yes a donjoy fourcepoint with armour I think its called. I think it probably helped protect the other ligaments from twisting but doesn't stop the tibia moving forwards.
the defiance & Defiancew III is the most popular ACL specific brace. But read here
Not sure is the new Forcepoint? is show use for ACL reconstructions, my read on that is it's not for stabilizing torn or damaged ACL"s
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My OS was bullish on Ossur braces.
I am skiing at a high level after ACL Recon, have hiked and skied Tucks since, and raced lots too.
from what I understand, the Ossur CTI is an excellent brace created in part with the folks from Steadman which is why you will see more of them out west. I originally wanted a CTI but couldn't find a fitter nearby. I got the Donjoy Defiance III here in NJ and have been pleased with it. I am hopeful I won't need to wear it anymore.
Yeah i was wondering what to do myself. I'm only 27 and very athletic, but to think my sports days are over is very hard to take in. In January of this year , i had a basketball injury, I thought i would heal fast and what not, so I didnt go to the doctor. Three months or so passed and I was still wearing a brace, but felt good. So I decided to play in a men's softball game to test it out, the first big stop/ twist movement I made, my whole entire knee collapsed I was done. I went and had x-rays, and then MRI and the doctor said acl,mcl,lcl,meniscus and cartilage torn. You never know until you play something with more movements to test it out. I will definitely get the surgery because knee is not healing and I have stability but cant bend or make sharp movements. You guys that are young get the surgery, and I promise you will be better than before. My friend had surgery when he was 19, he says he would do it again tomorrow. Best advice is to do what you feel is best for you, I just know I was wrong and made bad judgment.
welcome! No your sports days aren't over by a long shot but you will have to work very hard for a year or so. This is why most of us go the surgery route because when it blows out it can do so much more damage. Find the best surgeon you can who does a lot of recons. Be prepared to work your ass off to get back to where you were.
Hi,
This whole thread has been very resourceful. I had a Right knee injury back in January 2012 while playing basketball. I got an X-ray done immediately at Urgent care and everything seemed fine. Over the next few days it swelled and I could hardly put any weight on the knee. I started my PT in Feb and completed 10 sessions of PT. Even during PT the doc said it doesn't seems like I have any ligament tear.
After my PT I started playing badminton and little volleyball as I couldn't get back to basketball. I tried basketball once but gave it up withing half hr as my knee wasn't stable and I was scared I would injure it more. I wear a knee support while playing badminton and volleyball which does help ( http://www.amazon.com/McDavid-Knee-Support-Open-Patella/dp/B000UVZM0C/ref=cm_lmf_tit_10 )
5 months after getting injured I still could not bend the right knee all the way so the OS decided to get an MRI. After an MRI it was discovered that I have:
The OS suggested a surgery as ACL would not get fine on its own and I need ACL to get back to basketball. I am 25yr old and want to continue playing basketball and other sports. I am fine undergoing a surgery but would like to know all the pros/cons before undergoing the surgery.
Thanks!!!
First off, welcome. Wish it was under better circumstances. Next, as you will see reading through this thread, listen to your OS. If you don't think you have the best OS in your area, find the best and listen. At 25 yrs old, that's a long time to go to risk further injury without getting it fixed. If the OS recommends surgery, I would listen, especially to keep doing the things that you want to do without limitations.
I am not a doctor and my information is worth the price you paid. I myself tore my right ACL and a level 2 sprain of the LCL on December 10, 2011. I found the best OS in my area and based on his recommendation, I did not have surgery as I have stability.
There are several ACL threads on here. Search, read, and ask questions but at the end of the day, this is between you and your doctor. ACL injuries are as individual as the individual who has them. Only a good OS can help you make the right choice. Good luck.
I had/have a partial tear also, it's been a few years and so far so good. Just keep it strong and ski! Doc said, don't ski if your out of shape and if it does completely tear then surgery it is. Currently I really don't feel any limitations when I ski, but it did take me a while to gain trust in it. I like steeps and catching air, but don't frequent the bumps as often as I use to.
ADVICE: go see one of the world-class knee OS docs you have in your backyard. don't take anyones advice on this. (other than the advice to go see a OS)
Hi people, i`m a female, 24 years from Brasil. Three months ago i had a complete tear on my acl and a pheriperal medial meniscus tear. I saw 4 doctors and i choose to try conservative treament as i had chondromalacia on my other knee and the doctors had told me to stop soccer 3 years ago but i insisted on playing. I began treatment with hidroteraphy as the tear on the meniscus could repair it self. So i'm stretning my muscles without impact. I can say for all that had a tear and dont want to do more agressive pivoting sports to try conservative rehab. For the first month i felt it really painfull, but i can see a big improvement every day. Today i can jump, run on the soft sand, dance. I can run normally, not just in line. Next month i will begin pilates with more balance exercicies.
I had some woobles with that knee on the begining but not anymore. Anyway it was woobles that dont hurt, i think i could get the knee back.
I read a lot of articles about that too. A lot of them show long term results. You can read it too to help the choosing process.
http://scholar.google.com.br/scholar?hl=pt-BR&q=acl+conservative&btnG=&lr=
Hi people, i`m a female, 24 years from Brasil. Three months ago i had a complete tear on my acl and a pheriperal medial meniscus tear. I saw 4 doctors and i choose to try conservative treament as i had chondromalacia on my other knee and the doctors had told me to stop soccer 3 years ago but i insisted on playing. I began treatment with hidroteraphy as the tear on the meniscus could repair it self. So i'm stretning my muscles without impact. I can say for all that had a tear and dont want to do more agressive pivoting sports to try conservative rehab. For the first month i felt it really painfull, but i can see a big improvement every day. Today i can jump, run on the soft sand, dance. I can run normally, not just in line. Next month i will begin pilates with more balance exercicies.
I had some woobles with that knee on the begining but not anymore. Anyway it was woobles that dont hurt, i think i could get the knee back.
I read a lot of articles about that too. A lot of them show long term results. You can read it too to help the choosing process.
http://scholar.google.com.br/scholar?hl=pt-BR&q=acl+conservative&btnG=&lr=
Welcome to EpicSki! Thanks for the search link. Hadn't thought of putting "conservative" into a search. Interesting reading the results of the 11 year follow up comparing ACLr surgery to conservative non-surgical treatment.
Balance exercises to improve your proprioception will help a lot. I popped off my ACL about the same time you did, in early June. Also a woman, but older than you are. Luckily not that much damage to anything else in the knee (MCL strain, small longitudinal meniscus tear). Never had pain after Week 1 if I wasn't moving laterally. Started formal PT (physiotherapy) at Week 4. Once I had basic balance back, I naturally got stronger because I could get around a lot more. The focus for PT was on hamstrings and quads, first without any impact then with more normal exercises once there was no pain due to the MCL strain. When I could walk downstairs normally around Week 10, I knew I would continue with the conservative route. My surgeon agreed there was no need to consider any surgery. At 3 months, the meniscus is still healing so haven't tried any running or jumping yet. I'm 56 so have a bit more patience than when I was younger. 
Every situation is unique. Early diagnosis by a orthopedic specialist is important, preferably with MRI confirmation. Physcially, it's not just the ACL, it's everything in the knee that is or is not messed up at the same time. Just as important, depends on what someone wants to do in the future in terms of maintenance exercises and fun activities like skiing.
Where do you ski?
There is a more recent thread about treatment for an ACL injury here:
Dear All,
Pls advice 3 weeks from today I twisted my knee and got injuiry.
I undergone MRI after 5 days of injuiry - I am using 90% of day a brace for knee
1 Week I taken total rest 1 week partial and 1 week in office work with brace always on
- MRI report impresssions
There is full thickness tear of the middle one third of the anterior cruciate ligament with asscociated small marrow contusions in the anterolateral femoral condyle and posterolateral tibial plateau.
There is tear of distal medical collateral ligament with mild sprain of the proximal lateral collateral ligament and probable posterolateral corner injury.
Moderate joint effusion is seen extending in the suprapatellar bursa with mild cellulitis.
50% Doctor suggested to start physio slow mobilty after 21 days and would recover and self healing is possible
50% doctor suggest to go for surgery and get 100% healing
I play light cricket - life style of evening walk and light excercise- never play football, sking, basketball or pivoting games.
I am 31 yrs and job involves travelling, office, factory work as engineer
Thanks in advance for your reply and help
Regards
Faruk
+91-9167381536
Learned recently that the Skiers Edge was invented by a man who had multiple knee injuries and surgeries. Meaning it was designed to be knee friendly. Just found an old model on the local craigslist for a very low price, so will be giving it a try.
Faruk,
Sorry to hear about your injury. In your case, given the information you provided, I would give the knee a chance to heal on it's own. If you are not highly active you would likely be fine without an ACL. However, a posterolateral corner injury is not a good thing and that may cause more problems than the torn ACL or collateral ligament. However, there is no way to determine if any of your injuries will cause you long-term problems so I would follow an excellent rehab protocol and give the knee time to see if you have any issues with it. Surgery often makes things worse, especially if you have wrong doctor doing it.
Good Luck,
Denise
Hello everyone,
I was skiing for the first time ever last week, and managed to tear both the ACL and the MCL in my right knee...
