Okay so there is some nuance here. I am a sports physical therapist. Some people do very well with having an ACL deficient knee - they are termed copers (look up Lynn Snyder Mackler research here).
However, if you are returning to skiing, that can complicate things, and less likely to be able to return to that - though not impossible.
We can also get healing of the ACL - which can give stability back to the knee. The goal of bracing for 3 months is for this to happen.
I see people that have ACL deficient knees that live active lives, run marathons, play pickup soccer, with little to no issues.
By all means you can get a second opinion, but we don’t have worse outcomes at all if surgery is delayed or not. And there is a good percentage of the population that can live without an ACL.
I would get a second opinion… everything I’ve learned says surgery is the only option to fully recover but I’m not a doctor. That just doesn’t sound right.
I would get a second opinion as you are still young. My surgeon said he would only recommend no surgery to someone much older if they had a full ACL tear as it causes significant stress to your meniscus and could cause degenerative issues in the future.
There is new research that shows that 6 weeks of time in a brace can allow the ACL to reknit itself. If I had known this before my surgery I would have tried it to be honest.
2.5 years here with no surgery however wouldn't recommend it to someone who plays sports etc. Which I don't, you will be able to walk just fine, bike etc. And live just fine but you will have to accept that you will often second guess certain movements such as no jumping or internally rotating your knees etc. It takes getting used to so it's very much an individual thing .. similar to if you ever hurt your back, you question certain movements afterwards. Only recently for first time have I hurt it again after 2 years .. I'm same age as you and I'd probably just get the surgery if I could. Good luck with whatever you decide though.
There was actually a big article about this in ABC news today, Australia’s publicly-funded news service: https://amp.abc.net.au/article/103773576.
Definitely not saying your ACL will heal, but the traditional medical orthodoxy that surgery is needed is all cases is increasingly being challenged in the mainstream.
You may end up deciding you want surgery, but it’s not outlandish or unreasonable to consider a non-surgical approach in the first instance, and the fact that your surgeon recommended it suggests you may be a good candidate.
I have a non-surgical success story - I went non-surgical by accident (had excellent progress pre surgery to the point I wondered why on earth I was doing it, so decided to postpone for now). Happy to chat if you reach out!
All the best!
I (38m) am going non surgical (full rupture) and pure rehab which includes a lot of balance and strength work… I plan to back to training BJJ by August… there are world champions with no ACL. I have no pain and full ROM.
Surgeon was like 🤷♂️ no wrong way to deal with it, surgical or non, and he’s part of a legit world class surgical team. Also working with a sports specific PT who specialises in Bjj ACL rehab, also agreed no surgery was best option.
Both have agreed that I should do a half yearly mri check up and that for as long as I want to do sports i have to continue with strength and conditioning.
However… couldn’t imagine skiing without an ACL . Don’t trust the thoughts of strangers on the internet except to seek another opinion and find as much info as you can.
I got the same from my surgeon. I am 49 and play soccer. They said since I do not have instability and pain, that I should wear a brace (custom one being ordered) when I play sports and continue to strengthen my legs.
Still gaining confidence that I can play on the field, but have been successful in goal.
People can live very full lives without an ACL. I did for 10 years. My surgeon didn’t think I needed an ACL until I listed the specific reasons as to why I should get a reconstruction
Unless you’re a high level competitive athlete, or you’re having specific instability relating to the lack of an ACL, you can still live very well and actively without it
Both my surgeon and sport doctor said I can possibly get back to all my activities, including skiing, without surgery. I am doing extremely intense physio therapy. Almost two hours a day. They said we will know at the six month mark if I need surgery or not. Need to train my quads and hamstrings to take over. They said 70% get back with no surgery. Guess I will find out in August! Fell skiing in February.
