ACL
 

i was hoping to get some input from anyone who has torn their ACL. i have a minor tear in both my ACL and MCL and am due for reconstructive surgery. has anyone successfully rehabilitated their ACL without surgery? anyone have problems after the surgery? any and all input would be much appreciated as this is my first surgery and am very anxious.

My friend tore his acl twice. The first time was due to sports. The 2nd time was right after the first one's surgery. He went back to playing sports WAY too early.

The only input I have is if you get the surgery, make sure you are full healed before coming back to a sport/strenuous activity. Even then, take it easy for a while!

jfelco,sorry to hear about your injury.
Get it repaired right away.
About 3 years ago i tore my acl in a martial arts tournament.
I kept fighting and did some major damage to my knee.
I tore my cartlage in 6 places.
Forget about the "no pain no gain,gut it out,tough guy" bull sh-t.
My recovery time was increased 3 fold, and a slight change in the weather reminds me of my bad knee regulary.
I was lucky in that my surgeon is an athlete, because most docs would have removed the damaged cartlage completely instead of trying to repair it.( effectively ending my sports activities)
On a happier note, i have continued my training, and have even participated in some more tournaments, with the aid of a $800 knee brace.
Good luck, and do everything that your physical theropist tells you to do.

Bill

My wife tore hers. She did exercises and got along well enough for a while, and then while roller skating (yep) fell wrong and tore it some more. This time, the pain was constaint and they cut away more of the torn part for reasons I won't go into. Her knee is very unstable.

My advice would be to go for the reconstructive surgery if you can afford it. You might be okay for now, with exercise, but the potential for a severe reinjury is signficant. Because the knee is just not as stable as it was, no matter what you do.

My wife had her acl replaced, about 2 months after the birth of our first. She successfully rehabed it, but... Several years later, she did something, and had it scoped again, then about 3 months ago, had it scoped again. She still has some pains, but nothing like before the reconstruction. Her knee is better, or so she tells me! But, she is starting to get arthritis (SP?).

Hmmm... you said you have a "minor tear" but you have to have reconstructive surgery? That doesn't really match up... Usually they can repair a partial tear or whatnot with arthroscopic surgery and they reserve the reconstructive stuff for a full tear (rupture) of the ACL.

I ruptured my right ACL 3 years or so ago in a soccer game, not a fun time, let me tell you. If they're recommending reconstructive surgery, you obviously need it, it won't ever be right again without it and if you ever plan on playing sports or anything like that you should definitely do it. It kind of really sucks, you are down for quite a while and a lot of rehab, but you'll be better off in the long run that way.

My advice is to just do whatever your doctors tell you, do the exercises that they tell you and don't put more or less strain on it than you are supposed to. It would suck to go through all the pain and expense and then go back to normal activities too early and ruin it again. So, obey! Good luck... I feel for ya.

i had the surgery a week ago and am recooperating from it.
thanks for the input, i hope to be doing rehab soon to have a rull recovery.

Good luck man! It's an ordeal for sure, but at least you get to have a cool scar out of it! :p

My hubby has had three ACL surgeries and my dad has one....DO YOUR REHAB RELIGIOUSLY!! This can not be stressed enough. Good luck with your recovery!

Yeah, I cannot reiterate it enough. Do your rehab! I had my surgery 13 years ago and my knee haunts me to this day when I do certain activities.