece of rope 8 inches long attached to something on each end that gets over stretched to the point that the side frays and the end starts to pull off a little. That is what your ACL looks like when it is "slightly" or better word is "partially" torn. It will never reattach or unfray. The best thing is to prevent it from completely fraying or detaching on the end (almost always the upper end) A neoprene doesn't make a knee weaker nor will it really help except to remind you to be careful and not overextend it again. You need a brace that you can dial in and limit the amount of extension to your knee so you don't over extend it and tear it the rest of the way. I have never had a knee injury but I have been in the OR in orthopedics and have helped repair thousands of these injuries. Good luck to all you guys and take care of those knees!!

(phantom5815) · (phantom5815) **Join Date: Jul 2002** 05-14-2006, 8:53 AM

good analogy SoCal M.O.B with the rope.
I was one of those who ( unknown to me) "frayed" my ACL over several years of playing softball- it was my sliding leg ( from age 15- 31) when I finally popped the rest chasing down a line drive. Initially I never thought ACL, but just meniscus the was my knee partially locked and I attributed the instability to swelling. Well ...1 MRI & Arthroscopy later later no ACL and torn Medial Meniscus and "excoriated" left meniscus.
Long story short....just cleaned up the Medial meniscus. 10 yrs after injury opted for the elective ACL reconstruction and now I'm 1 yr post reconstruction.
As long as you're in great shape ( leg strength & coordination wise) you can still be as active as before you injury. I was a little caution 3 mos after my initial injury/surgery, then it was never a problem. But I started having issues when I stopped staying active, hence the reason for the surgery. My personal experience if it's worth anything to you.

Oh I forgot - Never wore a brace during that time either.

(suprarider) · (suprarider) **Join Date: Apr 2002** 05-16-2006, 9:47 PM

Zup Trevor,
I "stretched" my ACL back in 97 on a roll to revert - hyperextended. I rode with a Donjoy brace until this summer when I totally tore my ACL and Miniscus on a W2W 180. Had surgery 7 weeks ago because my knee would pop out of place just getting into bed! I am now 7 weeks out of operation and finally getting close to full extention - but what an experience. I won't be able to ride or anything close until Sept. I am 45 so you should recoop faster. GOOD LUCK and don't do anything STOOPID. My neighbor is on his second ACL recon. because he popped his 10 weeks out being crazy. Take it easy so you can ride next season :-)

(fyrdawg29) · (fyrdawg29) **Join Date: Mar 2006** 05-17-2006, 8:09 PM

Got bad news from the doc today... Torn PCL...Do i or dont i board on it???

(auto) · (auto) **Join Date: Aug 2002** 05-17-2006, 8:16 PM

skip the the general ortho and go to a sports med doc, you will be glad you did

(rnopr8) · (rnopr8) **Join Date: Apr 2005** 05-17-2006, 10:19 PM

Brett....I guess it depends on if you want to completely do it in or not so you can get if fixed quicker.

(actiondcpd) · (actiondcpd) **Join Date: Apr 2003** 05-18-2006, 8:32 AM

Brett.. Is it completely torn??

(md5150) · (md5150) **Join Date: Apr 2006** 05-18-2006, 9:43 AM

Geez, orthopedic surgeons LOVE wakeboarding...

(millah) · (millah) **Join Date: Apr 2004** 05-19-2006, 2:04 PM

ok whole different story here (might give you some hope) last memorial weekend I tore my ACL and had a MRI to confirm it. The doc said I could live with out surgery. I ask yeah but can I still board? He said you should be able to do anything you were doing before. So I boarded 2 weeks after I tore it. I had to do physical therapy to get my motion back but other than that ive been fine ever since. Just that everyone is different. My doc said my kneee was strong enough to live without a ACL and so far he has been right.

(phantom5815) · (phantom5815) **Join Date: Jul 2002** 05-19-2006, 3:36 PM

I would not recommend riding with a torn PCL, that will only lead to tearing your ACL. The PCL is a much thicker, broader ligament

There are a lot of people who don't have ACL and are active. The most important issue is maintaining your proprioception with working out /activity.
In the back of your mind you'll know to be a little more cautious of some of the things you use to do, but just not as aggresively.