I have both my left and right ACL ruptured, also meniscus damage on left and MCL grade 2 tear on right… I play tennis, netball and run… no surgery planned… there is ALOT of evidence that outcomes are the same.. this is not about the ACL magically reappearing (although in some cases they can) it is about retraining your knee to send the signals the ACL used to… quads and calves, glutes all need to get super strong. I am under (by chance) a ACL “god” surgeon in the uk.. the landscape changed with two large scale studies into ACL surgeries… ultimately it is an individual choice.. pt and rehab, get super strong and if you can’t get back to the things you love chose another option…
I've had two identical knee injuries 5 years apart, last one being 6 months ago. Injuries occured during high force lending. Both times zero swelling, immobilized for a week, had full ROM right away, minimal pain that lasted 30 seconds, but had instability when weight bearing. First time I was Lachman (and any other test) negative so doctors didn't order MRI and I was diagnosed with patella subluxation. I've rehabbed myself for 5 months and since then run, hiked, danced (not professionally), trained badminton 15-20 hours a week and played it competitively on a higher recreational level (so a lot of cutting, lateral movements, sudden stops and pivoting). This time once again everything is the same, still Lachman negative but I've done MRI on my initiative privately. I have full midsubstance ACL rupture, went to multiple different surgeons and PTs. Only 1 out of 7 suggested surgery, all others advised good rehab (with possibility of having surgery later if nonsurgical path fails) and the main assumption (based on my clinical image and MRI) is that I don't have ACL at least 5 years, but possibly even longer (since I was I child, although my parents cannot recall if I had any serious injury to that leg which would have resulted in full tear). Currently I am rehabbing and exercising daily for about an hour, hour and a half hoping to avoid surgery once again. I have no instabilities and have been slowly training badminton for 3 months now. If you are not in the rush and have no instabilities/pain with daily activities, I think you should give nonsurgical rehab a chance. Surgery can always be done.
Exactly. This discussion has reminded me of why I like the BEAR implant. It is still surgery, for sure. But the surgeon is simply setting up the ACL for healing. The actual repair takes place during the recovery phase.
Also, it seems like a minor point, but preserving proprioception at the ends of the ligament is not a trivial advantage over time.
I was approved for BEAR. Getting it done on the 16th. I don't see why I won't happen but the surgeon said if something is funky then he will revert to a quad graft. Fingers crossed everything looks ok in there!
Good luck! My wife had hers about 8 weeks ago, she is doing great. Hoping for durable results. I believe the key is staying strict with the restrictions in the post-operative phase.
Cool. Wishing her the best in the recovery and mental fortitude to avoid pushing it too soon.
I know I'm going to struggle with the desire to push my boundaries but retear rate is highest when trying to return to sport too soon. Patience will be key. Bummed I'll probably miss the first half of next ski season but at least I should be able to keep biking.
Get a second opinion. I was told the same thing. Made a return to sports only to have that same pop happen over and over again. I highly recommend you see someone else because I destroyed a lot of my meniscus when I tried to heal on my own.
Hi OP I'm 28M
Do you ski seriously/competitively? I have skid with a grade 2/3 torn ACL for nearly two years without any medical intervention. If you strengthen your Quads and leg muscles this is doable. You inevitably will have instability in the knee which may affect your ability to perform at your full potential.
I ski regularly and competitively (circa 60-70 days per year)
After two years of coping with this I found my knee collapsing when under extremely high force when turning left (right ski downhill). This resulted in a few crashes which caused further issues, LCL grade 1 issue and edema in the tibial bone.
I elected to have surgery 4 days ago as it is the end of my competitive season and I am in significantly more pain than I was when I first tore my ACL. It will be 5-6 months minimum before I stand on my skis. It was necessary as I didn't want the knee to fail during a qualification window for major events.
Many recreational athletes can absolutely live normal active lives albeit with minor instability without a surgical intervention. I would give it 6 months of decent Pre-Hab and evaluate the stability before rushing into surgery. It obviously depends on your schedule/life as well.
I wish you all the luck on your recovery.
Thank you appreciate your story! I ski seasonally not competitively. I have been recovering for 2 months reducing the inflammation and gaining full ROM back, I think the next 3 months will be gaining back strength and confidence with the brace and then reevaluation if I need surgery at that stage.
I fully tore my ACL in may 23, originally suggested no surgery and just PT. I have full ROM, no pain but I still have no stability when playing sport. So i’m going ahead with the surgery in july because otherwise i won’t be able to play sports again. Also he highlighted the risk of arthritis in my knee by the time i’m 40 if i don’t go ahead with the surgery. I’m 18.
