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Dr. NS: Did I tear my ACL?

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shrEddie
Posts: 5117 - Karma: 65
I was skiing two days ago on snowflex at Liberty mountain in VA.  i attempted to land a 720 degree spin, but was too far backseat when i touched down.  my left ski caught an edge and the nose shot out to the side while i continued to twist and fall the other way. i felt serious pain, and then slid down the landing and could barely stand up.  here are my "symptoms",  if you have experience with knee injuries, tell me what you think.

-i DID NOT hear a "pop."   i talked to a kid who tore his acl last year and that was the first thing he asked me.  he also said he felt a jolt go up and down that whole side of his body when it happened, which i did not really feel.  these two things are making me most confident that i did not tear anything.
-I can bend and extend my knee.  I have to do it very slowly, but i can move it straight back and forward.  it is very painful, but my friend who tore his said he couldn't do that for five months after his accident.
-any sort of sideways or twisting pressure is extremely painful, like if i step on it the wrong way, i literally cry out in pain.  if i keep if perfectly straight i can walk slowly, but sometimes i dont think about it and my leg gets a little off center, and it is terrible.
-this is my least favorite part,  its getting worse.  on saturday when it happened i could walk much better than yesterday, and like five times better than i could this morning when i woke up.   when i have hurt my knee before, i could usually tell that it was slowly getting better, but this one seems to be going the other direction.

so NS, those are the facts.   i really dont think its torn, but since alot of skiers have this problem, i figured some of you could help me out before i decide to go to the real doctor to check it out.
Nov 16 2009 10:43AM
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SteezethePirate
Posts: 506 - Karma: 34
sounds like it could possibly be with the cartilage or i could be very wrong
Nov 16 2009 10:48AM
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RtC.
Posts: 1156 - Karma: 28
Doesn't sound like ACL/MCL due to there being no pop, but it's too early to know anything. There will still be swelling and inflammation of muscle and other tissue for upto 2weeks or so. ice it and let the swelling go down. Don't test it now, just let it calm.

Once it's calmed, try twisting movements along with vertical movement, it sounds more likely that you will have damaged your Meniscus cartilage but I'm not a doctor. So go see one, until then rest up and ice it. There's no point going to see a doctor before 2weeks as they'll tell you to rest up, unless your insurance says you must.

Good luck man, knees blow major dong.
Easy
Nov 16 2009 10:51AM
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doitbig
Posts: 4818 - Karma: 315
when i tore mine i didnt hear a pop and it wasn't even all that painful. doesn't have to be a full tendon tear, could be only partial. best bet is to get checked.
Nov 16 2009 10:52AM
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marsland
Posts: 3150 - Karma: 421
get a MRI
Nov 16 2009 10:55AM
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clive_bixby
Posts: 1834 - Karma: 499
this. can't mess around with knee stuff
Nov 16 2009 10:57AM
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Spacekroft
Posts: 1332 - Karma: 41
if you still in that much pain i think that going to the doctor is worth it. its the only way your going to know if you tore it or not and if you push it to far you could end your knees ability to ski. my buddy had knee surgery this summer pushed it too soon and now the doctor said he will never ski, climb, or bike without pain in his knee and the only thing they can do is pump cortozone into it for the pain. so i would go get it checked out you don't want to destroy your knees anymore than necessary
Nov 16 2009 10:58AM
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casual
Posts: 6712 - Karma: 6,748
Really hard to say.

It's probably just as likely that you injured/tore another ligament in your knee like your MCL, or tore your meniscus. Particularly if you didn't experience that "pop". Is your knee locking, clicking, buckling? Where's it hurt to the touch?

Ice, elevate, ibuprofen, and BEND that fucker. If you're sitting around, constantly force it all the way straight, and try and touch your ass with your heel. Impossible to diagnose the injury until the swelling has gone down. Make an ortho doc appt., they can usually peg the injury in ten minutes by testing the laxity and movement in the joint. For the most part MRIs are a formality these days.
Nov 16 2009 11:02AM
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casual
Posts: 6712 - Karma: 6,748
Oh, wow, Yeah, don't do any bending/movement, until the pain has subsided some and the fluid has drained.

Someone else said it, the doc won't be able to tell you anything until the "trauma" is over with. Also, do NOT go to the ER as it's an utter waste of time, and an unnecessary bill.
Nov 16 2009 11:04AM
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shrEddie
Posts: 5117 - Karma: 65
i think i might go to my university's health center this afternoon just to see if they can tell me anything else, and because it is free.  its definitely swollen, so i guess im going to have to wait for while for a real doctor to check it out.

thanks for the responses everyone, keep them coming.
Nov 16 2009 11:09AM
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InfernoHits
Posts: 4755 - Karma: 192
sounds like your meniscus is fucked in my opinion. get an MRI
Nov 16 2009 11:14AM
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MEGAZORD
Posts: 4531 - Karma: -7
What the hell is wrong with you go to a doctor instead of asking about it on the internet. 
Nov 16 2009 11:15AM
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shrEddie
Posts: 5117 - Karma: 65
hahah i have an appointment for 2:20 today.  just wanted to see what NS thought
Nov 16 2009 11:22AM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,386
this, exactly.

