Anyone else busted their ACL
- Thread starter pabloB
- Start date
i damaged the meniscus Cartilage in my right knee twice last year playing football, which luckily didn't need surgery. i've had physio on it and the strength vertically through the knee is strong as i can run, cycle, lift weights etc but weight that puts any force horizontally through the knee its still pretty weak. for example im right footed but i played a lot on my left so if a play a pass or shot that requires rotation of my right knee it really doesn't like it and i can feel unnerving movements in the knee. i need to slowly exert more through it to strengthen the muscle again before i can really feel i can rely on my once dependable knee.
MW
MW
. lol.
Be very careful with cartilage if you **** that the knee is pretty much history!
Went for op at about ten to 9. Woke up at ten to 11. 
Leg is still numb so ive got to wear this splint thing for 24 hours so ill prolly wake up in pain during the night when it comes back to life. Go to go back in the morning at 11 to have dressing redo and look at the wound etc.
Bit of a farce really at points. I was told that I would be in and out and it took them about 2 hours to decide if I could go home or not. I wanted to come home though. I could have been home by half 2 instead of half bloody six. I got wheeled off for an x-ray I never knew I was having and they waited until 5 when the pharmacy was closed to give me painkillers and stuff.
Ive got to take 2 asprin a day for 6 weeks to thin my blood.
Thats about it really Ill update more as it happens.
Leg is still numb so ive got to wear this splint thing for 24 hours so ill prolly wake up in pain during the night when it comes back to life. Go to go back in the morning at 11 to have dressing redo and look at the wound etc.
Bit of a farce really at points. I was told that I would be in and out and it took them about 2 hours to decide if I could go home or not. I wanted to come home though. I could have been home by half 2 instead of half bloody six. I got wheeled off for an x-ray I never knew I was having and they waited until 5 when the pharmacy was closed to give me painkillers and stuff.
Ive got to take 2 asprin a day for 6 weeks to thin my blood.
Thats about it really Ill update more as it happens.
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Just got back from having my dressing reduced. Only got 4 little holes around my knee, nothing huge which is good.
Just got some plasters over the holes.
(phone cam pictures by the way)
District nurse is coming round on monday to check the wounds and Ive got to see physio on Thursday, but ive got some exercises that I have to do in the mean time. Feels pretty sore now that I have the splint off but I feel good.
Just got some plasters over the holes.
(phone cam pictures by the way)
District nurse is coming round on monday to check the wounds and Ive got to see physio on Thursday, but ive got some exercises that I have to do in the mean time. Feels pretty sore now that I have the splint off but I feel good.
footballers recover from it and play again, owen tore his cartilege and his ACL a year or 2 back and required surgery. mine wasnt that bad so hoping i can regain full fitness.
first time mine went it was down to not warming up properly and not playing the week before due to the roads being closed. the second time was due to not strengthening it properly before playing again.
each time took about 2 weeks before i could walk properly again. since then ive had an x-ray and blood test and neither showed anything and ive had physio.
the injury has healed but ive limited the movement, rotation and weight through the knee as a precaution while it healed but havent strengthened it enough since.
like ive said weight straight through the knee is fine but now i'm having to strengthen the knee by distributing the weight throughout the knee. i find my knee is better while im exercising it and finding exercise like hopping in a star shape and star jumps and some non contact football. each has started to strengthen my knee and i'm determined to get it back full usage
MW
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- 27 Oct 2007
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Its great to get that iodine washed off once the dressings are all removed.
I've another visit to the surgeon on Thursday for him to have a look at his handywork 6months post op.
Its possible I'll be requiring another minor op to clean up some of the scar tissue or possibly to remove the screws.
Hope its nothing too serious anyway.
I've another visit to the surgeon on Thursday for him to have a look at his handywork 6months post op.
Its possible I'll be requiring another minor op to clean up some of the scar tissue or possibly to remove the screws.
Hope its nothing too serious anyway.
I just got officially discharged from my outpatients 
3 years almost to the day since I broke my hip, which makes it roughly 2 and a half years since I tore my ACL (by dropping a motorbike on my leg, after the dodgy hip collapsed). Not a complete recovery unsurprisingly- it'll always be weak, and not so good at twists, and the loss of muscle is pretty severe- but a very good one, I can run if I'm careful where I put my feet, ride my mountain bike off cliffs and probably break some different stuff... I'm more active today than I was before either injury, and probably more active than most 30 year old lazy people.
Good luck! It's nice to be a success story, I remember waking up after the surgery and saying "What's next" and they said "We have no idea, you'll know in 6 months". Well it took a bit ******* longer than 6 months, but we got there...
3 years almost to the day since I broke my hip, which makes it roughly 2 and a half years since I tore my ACL (by dropping a motorbike on my leg, after the dodgy hip collapsed). Not a complete recovery unsurprisingly- it'll always be weak, and not so good at twists, and the loss of muscle is pretty severe- but a very good one, I can run if I'm careful where I put my feet, ride my mountain bike off cliffs and probably break some different stuff... I'm more active today than I was before either injury, and probably more active than most 30 year old lazy people.Good luck! It's nice to be a success story, I remember waking up after the surgery and saying "What's next" and they said "We have no idea, you'll know in 6 months". Well it took a bit ******* longer than 6 months, but we got there...