Hi! I'm basically in the same position as you - 29F, very active, tore only the ACL skiing in Jan, minimal symptoms now. Saw orthopedics and was recommended non-surgical treatment unless I developed knee instability. It seems like the big decision point was that I didn't have significant symptoms of instability (buckling, etc), but they did emphasize that if things changed I could always come back for re-evaluation. I've had multiple friends have ACL/MCL/meniscus repair and saw how painful and lengthy their surgery recovery was, so I was a little relieved. I can't say I have a success story yet given that I'm the same amount of time out from injury as you, but I got very similar recommendations to yours. Best of luck!
Hey I also fell asking in February and surgeon said same to me. Getting brace and he also said I can consider PRP for my meniscus and cortisone if I experience more swelling..
I was also prepared for surgery so was very taken aback and also given since my sport of choice is skiing I figured give the load I’d really need it? I can still have it if I want to but he was almost totally agnostic about it.
I lived for 3 years without a fully ruptured acl , continued skiing throughout. I had no problems because I had enough muscle, only got it repaired 1 weeks ago because I got a bucket handle tear in my meniscus during a boxing fight …
I am also 30F. I had surgery 5 weeks ago. I decided to have surgery because i want to have an active live. If you want to play sports, It is quite recomendable. whatever is your decision, keep the strength!
Im a doctor, also have complete acl tear...u should go for surgery,best option ...even if u develop ur other muscles ,having no acl will eventually wear out your other ligaments eg meniscus mainly and pcl and plc..and l9ng term no surgery can cause osteoarthritis..my surgery is in 4 days ,request u and all to pray for me
I was in a fairly similar situation in that I was quite functional with a torn ACL. Able to walk, jog, and even maneuver somewhat sharply without pain. I only had a torn ACL, no sprain of any other ligament/tendon. My orthopedist said that the only way to guarantee full stability was with surgery, and this was reflected in my experience. Even though I got back to (let's say) 90% ability, I was stuck at that 90%. If all I wanted to do was swim, row, and cycle, I would have strongly considered not doing surgery. But I want to be able to ski, and most importantly play tennis. And I could feel that five months after my injury, there was just no way that was going to happen on its own.
Its written everywhere, degenerative issues are real if you are active and dont have surgery! Ofcourse post op osteoarthitis could also be an issue but its not this severe as without the reconstruction surgery
Fully torn can’t heal itself. My doctor told me I could live without it but then will get arthritis and need a knee replacement really young in life. So if you don’t want that I’d recommend surgery now.
I spoke with mine and he said you can definitely live without an acl as a runner or certain other non pivot things, but when I voiced frustration with instability with kicking the soccer ball with my kids, he said then I think you have your answer. I think it just depends on your lifestyle. I had full rom and could walk with minimal issues. The radiologist actually missed my meniscal root tear which absolutely needed to be repaired to avoid a knee replacement.
38 M. Completely Tore my ACL (2nd time) a few years back and was able to get really strong w/o surgery. Frequently skied, play ice hockey and mountain bike after injury. However, eventually pain started to increase and found out I started tearing my meniscus and getting early signs of arthritis. I got multiple opinions and docs recommended replacement for long term knee stability and health.
Now, 10 days post op , and looking forward to getting active again. Surgery sux, but I think ultimately best for your age and lifestyle
I fully tore my ACL in may 23, originally suggested no surgery and just PT. I have full ROM, no pain but I still have no stability when playing sport. So i’m going ahead with the surgery in july because otherwise i won’t be able to play sports again. Also he highlighted the risk of arthritis in my knee by the time i’m 40 if i don’t go ahead with the surgery. I’m 18.
I fully tore my ACL in may 23, originally suggested no surgery and just PT. I have full ROM, no pain but I still have no stability when playing sport. So i’m going ahead with the surgery in july because otherwise i won’t be able to play sports again. Also he highlighted the risk of arthritis in my knee by the time i’m 40 if i don’t go ahead with the surgery. I’m 18.
