Author Topic: Torn ACL... (Read 497 times)

Octavius · « **on:** September 21, 2002, 12:17:36 PM »

I'm sitting at my keyboard with a giant ice pack around my right knee. Last night in a football matchup against a respected conference rival, we were victorious, but at a cost. I ended up tearing my ACL completely. Not sure how long I'll be sitting. I will be going to see the sports injury doc on monday for a full examination. Amazingly, there isnt much pain. Our athletic trainer said it must be a clean break with the nerve endings and the like (I guess thats what happens when a fat lineman falls on ya..) I am unsure what the doc will say, but so far it looks good. I iced it all last night, kept it elevated, and there really isn't a whole lot of swelling. The only problem is, my knee shifts left/right a good inch and a half.

So far we (Cudahy, my home town) are undefeated on the season (4-0). Ironically, 2 years ago, against the same team, my brother also tore his right ACL, MCL, and his miniscus (sp?). He was in severe pain as one of the tendons wasn't torn completely. Ahh well.. I'll be back soon, I hope. I'm determined

oct out.

Kieran · « **Reply #1 on:** September 21, 2002, 12:48:40 PM »

If that ACL is torn, your season is over. Sorry, you had better come to grips quickly. Tendons and ligaments heal slowly due in part to a lower bloodflow (as compared to muscle). I wouldn't place any special significance on lack of pain, either, because the minute you try to run it will come right back. That's just how it is.

Octavius · « **Reply #2 on:** September 21, 2002, 01:24:48 PM »

Aye. I tried running on it last night (the game had not ended, I wanted to go back in). I can jog and semi-sprint on it just fine, but when trying to cut back or do a little zig-zag, it goes nuts. I don't want to try that again. Right now I'm walking on it. I have just under the full range of motion (about 90 degrees to fully extended) with a small amount of pain.

Toad · « **Reply #3 on:** September 22, 2002, 01:40:09 AM »

Please be real careful.

Even if you do well with it now, this stuff has a way of coming back around and reminding you what happened in your teens when you hit 40+ and it is lots less fun when it does.

I'd be babying it as much as possible, not walking on it. They did give you crutches, right?

The 'net is a wonderful tool, too. There's lots of stuff out there on ACL.

Ohio State: Patient Education; ACL Tears

"Treatment Options

Non-Surgical treatment of a torn ACL may include rigorous strengthening exercises; a special knee brace; and avoiding activities which cause knee pain, swelling or buckling/giving away. Activities most likely to cause pain, swelling or giving way are sudden start, stop, or pivoting type of activities. If the non-operative treatment method is not effective, these patients may choose to have knee reconstruction at a later date.

Surgical treatment of a torn ACL would require ACL reconstruction to restore knee stability. The goal of this procedure is to increase stability to the knee, thus allowing a more active life style, to minimize the risk of meniscus tear, and to reduce the risk of arthritis later in life. To learn more about this procedure, please read ACL Reconstruction Protocol.

"

Good luck!

Curval · « **Reply #4 on:** September 22, 2002, 10:09:37 AM »

Oct...sorry to hear about this.

My only experience with ACL injuries came from, believe it or not, my dog! He was a shepard cross who was a brilliant "frisbee dog". In retrospect he was far too big of a dog to be jumping for frisbees, but he LOVED it. One day I threw a high one for him and he landed badly. He was on 3 legs for two days before I realised it wasn't just a strained leg.

The operation was hideous...no micro-surgery for animals. They sliced him from his hip to just past his knee. His ACL on his other leg "went" two years later due to all the stress from favouring that leg for so long.

Stay off that leg man. Let it have a chance to heal. It sounds like you have torn the ligament, but not all the way through...you wouldn't be walking at all if it was that badly damaged.

You are young and probably think you are invincible, but I wish my dog was still alive so that I could show you the arthritis that developed in his knees...by the time he passed away he looked as if he had tennis balls growing out of his knees. Dogs don't know how to rest. He ran around with bad knees constantly even though he shouldn't have, but how do you stop a dog from exercising and enjoying its walk? Humans should have more sense.

Kieran · « **Reply #5 on:** September 22, 2002, 10:26:53 AM »

Having coached varsity sports for nearly 20 years, I can tell you ACL injuries don't "just go away". The two areas of your body you never ignore WRT to injury are backs and knees.

This is big-time. My advice is to get arthroscopic ASAP and fix it. I'm not just talking about your sports career, I am also talking about your ability to walk around and enjoy a quality of life later on down the road. This won't heal itself. If you are lucky you will have a partial tear that will develop scar tissue that will plague you the rest of your life. If you are unlucky you will have enough shifting of bone in your knee to begin to grind together, wearing away the bone. Once that happens, you may be talking about knee replacement in the future.

Get it fixed now.

funkedup · « **Reply #6 on:** September 22, 2002, 05:06:08 PM »

I had a partial MCL tear in HS football. It healed, but it still gives me very minor trouble once every couple of years.

ACL is not going to heal though. I would consider a reconstruction in order to ensure your quality of life in the long term.

Olgzr3 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 22, 2002, 06:47:48 PM »

Oct:

My youngest tore her ACL 3 years ago in basketball. Its nothing to take lightly. Get it fixed and do the rehab.
Have to say its a damned shame though, sounds like you had a good season going.

Nop

Saurdaukar · « **Reply #8 on:** September 23, 2002, 12:35:34 AM »

Youre walking on a torn ACL!?!?! Are you NUTS!?!?

Had a couple freinds tear ACLs in both ice hockey and lax... both were VERY talented players that never played again. Make sure it heals properly and DONT push it!!!

Ripsnort · « **Reply #9 on:** September 23, 2002, 08:23:06 AM »

Oct. Good luck in rehab, you'll be back up and running in no time.

gofaster · « **Reply #10 on:** September 23, 2002, 08:46:17 AM »

Fall sports are out. So are winter basketball and baseball for you. Not sure when your district plays soccer, but that's out, too. And so is tennis and volleyball. Anything that involves running sideways or any sort of quick start/stop motion is out of the question this year. Your best chance for healing and still being able to maintain physical conditioning are swimming and cycling (not MTBing, which puts irregular stress on the legs). But hey, you're not just quitting football, you're starting your training for triathlons. When you get to college and are competing in tri's, the chicks will fall all over you. Trust me!

hawk220 · « **Reply #11 on:** September 23, 2002, 09:29:52 AM »

so I guess break-dancing is right out?

midnight Target · « **Reply #12 on:** September 23, 2002, 09:33:48 AM »

Do it right Oct, not fast! This is more imortant than a football season.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #13 on:** September 23, 2002, 09:38:59 AM »

Hey Oct, you use rudder pedals?

Suggest programming some buttons on your JS for rudders.

midnight Target · « **Reply #14 on:** September 23, 2002, 12:11:40 PM »

So, anyone got some good sports injury stories? I think I shared mine a while back in here but there must be more.

C'mon! Lets cheer up Oct with our horror stories.