Torn ACL?

[alisoncooks]

*sigh*

 

I took the girls to a free/intro. martial arts class last night.  Since we were the only ones there (+ instructor), I was encouraged to participate.  Despite my current weight (heavy) and current fitness level (none), I joined in and had a great time.  Punching is fun!  Kicking is funner! ;)

 

Anyway, the instructor ended the night with a run & jump/kick using a heavy bag.  The little kids did great.  I gently trotted toward the bag and as I went to kick, my knee buckled.  Pop-pop-pop....and down I went.

:crying:

According to Dr. Google, I've likely injured a ligament, maybe even torn my ACL. :(

I have all the symptoms: initial pop, immediate swelling, pain, knee instability (it buckles now if I'm not super careful), and inability to fully straighten/bend leg.

 

Boo!

 

So I've got a dr. appt. for 11:00, but I'm curious -- have you torn your ACL?  Did it require surgery?

I'm hoping the doctor can put a rush on any testing (MRI?) that I might need -- we've met our insurance deductible for the year (thank you, cancer)...so we're better off financially if this can be resolved before the new year rolls around.

 

How long did your ACL tear take to heal?

[kiana]

I haven't torn my ACL, but I can tell you:

 

1) I had similar symptoms (including the immediate POP) and nothing was torn. I didn't get the MRI until 3 months later because of financial/insurance/job issues (I wore a knee brace) but when they did the MRI they couldn't find anything other than some swelling. They signed me up for physical therapy and that took care of the issue. 

 

2) My MRI took place within a week of the original appointment. 

[gardenmom5]

good luck.  I've a friend who tore his acl last year - he had surgery and recovered alot faster than I did with a 2nd MCL. (for which they don't do surgery). of course, that was six weeks later after an MRI (my dr didn't want to do the MRI, so only ordered it when I was still having so many problems), so it may well have been a 3rd degree with the original injury.

my biggest regret is I didn't go to the ER that night. (there was 1/2" of wet snow, and we are on a very steep hill.)

[retiredHSmom]

A torn ACL may or may not need surgery depending on your lifestyle and what you want to do.  Sports with lots of lateral movement require an intact ACL.  

 

I completely tore my MCL in June.  No surgery was done as they heal themselves.  I would say that I am 80% back to normal.  Swelling comes and goes.  I have full motion in my knee but am still experiencing a lot of quad weakness that is related to swelling that makes stairs hard to do (not painful but tiring)  My biggest issue is that I don't trust my knee.  I am afraid to rupture the ligament again so I tend to err on the side of caution.

[Katy]

Multiple pops, severed ACL, two surgeries.  Totally worth the surgery and therapy and I'd do it again.  Make sure you LIKE your surgeon though. The first guy I visited was a sexist jerk who said I couldn't have torn my ACL because I wasn't acting like I was in enough pain. "I've had grown men rise up off the table when their ACL was torn, there's nothing wrong with her," He said.   Luckily the intern or medical student or whoever mouthed "get a second opinion" and I did.   I'd ask facebook friends for a recommendation, and if more than 3 people give the same doctor, that's probably a good one.

[Sugarfoot]

I tore my ACL getting off a plane. My son's infant car seat had gotten stuck, and when I went to lift him, he didn't budge. My whole body twisted, my knee "popped," intense pain followed. My knee buckled without warning when I walked. Within 48 hours, I'd had an MRI and  knew my ACL was torn. The surgery recovery was a bit painful. I don't tolerate pain meds well. My recovery took forever, likely in part because I had an 8 month old and a 20 month old at the time. I was absolutely and totally exhausted. I went to PT 3 days a week for about 7 months, I think.

 

I can't imagine not having had it repaired. I couldn't walk without it giving out unexpectedly. I also work out a lot, travel quite a bit, and of course just the general running after kids. 

 

I hope you get news asap.  :grouphug:

[alisoncooks]

Well, the good news is that it's not my ACL! Woohoo!

Bad new is that it's likely a meniscus tear.

 

I've been told to "ice the heck out it," take high dose ibuprofen for a week, work on range of motion. And to come back in 2 weeks if it's not better.

[Katy]

Well, the good news is that it's not my ACL! Woohoo!

Bad new is that it's likely a meniscus tear.

 

I've been told to "ice the heck out it," take high dose ibuprofen for a week, work on range of motion. And to come back in 2 weeks if it's not better.

 

Not to be contradictory, but that's what the first bad doctor said to me.

 

Did you get imaging that proved it, or did the doctor just shake your leg from side to side?

[Tess in the Burbs]

I tore my ACL in college.  However, they wouldn't get an MRI b/c I had no insurance.  So I lived with it for 2 years.  Then I finally had insurance, had the MRI, and surgery.  I can tell you recovery now is a lot better than it used to be.  I did need help at home for a few weeks.  I did PT for a long time, but within a year could ski with no issues.  :-)  

 

Hopefully you just strained something.  

[alisoncooks]

Not to be contradictory, but that's what the first bad doctor said to me.

 

Did you get imaging that proved it, or did the doctor just shake your leg from side to side?

Hmmm, the latter.

I'll definitely go for a 2nd opinion if it doesn't improve soon.

[Katy]

Hmmm, the latter.

I'll definitely go for a 2nd opinion if it doesn't improve soon.

 

I'd wait six weeks from the date of injury.  It will take that long for the swelling to go down anyway.

[alisoncooks]

UPDATE:

 

About 1 month after the initial injury, I tried to (foolishly) lift my 80 pound child...and totally hurt that knee again (after it had much improved).  We were in PetCo & I was lifting her to watch the dog grooming -- it hurt so badly, I nearly wept in the store.  So mortifying.  