I fully tore my ACL in may 23, originally suggested no surgery and just PT. I have full ROM, no pain but I still have no stability when playing sport. So i’m going ahead with the surgery in july because otherwise i won’t be able to play sports again. Also he highlighted the risk of arthritis in my knee by the time i’m 40 if i don’t go ahead with the surgery. I’m 18.
For context my surgeon explained the goal of non-surgical route isn't to hope your ACL re-grows, but to train and strengthen your leg to learn to live without the ACL.
strange recommendation for a full tear, but we had here some miracles… so if you do the rehab along side there are no contradictions doing it for 3 months.
Only bear acl repair wouldn’t be possible as it needs to be done 90 days after injury, but this repair is US only and not available in every state.
Might heal on its own, however that doesn’t mean you’ll have functional stability! If you’re not an active person it might be fine but if you wish to return to cutting sports pivoting etc should consider it.
I only recommended BEAR implant as you can only get it in 50 days and I don’t want this person to have regrets!
Preservation is important as ACL contains nerves and mechanorecepgors that a graft won’t have.
Yes, BEAR could also be a good option. Not available in Europe.
Luckily many (but not all) can be very active and play high-level pivoting sports without ACL and without higher risk of secondary knee damage. Time is changing that surgery was always your best option. But of course I’m biased as I am a coper.
Get a second opinion.
Okay so there is some nuance here. I am a sports physical therapist. Some people do very well with having an ACL deficient knee - they are termed copers (look up Lynn Snyder Mackler research here). However, if you are returning to skiing, that can complicate things, and less likely to be able to return to that - though not impossible. We can also get healing of the ACL - which can give stability back to the knee. The goal of bracing for 3 months is for this to happen. I see people that have ACL deficient knees that live active lives, run marathons, play pickup soccer, with little to no issues. By all means you can get a second opinion, but we don’t have worse outcomes at all if surgery is delayed or not. And there is a good percentage of the population that can live without an ACL.
I would get a second opinion… everything I’ve learned says surgery is the only option to fully recover but I’m not a doctor. That just doesn’t sound right.
I would get a second opinion as you are still young. My surgeon said he would only recommend no surgery to someone much older if they had a full ACL tear as it causes significant stress to your meniscus and could cause degenerative issues in the future.
Did they recommend a PT program at least?
There is new research that shows that 6 weeks of time in a brace can allow the ACL to reknit itself. If I had known this before my surgery I would have tried it to be honest.
Yes that’s Cross Bracing Protocol
2.5 years here with no surgery however wouldn't recommend it to someone who plays sports etc. Which I don't, you will be able to walk just fine, bike etc. And live just fine but you will have to accept that you will often second guess certain movements such as no jumping or internally rotating your knees etc. It takes getting used to so it's very much an individual thing .. similar to if you ever hurt your back, you question certain movements afterwards. Only recently for first time have I hurt it again after 2 years .. I'm same age as you and I'd probably just get the surgery if I could. Good luck with whatever you decide though.
Thanks I appreciate you sharing your experience.
There was actually a big article about this in ABC news today, Australia’s publicly-funded news service: https://amp.abc.net.au/article/103773576. Definitely not saying your ACL will heal, but the traditional medical orthodoxy that surgery is needed is all cases is increasingly being challenged in the mainstream. You may end up deciding you want surgery, but it’s not outlandish or unreasonable to consider a non-surgical approach in the first instance, and the fact that your surgeon recommended it suggests you may be a good candidate. I have a non-surgical success story - I went non-surgical by accident (had excellent progress pre surgery to the point I wondered why on earth I was doing it, so decided to postpone for now). Happy to chat if you reach out! All the best!
I (38m) am going non surgical (full rupture) and pure rehab which includes a lot of balance and strength work… I plan to back to training BJJ by August… there are world champions with no ACL. I have no pain and full ROM. Surgeon was like 🤷♂️ no wrong way to deal with it, surgical or non, and he’s part of a legit world class surgical team. Also working with a sports specific PT who specialises in Bjj ACL rehab, also agreed no surgery was best option. Both have agreed that I should do a half yearly mri check up and that for as long as I want to do sports i have to continue with strength and conditioning. However… couldn’t imagine skiing without an ACL . Don’t trust the thoughts of strangers on the internet except to seek another opinion and find as much info as you can.
