Strained ACL...what does this mean?

Question

My son strained his ACL and the doctor is putting in a referral to the orthopedic. He cannot take ibuprofen (allergic) so he said don't worry about taking anything until we go to ortho.

My husband took my son so this was the story I got. I didn't get to ask any questions.

Has this happened to you...what was the solution?
How serious is this?
My son is very active in basketball and football - how long will it be until he can play again?

Thanks

Answer 1

Your son has an injury to his knee. He may need surgery to repair, my son had the surgery, but still suffers pain. You'll want to be following the doctor's orders, wearing his brace if one was ordered, no jumping moves.............they don't like that one, so basketball would definately be effected if there is permanent damage. I would assume your child is seeing an orthopaedic surgeon, not a general practice? If not, ask for referral. Good luck

Answer 2

In many cases when the knee is injured, a ligament in the knee becomes strained or torn. Ligaments are fibrous tissue connecting bone to bone; they give strength and stability to joints. The ACL, or Anterior Cruciate Ligament, is a ligament in the centre of the knee that becomes damaged when twisted too far, such as in a skiing accident or some sport that requires rapid rotation or pivoting. The bones of the knee, the femur (or thigh bone) and the fibula and tibia (bones of the lower leg) meet to form a hinge joint. The front of this joint is protected by the patella (kneecap). Like all joints, it is cushioned by articular cartilage, a kind of protective padding that covers the ends of the tibia and femur, as well as the underside of the patella. Pads of cartilage known as the lateral meniscus and medial meniscus further cushion the joint, acting as shock absorbers between the bones. Whenever there is a major injury to the knee, this cartilage is at also at risk; repairs to the knee help prevent the onset of arthritis caused by wear and tear on the meniscus and articular cartilage. There are four ligaments that are critical to the stability of the knee joint, and the ACL, which runs down the middle of the knee, is the one most frequently injured. A ligament is made of tough fibrous material and functions to control excessive motion by limiting joint mobility. Ligaments help to stabilize the knee. The ACL attaches the tibia (shin bone) to the femur at the middle of the knee. Behind the ACL lies the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), which manages the backward movement of the tibia. Working with the muscles in the leg, the ACL and PCL control the amount of stress put on your knee when using it to walk, run or jump. Complete and incomplete ruptures of the ligament produce bleeding into the knee that cause the knee to swell and cause pain. The immediate application of ice to the injury can help limit this rush of blood into the joint. Once torn, the knee usually becomes noticeably unstable. The anterior cruciate ligament has a relatively poor vascular supply and will not heal without medical intervention. Your doctor will be able to diagnose a knee problem by first giving you an overall physical and by examining your medical history. He or she may also use any of the following methods to diagnose the condition: X-ray. Computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan. Bone scan. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. Arthroscopy. If the ACL is torn, it typically takes around 12 months to heal. The time taken for a strained ACL will usually be of a shorter duration.
Hope this helps
Matador 89

Answer 3

Anterior Cruciate Ligament injuries can be very limiting in terms of competetive sports. Often requiring a break of around six months. However, this depends very much on the seriousness of the injury. The best idea would be to contact the physician your son saw and talk it through with him.

Answer 4

If you think you strained your ACL then you need to see your physician immediately and will likely be referred to an orthopedist for specific testing for the integrity of the ligament. Then you will likely be referred to physical therapy so that you knee can be adequately strengthened and stabilized to compensate for the strain as it heals. And no, you will not be healed by next week if you truly sprained your ACL and, in fact, will be exposing yourself to further potential injury by playing next week.