 

The next day, I went to the ER (we figured it'd be the quickest route to a MRI).  They told me it was just a knee sprain...but since I'd met my deductible for the year, they went ahead and made my referral/appointment with an orthopedic specialist.

 

So...to recap:

Family Doctor -- told me it was a *slight* meniscal tear, if anything

ER Doctor -- "just a sprain"

Orthopedic Specialist -- his guess is ACL tear + possible bucket-handle meniscus tear that needs to be fixed (is the more pressing issue of the two)

 

I've got an MRI on Monday, follow up with the specialist on Tuesday, and he's already scheduled my surgery since he's so sure I'll need it.

*sigh*

 

Thanks again for sharing your experiences.  I'm very nervous about the potential surgery!  I've never had any medical procedures before (other than birthing the kiddos, and that was as natural as it can get).  I'm mostly concerned about the inability to drive for WEEKS (right leg injured) and the need for physical therapy (does one take one's kids to that?  I can't get a sitter and I'm mostly likely having to drive 30+ minutes to the clinic...um....if I could drive.  IDK!?  I'm freaking out a little...but trying to wait until Monday/Tuesday before I get good and worked up about it.  Especially since the surgery would totally derail our already-made Christmas travel plans...)

[plansrme]

My now-18 yo tore her ACL last December.  She is a college student and had surgery in early January.  She missed one day of class for the actual surgery and went back to class the next day, on crutches, but she walked all over campus  She ditched the crutches on Day 2.  She was in a splint to keep her knee straight and to protect it, but she ditched that also after a couple of days.  We drove her around for a week, but then she could drive herself.  The doctor told her to wait longer before she drove, and it was her right leg, but she drove anyway.  She was a gymnast, and it was a career-ending for her, but for just regular ol' running around, she was in good shape within a couple of weeks.  The surgery was all arthroscopic, which made the recovery from the actual surgery pretty easy.  The surgeon did some meniscus work while he was in there, but I do not remember the extent of that.

 

As for scheduling PT, a lot of PT providers are open early in the morning and late at night.  You could call around until you find one that fits your schedule and try to do PT when someone can be home with the kids.  I would imagine, though, that well-behaved non-toddler children are welcome at most PT clinics.  (I say non-toddler because there is a lot that could get a toddler hurt.)

 

One thing that will affect how quickly you recover from the actual surgery is whether they use a donor (cadaver) tendon or take one from your hamstring.  My daughter opted for a donor tendon because the recovery is faster.  The orthopedist presumed he would go with the hamstring, but she brought up the donor option, and he agreed. 

 

I'm sorry you've had such a time getting diagnosed.  My daughter's orthopedist diagnosed hers with a physical exam only; heck, the PT who happened to be at the gym when she tore it did as well.  She tore it on a Sunday night, I got her a 10 AM Monday appointment with the ortho the next day, and by noon, we had a diagnosis, an MRI and a surgery date.

[8circles]

I competely tore my ACL (as well as severely injuring LCL, MCL, & meniscal tears) last year, August.  Had surgery in September (new ligament from my hamstring) & physical therapy through Feb(?).  I didn't find recovery as easy as some apparently have.  I still cannot run, have periods of tendonitis (which I never had before), cannot kneel on the floor to do yoga, and am still working on strengthening that quad.  I have pain daily and still need to ice it regularly.  I could chalk it up to my age but my recovery is the same as my friend who had the same injury/surgery as a college athlete who is still in phenominal shape.  So maybe it just varies by person.

 

Anyhow, my surgeon was fantastic, my PT was excellent, I'm thrilled with having the surgery.  I couldn't have continued to be active at all without it.  It isn't perfect, but I can live this way.

[alisoncooks]

Thanks for sharing the stories!  It really helps give me an idea of what I'm looking at, should the MRI indicate that I need surgery.

 

plansrme - I'm glad to hear your DD did well with with the donor/cadaver tendon.  That is the type that I'd have (and I was getting worried since most of the "internet" seems to prefer the harvested tendon from one's own leg).  I am seeing that the donated tendon is less invasive and may heal quicker?  IDK.

 

8circles - I am worried about recovery (and what my new normal will become, with regard to exercise/being active afterwards).  But I figure...I can't do ANYTHING active right now, so any improvement is going to be good.  

 

Thanks again for all the feedback!  I'll keep updating this thread as needed. :)

[8circles]

 

8circles - I am worried about recovery (and what my new normal will become, with regard to exercise/being active afterwards).  But I figure...I can't do ANYTHING active right now, so any improvement is going to be good.  

 

Thanks again for all the feedback!  I'll keep updating this thread as needed. :)

 

Yeah, I'm purposely not sugar-coating.  You've got to know what you're getting yourself into lol.  & you're absolutely right - I couldn't do anything before surgery so as much as I can do (little though it is) is a definite improvement.

 

My friend that I mentioned who had the surgery in college - she continued to improve over the years and she still runs regularly (only on flat surfaces).  She coaches her son's soccer team and can do all that's required there - but she still has swelling & pain after lots of sideways movement.  Her surgery was about 12 years ago.

 

Yes, I think that recovery is probably faster with donor tissue.   My hamstring was quite painful during PT and I'm sure that slowed me down.

 

Best of luck to you. :)

- Allison

[alisoncooks]

The MRI revealed a torn ACL and a meniscus that was fine!  Yay for a "fine" meniscus!

 

The ACL repair isn't urgent (like the assumed meniscus tear would've been) so we can do the surgery after Christmas, instead of rearranging our travel plans.

 

Thanks again for all the feedback.  I'm still concerned about recovery because it sounds like recovery will be *worse* initially than my current pain & issues. But I do think it'll be better in the long run.