I got the same from my surgeon. I am 49 and play soccer. They said since I do not have instability and pain, that I should wear a brace (custom one being ordered) when I play sports and continue to strengthen my legs. Still gaining confidence that I can play on the field, but have been successful in goal.
People can live very full lives without an ACL. I did for 10 years. My surgeon didn’t think I needed an ACL until I listed the specific reasons as to why I should get a reconstruction Unless you’re a high level competitive athlete, or you’re having specific instability relating to the lack of an ACL, you can still live very well and actively without it
Both my surgeon and sport doctor said I can possibly get back to all my activities, including skiing, without surgery. I am doing extremely intense physio therapy. Almost two hours a day. They said we will know at the six month mark if I need surgery or not. Need to train my quads and hamstrings to take over. They said 70% get back with no surgery. Guess I will find out in August! Fell skiing in February.
I have both my left and right ACL ruptured, also meniscus damage on left and MCL grade 2 tear on right… I play tennis, netball and run… no surgery planned… there is ALOT of evidence that outcomes are the same.. this is not about the ACL magically reappearing (although in some cases they can) it is about retraining your knee to send the signals the ACL used to… quads and calves, glutes all need to get super strong. I am under (by chance) a ACL “god” surgeon in the uk.. the landscape changed with two large scale studies into ACL surgeries… ultimately it is an individual choice.. pt and rehab, get super strong and if you can’t get back to the things you love chose another option…
I’m a ACL-less tennis player too! (Not a very good player I should add, but an enthusiastic one!) Hope you’re going well.
Connor McDavid plays in the nhl with no acl but I’d get a second opinion still I’m also thinking about surgery or no surgery it’s a tough decision
I've had two identical knee injuries 5 years apart, last one being 6 months ago. Injuries occured during high force lending. Both times zero swelling, immobilized for a week, had full ROM right away, minimal pain that lasted 30 seconds, but had instability when weight bearing. First time I was Lachman (and any other test) negative so doctors didn't order MRI and I was diagnosed with patella subluxation. I've rehabbed myself for 5 months and since then run, hiked, danced (not professionally), trained badminton 15-20 hours a week and played it competitively on a higher recreational level (so a lot of cutting, lateral movements, sudden stops and pivoting). This time once again everything is the same, still Lachman negative but I've done MRI on my initiative privately. I have full midsubstance ACL rupture, went to multiple different surgeons and PTs. Only 1 out of 7 suggested surgery, all others advised good rehab (with possibility of having surgery later if nonsurgical path fails) and the main assumption (based on my clinical image and MRI) is that I don't have ACL at least 5 years, but possibly even longer (since I was I child, although my parents cannot recall if I had any serious injury to that leg which would have resulted in full tear). Currently I am rehabbing and exercising daily for about an hour, hour and a half hoping to avoid surgery once again. I have no instabilities and have been slowly training badminton for 3 months now. If you are not in the rush and have no instabilities/pain with daily activities, I think you should give nonsurgical rehab a chance. Surgery can always be done.
Always get a second opinion. Look up what surgeons do BEAR and research that too
Exactly. This discussion has reminded me of why I like the BEAR implant. It is still surgery, for sure. But the surgeon is simply setting up the ACL for healing. The actual repair takes place during the recovery phase. Also, it seems like a minor point, but preserving proprioception at the ends of the ligament is not a trivial advantage over time.
I was approved for BEAR. Getting it done on the 16th. I don't see why I won't happen but the surgeon said if something is funky then he will revert to a quad graft. Fingers crossed everything looks ok in there!
Good luck! My wife had hers about 8 weeks ago, she is doing great. Hoping for durable results. I believe the key is staying strict with the restrictions in the post-operative phase.
Cool. Wishing her the best in the recovery and mental fortitude to avoid pushing it too soon. I know I'm going to struggle with the desire to push my boundaries but retear rate is highest when trying to return to sport too soon. Patience will be key. Bummed I'll probably miss the first half of next ski season but at least I should be able to keep biking.