)
Where exactly did you folks go to get your injuries checked over properly? Its been a month now since I damaged my knee during a football match, and although i can now walk properly my knee still feels unstable and cant stand any more pressure than me walking on it. Running is deffinatly still out of the equation. I thought i might have recovered by now but its going on longer than i would have liked so i think it may be time to get it looked at properly as opposed to the 2 minute diagnosis i had at the local A and E.
OK here is my story in a few paragraphs. All NHS till I say so by the way.
When I did mine I went straight to A&E as my knee just kept giving way. Had X-ray at Bangor but then I went back home and seen specialists there, they looked at X-ray and said it looks like ACL is fine and I wouldn't need an MRI.
Spent 8 weeks in a cast, another 8 weeks or summin of physio getting my knee right. From X-ray they just thought MCL & LCL were damaged, but I went back to hospital and they said they would put me in for an MRI scan, that took 4 weeks.
2 weeks after I had it I got a letter saying i was being refered to a surgeon, which was 2 weeks after the letter came. I got the letter confirming time of the appointment to see surgeon on the day it was meant to be, after the time of the appointment so I had to re-arrange that for a week an half later.
Seen surgeon he said he wanted to do arthroscopy to look at ACL cos it didn't look right on MRI scan. Have the arthoscopy done private by him, he says it looks like i should be ok with whats left. Turns out i wasnt so I go to see him private and arrange to have ACL reconstruction on NHS. Fast forward to now and here I am, exactly 10 months since I got injured and i have my ACL reconstruction.
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Here is how my ankle is lookin at the mo'. Nice and brused and very swollen...
Oh yea... I only noticed the bruising this morning and there was no swelling. Thats all happened today!
When I did mine I went straight to A&E as my knee just kept giving way. Had X-ray at Bangor but then I went back home and seen specialists there, they looked at X-ray and said it looks like ACL is fine and I wouldn't need an MRI.
Spent 8 weeks in a cast, another 8 weeks or summin of physio getting my knee right. From X-ray they just thought MCL & LCL were damaged, but I went back to hospital and they said they would put me in for an MRI scan, that took 4 weeks.
2 weeks after I had it I got a letter saying i was being refered to a surgeon, which was 2 weeks after the letter came. I got the letter confirming time of the appointment to see surgeon on the day it was meant to be, after the time of the appointment so I had to re-arrange that for a week an half later.
Seen surgeon he said he wanted to do arthroscopy to look at ACL cos it didn't look right on MRI scan. Have the arthoscopy done private by him, he says it looks like i should be ok with whats left. Turns out i wasnt so I go to see him private and arrange to have ACL reconstruction on NHS. Fast forward to now and here I am, exactly 10 months since I got injured and i have my ACL reconstruction.
--------------------------------------->
Here is how my ankle is lookin at the mo'. Nice and brused and very swollen...
Oh yea... I only noticed the bruising this morning and there was no swelling. Thats all happened today!
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If you keep the leg raised above heart level the bruising should subside on your ankle.
Physio told me its just gravity that carries the bruise to that region after the operation.
Seen the consultant this morning and he sent me for a scan and at the moment reckons it could be one of 2 things.
Scar tissue on the front of the knee or a possibility that the graft hasn't taken properly which may require the whole thing to be redone.
Hopefully its just some scar tissue which can be easily removed with some keyhole surgery.
Physio told me its just gravity that carries the bruise to that region after the operation.
Seen the consultant this morning and he sent me for a scan and at the moment reckons it could be one of 2 things.
Scar tissue on the front of the knee or a possibility that the graft hasn't taken properly which may require the whole thing to be redone.
Hopefully its just some scar tissue which can be easily removed with some keyhole surgery.
Yeah My ankle got like that but it gets darker. It also hurt around my acillies. All of this was due to fluid/blood internally so best best as scamartist says is to eleveate your leg. Try to do this when sleeping as well (just put your ankle on a pillow) NB do not put the pillow under your knee as you need to aim for 0 degrees extension as soon as poss.
Regarding goodies post my story is as follows.
Playing football not sure what happened but felt like I was dropped kicked on the side of my leg.
In fact what actually happened is I was about to turn so lifted my left leg, but just before my foot came off the astro turf
the other player trod on my toe. The timing of this was such that I didnt realise so I tried to lift my leg up but ankle was stuck to the floor.
I then stretched my knee joint, turned (so twisted my knee) felt a massive pop and went down like a sack of ****. Later the MRI showed excessive bruising as both my leg bones came together in the area that isn't protected my the minuscus (covering for knee joint).
This happened on 9th April
So a timeline:
9th April
Tore cruciate ligament whilst playing footy.
My mate drove me home as I couldnt put any weight on the leg never mind drive (with hindsight I should have gone to A&E).
