Just Found out I have ruptured my ACL - what to do?

Daniela,
Besides maintaining a healthy weight, eating balanced meals prior to surgery, and following the good preparing for surgery tips here what kinds of supplements do you think someone should take prior to surgery? Some actually can be dangerous, by thinning your blood, etc, can't they? Do you have any peer-reviewed scientific papaers that you could share? It would be great to read them. Thanks! NYAGP

Hi mm1981,

Followed your post and wondered if you decided to have the surgery? I talked once with Dr. Jimmy Andrews (famous US orthopedic sports surgeon) and he said something that really influenced me-" if you give up the sport you love, you'll never go back" so he advises to do what you can to stay in it as long as you can. Unfortunately so far that's happened to me with basketball although I'm still putzing around a bit in soccer...

BTW, not sure how it works with a governemnt-provided operation, but there are some useful tools for evaluating surgeons and getting second opinions, like this and this. As SadACL said- tons of luck to you.

Hi Thanks for this. What do you mean get a second opinion?

On whether I need the operation?

And I should make sure the surgeon is of good quality?

I am getting my operation through the government.

Thankyou for your reply - it is interesting - I guess it would be good to hear how you are feeling 10 months down the line.

Cheers

I got some bad news on my right knee yesterday.

After an MRI Scan the Orthopaedic Surgeon said that I have completely ruptured my
ACL. I initially injured it 6 months ago playing soccer and have only found out now.

They also said that there was a tear in the right hand side meniscus but she says it isn't giving me any
discomfort so not to worry about it.

For the ACL she says the operation and rehab will take 8 months and
is a tough process. Because I have been back running and that my knee
has caved in only a few times she has said my muscles around my knee
must be fairly strong, she has recommended I go down the physio route
to strengthen the muscles further to avoid any instability. If after
that I am having a lot of instability I can then progress to the
operation.

I am pretty downbeat however, as thought it was only my cartilage and this is
obviously a lot more severe - Also the thought of not being able to
play soccer again is sad for me - but am willing to give it up as getting too old anyway!

My knee has progressively being getting better over the last 6 months, there is only a
small amount of fluid left, the pain is not that bad anymore, it just
doesn't feel right, still clicks (she thinks this is tight tendons),
and sometimes caves in.

I just have a few questions - I know these are difficult to answer as people are all different but would be good to know your thoughts:

• My knee feels fine - I can run on the treadmills and bike etc, if I decided to give up soccer, tennis I would have to keep my muscles built up?, or I would be susceptible to my knee caving in? Basically I would be committing to making sure my knee was strong enough for the rest of my life?
• Arthritis - If I decided to not have the operation would this mean more wear and tear and more likely to have arthritis opposed to if I did have surgery?
• Would I be better having the operation now (I am 29) than when I am older?
• What are the consequences of surgery if it went wrong?
• The surgeon mentioned I had a tear in my right hand side meniscus - would they repair that at the same time?
• Is there anyone else you know I could speak to who has been through this situation?
• What would you do if you were in my shoes?!

I am having a really having a tough deciding on what to do and want to know as much information as possible. The operation seems fairly intense with a hamstring graft, titanium bolts etc and I am weighing up whether I should put myself through this process when my knee actually feels ok. My biggest concern is for later life and if I should bite the bullet now and get it done while I am young fit and healthy to avoid problems further down the line but it does sound like a gruelling ordeal to put myself through.

Am just a bit in shock at the moment, but am willing to have the operation if it genuinely would be better for me in the long term. Can anyone offer me some good advice?

Thanks, Brian