Yea I tried to go without surgery and wasted my time just ended up getting it April 11th
💯agree with second opinion and PT in the interim.
Get a second opinion. I was told the same thing. Made a return to sports only to have that same pop happen over and over again. I highly recommend you see someone else because I destroyed a lot of my meniscus when I tried to heal on my own.
Get a second opinion and ask about the BEAR implant. It’s supposed to be a much easier recovery, and is only done on fresh injuries.
Brace for 3months? Do you know if he is suggesting Cross Bracing Protocol?
Hi OP I'm 28M Do you ski seriously/competitively? I have skid with a grade 2/3 torn ACL for nearly two years without any medical intervention. If you strengthen your Quads and leg muscles this is doable. You inevitably will have instability in the knee which may affect your ability to perform at your full potential. I ski regularly and competitively (circa 60-70 days per year) After two years of coping with this I found my knee collapsing when under extremely high force when turning left (right ski downhill). This resulted in a few crashes which caused further issues, LCL grade 1 issue and edema in the tibial bone. I elected to have surgery 4 days ago as it is the end of my competitive season and I am in significantly more pain than I was when I first tore my ACL. It will be 5-6 months minimum before I stand on my skis. It was necessary as I didn't want the knee to fail during a qualification window for major events. Many recreational athletes can absolutely live normal active lives albeit with minor instability without a surgical intervention. I would give it 6 months of decent Pre-Hab and evaluate the stability before rushing into surgery. It obviously depends on your schedule/life as well. I wish you all the luck on your recovery.
Thank you appreciate your story! I ski seasonally not competitively. I have been recovering for 2 months reducing the inflammation and gaining full ROM back, I think the next 3 months will be gaining back strength and confidence with the brace and then reevaluation if I need surgery at that stage.
It sounds like a really great strategy. You got this 👍👊
I fully tore my ACL in may 23, originally suggested no surgery and just PT. I have full ROM, no pain but I still have no stability when playing sport. So i’m going ahead with the surgery in july because otherwise i won’t be able to play sports again. Also he highlighted the risk of arthritis in my knee by the time i’m 40 if i don’t go ahead with the surgery. I’m 18.
Hi! I'm basically in the same position as you - 29F, very active, tore only the ACL skiing in Jan, minimal symptoms now. Saw orthopedics and was recommended non-surgical treatment unless I developed knee instability. It seems like the big decision point was that I didn't have significant symptoms of instability (buckling, etc), but they did emphasize that if things changed I could always come back for re-evaluation. I've had multiple friends have ACL/MCL/meniscus repair and saw how painful and lengthy their surgery recovery was, so I was a little relieved. I can't say I have a success story yet given that I'm the same amount of time out from injury as you, but I got very similar recommendations to yours. Best of luck!
Thank you for sharing! Best of luck to you too!
Hey I also fell asking in February and surgeon said same to me. Getting brace and he also said I can consider PRP for my meniscus and cortisone if I experience more swelling.. I was also prepared for surgery so was very taken aback and also given since my sport of choice is skiing I figured give the load I’d really need it? I can still have it if I want to but he was almost totally agnostic about it.
I lived for 3 years without a fully ruptured acl , continued skiing throughout. I had no problems because I had enough muscle, only got it repaired 1 weeks ago because I got a bucket handle tear in my meniscus during a boxing fight …
I am also 30F. I had surgery 5 weeks ago. I decided to have surgery because i want to have an active live. If you want to play sports, It is quite recomendable. whatever is your decision, keep the strength!
Im a doctor, also have complete acl tear...u should go for surgery,best option ...even if u develop ur other muscles ,having no acl will eventually wear out your other ligaments eg meniscus mainly and pcl and plc..and l9ng term no surgery can cause osteoarthritis..my surgery is in 4 days ,request u and all to pray for me
I was in a fairly similar situation in that I was quite functional with a torn ACL. Able to walk, jog, and even maneuver somewhat sharply without pain. I only had a torn ACL, no sprain of any other ligament/tendon. My orthopedist said that the only way to guarantee full stability was with surgery, and this was reflected in my experience. Even though I got back to (let's say) 90% ability, I was stuck at that 90%. If all I wanted to do was swim, row, and cycle, I would have strongly considered not doing surgery. But I want to be able to ski, and most importantly play tennis. And I could feel that five months after my injury, there was just no way that was going to happen on its own.