Got the missus to take me to A&E that night when she got back from work. I was examined by a nurse who said I had a possible MCL tear (to be fair she couldnt really examine my knee as I was in a lot of pain). She then booked my in to see a knee specialist (NHS) on Tues 29th April, gave me some codeine, crutches and a brace. I had private bupa through work so managed to see the same consultant quicker.
15th April
Saw the consultant, he did a lateral draw test. I don't mind admitting I didnt watch (I checked it out on youtube first). I was watching my girlfriends face whilst he did the test and she squirmed (shes a doctor so it must have been bad). Basically you could pull my shin bone probably almost an inch away from my knee. The surgeon said that I had definately torn my cruciate and it could be a terrible triad due to how it happened. I was booked in for an MRI for as soon as available. I had to go to spain in the next few days so got an adjustable brace so I could change how much my leg was allowed to ben
19th April
Had to fly to spain for my dads birthday which I can tell you was a bit of a chore on jet2, though I didnt have to queue.
21st april
Had MRI, awaiting results
7th may
Went to see the surgeon for results of MRI. Good news it doesnt look like a terrible triad but can't be sure until actual op (the MCL had a cat 1 sprain but should repair itself). The MRI showed bad bruising to my shin bone which could explain why after 4 weeks I still couldnt put any weight on it.
7th May-19th May
Lots of muscle wastage - managed to walk on one crutch then a week before op without crutches. Started going on stationary bike.
19th May
Operation, all went well. No minuscus damage
9thd June, on two crutches out of house but one in house
19th June
I am now managing 10mins a time on excercise bike but it takes 5 mins for first rotation.
June08-Jan09
Progressively getting better but it has been a long slog. The leg still isnt as strong (can leg press 80KG on right but only just able to do 40KG on left). Can't run for more than 4 mins (my best so far) due to pain in my knee. I am walking without a limp and do sometimes forget about it so it has to be healing. Hoping to gently ease myself back into squash in 2 mths (after I can hopefully jog without pain) and then gently back into football.
Strengthning execerises before the op would mean a faster recovery but for me it would have meant delaying the op, so the total time from injury to back on the pitch would have probably been the same.
Regarding goodies post my story is as follows.
Playing football not sure what happened but felt like I was dropped kicked on the side of my leg.
In fact what actually happened is I was about to turn so lifted my left leg, but just before my foot came off the astro turf
the other player trod on my toe. The timing of this was such that I didnt realise so I tried to lift my leg up but ankle was stuck to the floor.
I then stretched my knee joint, turned (so twisted my knee) felt a massive pop and went down like a sack of ****. Later the MRI showed excessive bruising as both my leg bones came together in the area that isn't protected my the minuscus (covering for knee joint).
This happened on 9th April
So a timeline:
9th April
Tore cruciate ligament whilst playing footy.
My mate drove me home as I couldnt put any weight on the leg never mind drive (with hindsight I should have gone to A&E).
Got the missus to take me to A&E that night when she got back from work. I was examined by a nurse who said I had a possible MCL tear (to be fair she couldnt really examine my knee as I was in a lot of pain). She then booked my in to see a knee specialist (NHS) on Tues 29th April, gave me some codeine, crutches and a brace. I had private bupa through work so managed to see the same consultant quicker.
15th April
Saw the consultant, he did a lateral draw test. I don't mind admitting I didnt watch (I checked it out on youtube first). I was watching my girlfriends face whilst he did the test and she squirmed (shes a doctor so it must have been bad). Basically you could pull my shin bone probably almost an inch away from my knee. The surgeon said that I had definately torn my cruciate and it could be a terrible triad due to how it happened. I was booked in for an MRI for as soon as available. I had to go to spain in the next few days so got an adjustable brace so I could change how much my leg was allowed to ben
19th April
Had to fly to spain for my dads birthday which I can tell you was a bit of a chore on jet2, though I didnt have to queue.
21st april
Had MRI, awaiting results
7th may
Went to see the surgeon for results of MRI. Good news it doesnt look like a terrible triad but can't be sure until actual op (the MCL had a cat 1 sprain but should repair itself). The MRI showed bad bruising to my shin bone which could explain why after 4 weeks I still couldnt put any weight on it.
7th May-19th May
Lots of muscle wastage - managed to walk on one crutch then a week before op without crutches. Started going on stationary bike.
19th May
Operation, all went well. No minuscus damage
9thd June, on two crutches out of house but one in house
19th June
I am now managing 10mins a time on excercise bike but it takes 5 mins for first rotation.
June08-Jan09
Progressively getting better but it has been a long slog. The leg still isnt as strong (can leg press 80KG on right but only just able to do 40KG on left). Can't run for more than 4 mins (my best so far) due to pain in my knee. I am walking without a limp and do sometimes forget about it so it has to be healing. Hoping to gently ease myself back into squash in 2 mths (after I can hopefully jog without pain) and then gently back into football.
Strengthning execerises before the op would mean a faster recovery but for me it would have meant delaying the op, so the total time from injury to back on the pitch would have probably been the same.