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11 Replies Last post: Apr 10, 2008 1:50 AM by najarvis

Limpingleo

3 posts since
Jan 5, 2008

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Jan 5, 2008 3:36 PM

Anyone ever torn their ACL and/or Meniscus???

Hi,

A few weeks ago I had an injury while playing soccer. I'm male, 37 and
have never had any knee problems before. About the injury: I was
stepping to kick the ball and my foot was planted and leg bent and I
fell with a "twisting motion" where it felt like my femur and shin bone
twisted different directions. Immediately, I realized I could not get
up and the pain was VERY strong. I had friends of mine take me home.
So, for the next week or so I did RICE, rest, icing, compressing and
elevating my knee. Now, about 5 weeks later, I can walk on my leg, but
here is what I am experiencing:

First, I cannot bend my knee more than 90 degrees (a right angle).

Second, when I walk, my injured leg does not straighten out all the way
(it doesn't lock out) and I have a painless LIMP.

Third, I feel pain along the anterior
(inner) joint line. Finally, I cannot ride a stationary bike because it
is too painful to flex my knee to that point.

Anyone have this injury before? What did you do? How long can I put off surgery?

Also, I do NOT have any feeling of instability when I stand or walk and am not sure if my ACL is torn, but then again, people have told me that your
ACL could be torn and you would never know it.... I never heard the famous "pop" that a lot of people talk about...

What concerns me is how long I can wait before having surgery. Has
anyone ever had their meniscus REPAIRED (not trimmed). If you did, how
long a period of time transpired between your injury and the surgery? Also, is it OK to be walking on my leg, i.e. to go to my desk job? Also, when I hurt my knee, it really hurt! Do meniscus injuries hurt a great deal if they happen from twisting the wrong way?

Finally, I have been reading that many doctors now do the meniscus repair FIRST then after you regain your range of motion and do some PT, they do a second ACL surgery. Anyone have this experience?

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!

BELLABOO062

23 posts since
Dec 15, 2007

1. Jan 9, 2008 5:20 AM

in response to: Limpingleo

Re: Anyone ever torn their ACL and/or Meniscus???

Wow - I have to say I'm a little perplexed that you have gone thru this and haven't had it checked out!?!!? Go ahead and get the MRI - it will tell you exactly what is going on!! And yes, I have ripped my ACL - experienced all the things you have spoke about and then some. Realized to continue running I needed to get the surgery - The first surgery went awful - knee cap was in locked position for 9 months! Surgeons fault - went to Duke and had arthoscopic and that was a piece of cake. I was told my knee looked like **** and was also told - 'I don't know if you'll be able to run well again....but when you do.....she knew me. Fast forward a couple of year of slow recovery - I'm training for my first 50 miler!! You will most probably continue to have pains and weird stuff; then your body will begin to compensate and bring on a new set of problems. Just go ahead and get the MRI!!! There is life after surgery - just find you a good one! Best of LUCK!!

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plane jame

2 posts since
Jan 9, 2008

2. Jan 9, 2008 3:09 PM

in response to: Limpingleo

Re: Anyone ever torn their ACL and/or Meniscus???

Hello - I tore both my ACL and Meniscus. Probably last Feruary, but the doctor never recommended an MRI until I hurt myself even worse in September. Then I went to another doctor who took me seriously. I never heard the pop either but my ACL was completely torn. I was in a lot of pain and my running was really negatively affected. Most of my pain probably came from a shredded mesiscus. I had about a third of it removed in surgery in November and had a patellar graft done to replace the acl. It was a good time for me because its winter and I wont miss all the fun summer stuff. I'm about 2 months out and have full range of motion, but it still gets pretty stiff. I'm dying on the bike machine, but about 2 more months and I can run again. The meniscus and acl surgery was done at the same time. He didnt know until he got in there whether he would have to fix or remove part of the meniscus.

You can wait to have the surgery until it is convenient for you...consider job/kid/life stuff but not sports. You dont want to injure it again. Get an MRI right away though and you can do PT in the meantime before your surgery. Walking on it should be fine. Surgery sucks, but the pain from a torn meniscus gets a lot better afterwards. Hope this helps. Go to a good doctor!!!

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BELLABOO062

23 posts since
Dec 15, 2007

3. Jan 9, 2008 4:00 PM

in response to: plane jame

Re: Anyone ever torn their ACL and/or Meniscus???

Hey - you are bringing back some memories. I just wanted to make a suggestion - have you tried some pool running yet. That really helped my sanity while trying to get back into shape. PT drove me insane. I learned the moves and then just did them in my gym stopping by PT only 1x a week to make sure things were going well. Please take it easy and slowly - look into supplements that help speed healing ie: MSM with chondrotin/glucosamine and maybe some extra C. I have to tell though - I can always feel when its going to rain or get really cold - ugh.

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Limpingleo

3 posts since
Jan 5, 2008

4. Jan 9, 2008 5:23 PM

in response to: BELLABOO062

Re: Anyone ever torn their ACL and/or Meniscus???

Thanks so much for your answer. I was wondering what your range of motion was like after your injury. Could your fully bend and extend your leg? Did you walk with a limp or did you feel like something was "jammed" in your knee?

I have an appointment to see a doctor next week- a very good sports orthopedic surgeon, used to be the an NFL team doctor, etc. In the mean time I'm getting mentally prepared for what's to come.

The thing that bothers me the most is my WALKING! My injured leg does not lock all the way out so I have this limp that drives me crazy. I know at the very minimum that my medial meniscus is really torn. I get stabbing pain on the medial side of my knee. I just hope I'm not making it worse by walking on it.

Oh, and I have been using the pool for a while to swim laps. If anything good comes out of this it's that my swimming is at a whole new level!!!

Can I also ask if your doctor knew your ACL was torn from your physical exam or did he need the MRI to be certain. I have heard sometimes docs will skip an MRI if it's obvious that your knee is locking or tests positive for a Lachman's test, etc.

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Limpingleo

3 posts since
Jan 5, 2008

5. Jan 9, 2008 5:38 PM

in response to: plane jame

Re: Anyone ever torn their ACL and/or Meniscus???

Jame,

Thanks for your answer. I have an appointment to see a great doc, former NFL team doctor, etc.

I was wondering- can you tell me your symptoms you had while waiting for your surgery? Did you have full range of motion? Did you walk with a limp? Was your joint aching all the time? I'd really appreciate it if you could tell me what you were experiencing.

Also, did your doctor "know" that your ACL was torn upon a physical exam of your knee or did he need an MRI to figure it out?

I'm on the edge of my seat until next week.

The waiting is the WORST part of all this!

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plane jame

2 posts since
Jan 9, 2008

6. Jan 9, 2008 5:58 PM

in response to: Limpingleo

Re: Anyone ever torn their ACL and/or Meniscus???

Hi Leo - the waiting is definitely the worst part! And I feel much better since the surgery is over and I can walk normal again, but after reading about other people's experiences it looks like I'll be 'waiting' for about 9 monthes before the knee feels fairly normal again.

I did not have full range of motion before surgery. I could not run at all it hurt so much. I had about 7 weeks from the time of injury ( the final injury) to the time of surgery. I could not sit with my legs crossed or folded underneath me. I remember more problems with bending it than I do with straightening it out. Walking was painful and I had a limp for a long time. The good news is that after surgery and once I was off the crutches the limp went away fairly quickly and I am walking normally now at 2 months out. Before the surgery I was starting to feel better and not really limping. It was frustrating knowing that I would just be starting all over again after the surgery. My knee still aches, but nothing like it did for those few weeks after the injury.

When I first hurt it I was in pain and it was aching for a good 3 weeks. My shins and ankles swelled and pooled with blood from all the draining. It was gross and disturbing. I started PT after about 2 weeks and that did help me a lot.

My doctor felt pretty sure that my acl was torn but he made me have an MRI anyway. I 'knew' after the exam and studying about acl stuff online that it was torn. I knew nothing about the knee before and now I am practically and expert!

Sounds like you will be in good hands with your doc - good luck with everything!!

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BELLABOO062

23 posts since
Dec 15, 2007

7. Jan 9, 2008 6:59 PM

in response to: plane jame

Re: Anyone ever torn their ACL and/or Meniscus???

Hey again - I can hear how anxious you are - sit tight. Don't try and do so much right now - if whatever you do hurts, stop! You do not want to add to the inflamation. Use some ice to keep some of the swelling down. All the stuff you are experiencing, I too felt it and went thru it. I was in Telluride Colorado having a sweet time on the slopes when I decided to hit a trail - just that stupid little turn and 'pop' - sweat started at the top of my head and hit my toes. I knew exactly what I had done. I literally picked my leg up to turn it to get down the slope and get attention. You just know & it doesn't take the docs long to figure it out either - but you will not know the extent until you see the MRI. Xrays just can't see everything. You will get thru this and actually come out stronger than you were before. You will baby that knee because now you realize how precious it is. I'm a tiny, 45 year old young at heart mom of three who has been running for over 20 years and its going to take more than a little knee nonsense to take me down!!

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P2007

1 posts since
Jan 10, 2008

8. Jan 10, 2008 2:50 PM

in response to: Limpingleo

Re: Anyone ever torn their ACL and/or Meniscus???