Get an MRI man, it's the only way to know. If it can be repaired, that's what you want to do. As a skier, you don't want to lose things in your knees, so don't risk hurting yourself more and not being able to repair it.
Nov 16 2009 11:23AM
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bigsoxfan
Posts: 734 - Karma: 10
i could still run straight ahead and wasnt even in that much pain when i tore mine but anything sideways just wasn't happening. also when i got it checked out, like just physical examination where they moved it around and stuff not an MRI, they said i didnt tear it. so as a lot of people on here have said an MRI is the only true way to know. good luck man
Nov 16 2009 11:27AM
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SmokeyTheBear
Posts: 492 - Karma: 24
One thing most people notice with a torn ACL is instability. When I did mine i couldn't walk on it without a brace or it would pop out and hurt like a bitch. Not everyone's the same though so who knows. Could also be a partial tear, these are extremely unlikely but my buddy did it and shrugged it off until he tore it the rest of the way on his tramp the next week.
If your knee locks or grinds at all it could be the meniscus too. But like everyone else says it's best to go to the doc and have him check it out. Good luck man that really sucks.
Nov 16 2009 11:30AM
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MrLarsen
Posts: 583 - Karma: 16
Get your doctor to refer you to an orthopedist, they can usually tell you how bad it is without an MRI. Although you need an MRI to be entirely sure what it is..
Nov 16 2009 11:32AM
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Dr.NS
Posts: 640 - Karma: 19
Dr. Ns, on the job

ACL= not torn

using newschoolers for a medical opinion= retarded

using me as a medical opinion= almost as retarded
Nov 16 2009 11:34AM
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Oreos
Posts: 1207 - Karma: 38
could be your patellar tendon, pain in and around kneecap? tender to touch at the bottom of kneecap?

if so welcome to my world. it's also notoriously slow to heal due to lack of blood flow so get it moving as soon as.




Nov 16 2009 12:12PM
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blong131
Posts: 2193 - Karma: 59
boom.
Nov 16 2009 12:16PM
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the.hellion.
Posts: 861 - Karma: 698
You need to go to a good ortho doctor who will check your laxity, like casual said. MRI's don't always tell you what's up. It took three to diagnose my torn ACL. You also don't need to hear a pop. When I tore both of mine, I didn't hear shit. It hurt like a bitch, I kinda felt like I was gonna ralph and it swelled like hell. I was even able to ski (read: side-slip) down after tearing and I was able to work and walk around. It was just mad swollen and stiff and painful if I wasn't super careful with where I stepped. The pain you're describing when you're walking sounds familiar and if you're having stability problems, I wouldn't get your hopes up for everything being okay. It doesn't even necessarily have to be ACL, it could be MCL, PCL or meniscus. ACL is kinda the worst to fix.
Sorry to be such a downer, but when it happens, you kinda know, and you just don't want to admit it. I hope all is good but from experience, it all sounds familiar.

Nov 16 2009 12:35PM
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dbstar
Posts: 2038 - Karma: 20
if you want to know if you tore your acl go see a fucking doctor
Nov 16 2009 12:45PM
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WVskiing
Posts: 3007 - Karma: 1,949
happened to me, hurt for like 8 months but was at end of the season. just take it easy and go see a doctor. but i didn't go and see one
Nov 16 2009 12:47PM
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jerad
Posts: 3236 - Karma: 47
The only advice I would trust is from a doctor. I've tore both of my ACLs and in both circumstances it felt completely different. The only way to diagnose anything is with an MRI - just get it done and out of the way as soon as possible!
Nov 16 2009 1:07PM
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snomaster
Posts: 3346 - Karma: 5,771
Going to the doc today will get you a script for painkillers, but that's about it. As most others agree, you need to see a specialist and book an MRI ASAP. They will want the swelling to go down before the MRI for best results. So you have to RICE (Rest/Ice/Compress/Elevate) and take over the counter IBProfin to get the swelling to go down. Keep up your range of motion as much as possible without intense pain. Sit in bed and do leg lifts in every direction you can. If you do need surgery you will be on a PT program for a few weeks first.
Keep your spirits up. Laugh with friends. Do as your orthopedic says and you'll get better. It's just a matter of time.
Nov 16 2009 1:22PM
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sheephead
Posts: 93 - Karma: 339
Thinking its probably your meniscus dude ... i did mine last year only a minor tear and had similar symptomns to yourself especially when i woke up in the morning it was super sore and stiff. Doesn't take too long to heal up if you do what your doc and physio says. Good Luck man hope it isnt your ACL!
Nov 16 2009 1:28PM
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Mr.Huck
Posts: 6096 - Karma: 14,902
See a Doc.  Only way to know.

Different injury.  Any of you know how long it takes for bruised rids to stop hurting?
Courtesy of Newschoolers.com


Didn't hurt right away, but it's been sore since.  Getting a little better but just curious. 




Nov 16 2009 1:28PM
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SmokeyTheBear
Posts: 492 - Karma: 24
haha
Nov 16 2009 1:38PM
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E.Durtschi
Posts: 250 - Karma: 203
It takes about 6 months for a bruised rib to heal correctly. ice it a lot and be careful. I bruised a rib a while back and its an injury that lingers for a long time if you don't rest and let it heal.



Nov 16 2009 1:41PM
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Legoman
Posts: 533 - