PreOp® Anterior Cruciate Ligament Patient Education
www.PreOp.com Patient ED @ 617-379-1582 INFO Your doctor has told you that you have a torn anterior cruciate ligament in your knee and has recommended arthroscopic surgery in order to repair it. But what does that actually mean? The knee is one of the most complex and one of the most important joints in your body. It is made up of bone, ligament and cartilage. Damage to any individual part can dramatically restrict the normal movement of the leg and can even interfere with the ability to walk. Let's take a look at the way the knee joint is put together. The femur, or thigh bone, meets the fibula and tibia to create a flexible joint called the knee. Helping to stabilize the knee are the ligaments. The ligaments in the knee are strong, flexible cords of tissue that hold the bones together. They maintain stability and allow the normal range of motion when you walk or run. The anterior cruciate ligament - or ACL -- guides the tibia, or shin bone. It helps keep your feet below your knees and your legs from buckling as you walk. Twisting or bending the knee during sports or other strenuous activity can damage the ligament. During an injury, patients often report feeling or even hearing a sudden "pop" in their knee at the exact moment when the ligament tears. Other symptoms include swelling, restricted movement, pain and even the inability to stand on the affected leg.
November 23rd, 2009 - 12:17
im supposed to have surgery dec 23. im scared. i tore my acl when i was 10. im anxious to have it though. anybdy have any advice and tips?
November 24th, 2009 - 12:30
i tore mine twice once when i was 9 and the other when I was 15.
December 4th, 2009 - 04:25
Hi, Can some one please suggest a good ACL surgeon who can give discount for self payee. I don’t have insurance, but am ready to pay full amount. — East coast region
December 26th, 2009 - 19:26
i tore the outer 2 ligaments in my knee, it hurt like hell, but i recovered about a year later
February 6th, 2010 - 12:55
i damaged mine playing football then tore my it completely about a year later during a game.i waited several months for an operation and it was well worth the initial few weeks of discomfort after the op. The thing i would stress is how important it is to do the rehab exercises and then build back up the muscle supporting your knee so you can continue to live as you did before you injury.
March 13th, 2010 - 15:35
how do your tear your ligament
March 16th, 2010 - 19:55
im 20 and i ripped all 3 playing football, hurt, but still sucks :/
March 17th, 2010 - 19:38
i had my surgery last week and am now getting feelings back in it not good really hope its worth it
June 7th, 2010 - 07:47
i snapped my cruciate ligament and im going to be having my second operation in a few weeks.
June 9th, 2010 - 13:33
just found out I tore my cruciate ligament. I tore it playing basketball about a year ago and did not have insurance coverage so I had to let the discomfort and pain fade til about a few days ago playing baseball I tweaked it again and its worse then ever. Opting for the surgery. There goes my summer.
July 5th, 2010 - 16:10
@ADAMMNNN I hurt mine pretty badly skiing two and a half years ago. It took about four months for the pain to stop, but then I was fine. Then six months ago, I completely tore it jumping down from a fence. I felt my tibia try to slide up the side of my femur. I thought I had broken it. It still hurts when pressure is applied in certain ways, and it’s pretty uncomfortable the next day if I exercise on it. I’ve put on a few pounds not being able to exercise. I wish I could afford the surgery.
July 23rd, 2010 - 18:08
@Riflemanm16a2 Man bro I wish you the best. I mean you could live with it but I know you would rather have a whole new acl just like i got. My situation was worse then i thought. After my surgery the doc told me I had two other problems besides a completely torn ACL i also tore my meniscus and I had chipped my knee cap or had chips at the knee cap so they sanded that down. I will never ever ever go through this process again even if i tear it again just forget it. first week was hell.
August 20th, 2010 - 11:07
@ADAMMNNN I just had an acl reconstruction last friday, a week ago. And i agree the first week sucks ass. They used part of my hamstring to reconstruct it. Was just wondering if they always use screws to hold it in place till it grows to the bone or what? Was looking on youtube for a few days but cant find much. that sucks you tore both at once, i wont go through this again either lol fuck this
August 20th, 2010 - 11:36
@ChevroletTuff yeah bro they always use screws to hold the hamstring graft in place. The screws themselves actually dissolve on its own after about a year or two. I had my surgery this past July 7th. Now today august 20th Im walking. Still have a slight limp but damn i lost all my quad muscle. I cant run yet or jog. Depending on how fast you heal I say you should be feelin better by week 3 or 4. Good luck man.
August 20th, 2010 - 12:08
@ADAMMNNN Thanks alot for replying so fast, and for answering my questions. I wasnt sure about the screws, cause they never told me about it. Good that you’re doing well, do you have any pain now? And yeah my leg feels really weak, i have therapy on the 27th. Also you’re supposed to walk in a brace for 6 months they told me, same for you? Hope you’re doing well, it’s painfull for the first week or so! And being off work sucks
August 20th, 2010 - 12:14
@ChevroletTuff No prob. I have no pain really. Its just soreness and some discomfort. My doc gave me a brace and no crutches. He doesn’t believe in the use of crutches. crazy. He told me that I could take the brace off when I feel comfortable enough too. I would also take the brace off to let my leg breath a bit. I used the brace for the first 3 weeks. Then I started to walk with it and took it off when I felt comfortable. The pain sucks but the boredom killed me cause I have to keep busy.
August 20th, 2010 - 12:20
@ADAMMNNN That’s good, bet you’re glad to be over the pain and back on your feet. No shit no crutches? Im supposed to be on them for 3 weeks, and when im walking the brace is supposed to be on for 6 months. Cause they said it doesnt fully heal to the bone for that long. incase it buckles or i fall down or something it would re-tear. Did you completely tear it, cause mine completely tore off the bone. Yeah it’s boring as hell, youtube is what i look forward to lol.
August 22nd, 2010 - 09:04
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August 22nd, 2010 - 09:05
@ChevroletTuff you will surely die of infection racist traitor. lol
August 23rd, 2010 - 05:30
@bfagay1 Burn in hell, stop following me loser ass troll.
August 23rd, 2010 - 17:51
@ChevroletTuff why surrender now traitor? does ford suck? hahahaha
August 23rd, 2010 - 17:51
@ChevroletTuff infection went to ur tiny brain, thats why you are now crazy. lol
August 24th, 2010 - 20:15
@ChevroletTuff you go to hell first, i will follow you there too. hahahaha
August 24th, 2010 - 20:16
@ChevroletTuff you should be watching racism videos not this. loser hahaha
September 4th, 2010 - 08:01
dont you love youtube beef from all the comments below?