I took a similar injury playing disc golf, back in '01. The ACL may not have torn through, but its likely stretched / weakened. I dont think they heal, so it could be at 50% strength, and will remain that way. Also, I don't know if a partial ACL tear will show up on an MRI, but if you took a knee sprain severe enough to make you fall, its safe to assume the knee is now compromised. I've read that strong hamstrings can help compensate.

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echsxcruner

2 posts since
Jan 27, 2008

9. Feb 3, 2008 6:01 PM

in response to: Limpingleo

Re: Anyone ever torn their ACL and/or Meniscus???

hi i am freshmen in high school i run track,cross county,softball. yea i torn mine in 7th grade i have put off sugery this long and i am still hurting but my only sujestion is to wear a knee brace and i don't mean those 6 dollar knee braces i mean like the 20 and up braces i have a very good brace for my knee and thats how i am still competeing that and before a game or a race i take tylonal or something like that to decress the pain

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chanamagoo

3 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

10. Feb 4, 2008 6:39 AM

in response to: Limpingleo

Re: Anyone ever torn their ACL and/or Meniscus???

hey

i injured my acl waaaaaay back in high school, but didnt get it checked out until december of 06...almost 10 years later. when i first injured it, it was in a brace for about 6 weeks and healed fine, but there was always clicking and **** moving around in there until i finally went into the ortho because it started to bother me again. because the acl injury that was not taken care of to begin with, it caused further injury with the meniscus. i had a meniscotomy in feb of 07 and an acl replacement surgery in march of 07...the one thing i can suggest is DEFINITELY go get it checed out, which it sounds like you're doing, and also begin pre-op physical therapy as soon as possible. i was doing physical therapy 3 times a week for about 3 months before i got the initial surgery, picked up pt right away, then again after the acl....physical therapy is ridiculously helpful....it keeps the muscles in your leg strong (well....strongER, anyways...) and you'll be back up on your feet hobbling around in no time.

another thing i would suggest is that even though you are eager to get back out there, take it easy....im just starting to run again about 10 months after surgery and i still get really sore after my runs...you just dont want to strain it and ultimately damage it again, because then that last 10 months of surgery, physical therapy, and that STUPID knee brace will have just been wasted time.

i dunno, thats just my experience....i took the (uber) slow and steady route...talk to the dr....and dont listen to him if he says you shouldnt ever run again, thats just poop.

best of luck!

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najarvis

1 posts since
Apr 10, 2008

11. Apr 10, 2008 1:50 AM

in response to: Limpingleo

Re: Anyone ever torn their ACL and/or Meniscus???

Hi, yes I've had both an ACL and Menisucus block in my right knee and a meniscus torn in my left knee. You need to go to an orthopedic surgeon to have the injury evaulated and insist that you see the orthopedist because most doctors are generalists and can't diagnose this the way a specialsit will. They will order an MRI to check if their diagnosis is correct. Hopefully your knee is not swollen anymore because usally it takes longer if your knee is still swollen. Just so you know it can take up to a month to get an MRI appointment since you are not in crtitcal danger if it is not done right away. Then call your doctor to tell him/her the test has been done(MRI should do this but in some hospitals the information is not sent.)

If you do have both an ACL and Meniscus injury you can have it repaired at the same time by arthroscopy which is making a liitle opening near injury site and inserting a scope and instruments to do the reapir. You also may need to choose if you want to use your own tissue to repair the ACL or use a cadavir tissue ( your doctor may only do one kind of tissue repair, mine let me research and chose for myself and I did the cadavir Achilles tendon)

You will be seeing physicial therapist before surgery to teach you excercises do do starting day of surgery to strengthen leg while it is healing. 6 weeks with an imobolizer and be visting with physican therapist to do excercises until 3 months until you can run or do excercise classes (No kicking the ball unless you are an elite athelete with specialized training, I wasn't allowed to kick a ball until 8 months after my surgery.) At about 4 to 5 months start doing agiltiy training and jumps etc. that are specific for soccer training that will strengthen leg to prepare you to return to the game. I wasn't allowed to go back until after 9 months and was told the injured leg wouldn't feel normal until after a year ( especially kicking, your leg will be weak.) I play with a brace still because my leg is still not compeletely straight because of the meniscus block but a lot of people play without it after a year or so. If you work at strenghing the leg again properly you will be back. Also try water excercises and ask if you can take an aquatic training class ( usually available at local community college) I did and it really help my knee get stronger more quickly in the first few months because it is nonweight bearing . The ACL protocol will be followed because it is the major ligament in your knee. Good Luck!

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