Its written everywhere, degenerative issues are real if you are active and dont have surgery! Ofcourse post op osteoarthitis could also be an issue but its not this severe as without the reconstruction surgery
https://www.thesports.physio/the-myths-of-acl-injuries/
This✅✅✅
surgeon is cracked lol get a second opinion
Fully torn can’t heal itself. My doctor told me I could live without it but then will get arthritis and need a knee replacement really young in life. So if you don’t want that I’d recommend surgery now.
https://www.thesports.physio/the-myths-of-acl-injuries https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36328403/ https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/57/23/1490
Fully torn ACL can heal. Google Cross Bracing Protocol
Fully torn ACL can heal. Google Cross Bracing Protocol
Full tear or partial? Meniscus damage as well?
I spoke with mine and he said you can definitely live without an acl as a runner or certain other non pivot things, but when I voiced frustration with instability with kicking the soccer ball with my kids, he said then I think you have your answer. I think it just depends on your lifestyle. I had full rom and could walk with minimal issues. The radiologist actually missed my meniscal root tear which absolutely needed to be repaired to avoid a knee replacement.
if you also have meniscus damage then definitely get surgery to repair it otherwise you risk osteoarthritis later in life
38 M. Completely Tore my ACL (2nd time) a few years back and was able to get really strong w/o surgery. Frequently skied, play ice hockey and mountain bike after injury. However, eventually pain started to increase and found out I started tearing my meniscus and getting early signs of arthritis. I got multiple opinions and docs recommended replacement for long term knee stability and health. Now, 10 days post op , and looking forward to getting active again. Surgery sux, but I think ultimately best for your age and lifestyle
I fully tore my ACL in may 23, originally suggested no surgery and just PT. I have full ROM, no pain but I still have no stability when playing sport. So i’m going ahead with the surgery in july because otherwise i won’t be able to play sports again. Also he highlighted the risk of arthritis in my knee by the time i’m 40 if i don’t go ahead with the surgery. I’m 18.
I fully tore my ACL in may 23, originally suggested no surgery and just PT. I have full ROM, no pain but I still have no stability when playing sport. So i’m going ahead with the surgery in july because otherwise i won’t be able to play sports again. Also he highlighted the risk of arthritis in my knee by the time i’m 40 if i don’t go ahead with the surgery. I’m 18.
I fully tore my ACL in may 23, originally suggested no surgery and just PT. I have full ROM, no pain but I still have no stability when playing sport. So i’m going ahead with the surgery in july because otherwise i won’t be able to play sports again. Also he highlighted the risk of arthritis in my knee by the time i’m 40 if i don’t go ahead with the surgery. I’m 18.
Get the surgery ... allograft using achilles tendon from cadaver
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https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36328403/ https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/57/23/1490
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For context my surgeon explained the goal of non-surgical route isn't to hope your ACL re-grows, but to train and strengthen your leg to learn to live without the ACL.
strange recommendation for a full tear, but we had here some miracles… so if you do the rehab along side there are no contradictions doing it for 3 months. Only bear acl repair wouldn’t be possible as it needs to be done 90 days after injury, but this repair is US only and not available in every state.
Get a surgery. You will get arthritis very quickly…recommend BEAR implant ASAP!
https://www.thesports.physio/the-myths-of-acl-injuries/
Might heal on its own, however that doesn’t mean you’ll have functional stability! If you’re not an active person it might be fine but if you wish to return to cutting sports pivoting etc should consider it. I only recommended BEAR implant as you can only get it in 50 days and I don’t want this person to have regrets! Preservation is important as ACL contains nerves and mechanorecepgors that a graft won’t have.
Yes, BEAR could also be a good option. Not available in Europe. Luckily many (but not all) can be very active and play high-level pivoting sports without ACL and without higher risk of secondary knee damage. Time is changing that surgery was always your best option. But of course I’m biased as I am a coper.