I've been pretty active all my life (I used to be a competitive runner for many years, and I've been practicing ashtanga yoga for a few years now), but right now, one week after the injury, my knee feels like there's nothing holding it together... Even though I've been doing the prescribed exercises every day, if I try to put just a little weight on my injured knee, it hurts very very bad.
So I was just wondering -- because some of you guys mentioned that 2-3 weeks after the multiple ligament rupture you were up on your feet, even doing some sports -- did you guys also have this completely unstable feeling in the beginning?.. I asked my OS and my PT, but they both said, "let's just wait and see" how i progress... However they did say that I should wear the braces AND use crutches for weeks... So I'm just a little perplexed, reading other comments here, because it sounds like my knee feels much more unstable than the "average ACL&MCL tearer's" knee does :)
Any comments on this complete inability in the first 1 or 2 weeks to bear any weight after such an injury?..
Thank you so much in advance, and wishing a speedy recovery to everyone!!!
I don't really know, but I think those of us with few symptoms injured only the ACL. And even for that population there is a wide range of symptoms and degree of instability.
My knee felt quite stable. The only times it felt unstable was on a big step up, like onto a bench.
Sorry your first ski experience was a bummer. Can't say I remember anyone talking about rupturing the ACL and the MCL lately. I had a Level 2 MCL strain from the same incident that popped the ACL. Your situation is quite different.
Have you found the EpicSki article about ACL injury?
http://www.epicski.com/a/acl-injury-for-skiers
Hello everyone,
I was skiing for the first time ever last week, and managed to tear both the ACL and the MCL in my right knee...
I've been pretty active all my life (I used to be a competitive runner for many years, and I've been practicing ashtanga yoga for a few years now), but right now, one week after the injury, my knee feels like there's nothing holding it together... Even though I've been doing the prescribed exercises every day, if I try to put just a little weight on my injured knee, it hurts very very bad.
So I was just wondering -- because some of you guys mentioned that 2-3 weeks after the multiple ligament rupture you were up on your feet, even doing some sports -- did you guys also have this completely unstable feeling in the beginning?.. I asked my OS and my PT, but they both said, "let's just wait and see" how i progress... However they did say that I should wear the braces AND use crutches for weeks... So I'm just a little perplexed, reading other comments here, because it sounds like my knee feels much more unstable than the "average ACL&MCL tearer's" knee does :)
Any comments on this complete inability in the first 1 or 2 weeks to bear any weight after such an injury?..
Thank you so much in advance, and wishing a speedy recovery to everyone!!!
Hi,
I know you posted this years ago and you might not even be following this board anymore, but if you are, I am very curious to know how your knee is doing now. I tore my acl, mcl, and also got a tibial plateau fracture (small) seven weeks ago (something under the snow grabbed my ski and I couldn't lift or turn my right leg - it was a freak thing, I am normally a very careful and not "epic" skier!) I turned 50 six weeks prior to the accident. My surgeon (at least my surgeon for now) says we don't operate people over 50 (basically, get used to sitting in a rocking chair and wait for the grandchildren to be born). I have been going to rehab religiously but still can't fully straighten or bend my leg, and I am still using crutches as per the surgeon because of the fracture.
So what should I do? I am no athlete, but I love to ski (as do my husband and three sons), I walk every day (which I need to do for my mental health), I like to cycle to work, etc. Must I really give up all this stuff? My knee is really wobbly.If I can avoid surgery I will, but I cannot imagine having to sit in a chair for the rest of my life. Please let me know that you are doing everything you want to do and you are not wobbly! Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks!
Wow. Totally sucks! I was injured seven weeks ago and have similar symptoms to yours. Be sure to get the MRI. My fracture was not visible on x-ray, only MRI (tibial plateau) and if it does not heal properly you end up with arthritis. The first couple of weeks I was going up and down the stairs on my butt, so I don't think the early inability to bear weight is unusual.
So sorry this happened on your first ski experience. How are you doing now?
Suggest you start a new thread. Where do you live? Your injuries sound much like those that Lindsey Vonn sustained. She was treated at the Steadman clinic in Vail. I would talk to them about a consultation. It is true that older patients do not have as good a track record for healing and recovery BUT, motivation and general health are important factors. Can't help you with anything about your injuries but I know what I would do if I were you....find another doctor who is not so damn conservative.
http://www.frys.com/product/7191132?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG
Hope you can find an answer to your dilemma and return to skiing. Although different I was faced with never skiing....or standing or walking again 8 years ago. A muscle disease left me near death and quadriplegic. Not much hope but my docs took my challenge and I recovered...slowly. 3 years later I was skiing again. Last winter I skied 20 days and still ski hard. By the way, I am in my 70s so 50 seems young.
Doctors don't always know what kind of result will happen. Maybe you can't recover the way you want....but maybe. I accepted my condition but hoped for better and after years of hard work was able to do most of the things I enjoy. Life is very different now but really good. Next winter, hope to double my days if my old cranky body holds up.
Good luck and hope you have good news to post in the future.
Bill
VTCS: Welcome to EpicSki! Sorry it's not under the best circumstances. I'm a woman, mid-50's, no ACL as of last June (not skiing), no surgery, skiing better than before at an advanced level after good PT and rehab for about four months. Every knee injury is different. Being a "coper" is possible depending on the rest of the knee besides the ACL. You just don't find many who talk about their experience. However, if ACL reconstruction surgery makes sense, being 50 is not a reason to not go through the process. Look for a PM (Private Message).
Hi,
I know you posted this years ago and you might not even be following this board anymore, but if you are, I am very curious to know how your knee is doing now. I tore my acl, mcl, and also got a tibial plateau fracture (small) seven weeks ago (something under the snow grabbed my ski and I couldn't lift or turn my right leg - it was a freak thing, I am normally a very careful and not "epic" skier!) I turned 50 six weeks prior to the accident. My surgeon (at least my surgeon for now) says we don't operate people over 50 (basically, get used to sitting in a rocking chair and wait for the grandchildren to be born). I have been going to rehab religiously but still can't fully straighten or bend my leg, and I am still using crutches as per the surgeon because of the fracture.
So what should I do? I am no athlete, but I love to ski (as do my husband and three sons), I walk every day (which I need to do for my mental health), I like to cycle to work, etc. Must I really give up all this stuff? My knee is really wobbly.If I can avoid surgery I will, but I cannot imagine having to sit in a chair for the rest of my life. Please let me know that you are doing everything you want to do and you are not wobbly! Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks!
Suggest you start a new thread. Where do you live? Your injuries sound much like those that Lindsey Vonn sustained. She was treated at the Steadman clinic in Vail. I would talk to them about a consultation. It is true that older patients do not have as good a track record for healing and recovery BUT, motivation and general health are important factors. Can't help you with anything about your injuries but I know what I would do if I were you....find another doctor who is not so damn conservative.
Hi Bill,
Thanks for your reply. I don't know how to start a new thread (since I just joined today). . . but I am in NJ. I have had offers and suggestions from friends all over the place, told to go see a surgeon in WY, total strangers walk up to me and give me the names of their doctors. One woman offered to send me her custom knee braces (which would have been about ten sizes too big, but it's the thought that counts!). I am just feeling so frustrated. I will see this doctor one more time this Friday and then maybe change. I don't WANT surgery - I just want to be able to do the things I want to do. My office is up one flight of stairs and I can't even run down in the middle of the day to see if there is mail . . . takes too long going one step at a time with crutches!
Your story sounds much worse than mine, though, and I keep thinking about all those people in Boston who had their legs blown off - I really should not complain but it's hard to stay positive.
Vivian
.
Surgeons use the Lachman Test to test for knee instability.
After your rehab, what are the results of that test? PT can do it for you. If the knee is stable per the test, you can wait but it is likely a wait issue. Being athletic with a significant partial tear, you will likely tear it completely.
If you are young (40 or under) and ski and engage in a lot of athletic recreation, it's probably better to get the ACL reconstructed.
Hi Bill,
Thanks for your reply. I don't know how to start a new thread (since I just joined today). . . but I am in NJ. I have had offers and suggestions from friends all over the place, told to go see a surgeon in WY, total strangers walk up to me and give me the names of their doctors. One woman offered to send me her custom knee braces (which would have been about ten sizes too big, but it's the thought that counts!). I am just feeling so frustrated. I will see this doctor one more time this Friday and then maybe change. I don't WANT surgery - I just want to be able to do the things I want to do. My office is up one flight of stairs and I can't even run down in the middle of the day to see if there is mail . . . takes too long going one step at a time with crutches!
Your story sounds much worse than mine, though, and I keep thinking about all those people in Boston who had their legs blown off - I really should not complain but it's hard to stay positive.
Vivian
To start a thread, look for a button near the top of the page (next to Post a Reply) just under the thread title.
One book you might consider checking out is by Dr. Marx. It's called "The ACL Solution." He is at a hospital in NYC.
http://www.amazon.com/ACL-Solution-Prevention-Recovery-Devastating/dp/1936303337
Dr. Marx was a primary author of a recent study looking at recreational skiers. You should ask your surgeon what he knows about the conclusion of that study.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130206103718.htm
