Acl / Cartilage Tear

[Nancy Le Roux]

Hi, I was playing hockey when i went in for a tackle and the opposition bumped me and i honestly felt like me knee twisted right around.. The pain was quiet bad.. I managed to walk (hobble) off the pitch but trying not to put to much pressure.. It is now a week since the injury happened i am walking on the leg but to scared to put to much pressure.. When i straighten my knee it feels as if it locks and then i need to push it down to be able to unlock it.. (if you know what i mean)

I have gone to an orthopeadic surgeon and he said i have torn both the ACL / Cartilage but what is weird is that i dont have all the symptoms that an ACL shows..

If i have torn my ACL am i able to walk (obviously not walking perfectly but i am driving and put reasonable amount of pressure..

Please help i dont want to have an operation unnecessary..

[Heidi]

Hi,

It does sound like meniscus (cartilage) damage. This often causes the locking feeling you have described and is usually a result of a twisting injury.

Have a look here for some more info:

http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/front/knee/medialmeniscus.htm

The tear could be to the medial or lateral cartilage.

An ACL tear can occur from the same type of movement and the two do sometimes occur together. An ACL rupture would give you feelings of instability, although if there is still a lot of swelling this may mask the problem. Alternatively there may be only a partial rupture, which is unusual but does occasionally happen and would explain why you feel you don't get all the symptoms and can walk on the leg.

I think your only real option is to get an MRI scan so see what damage there is. Only then will you know if you need surgery.

Good luck!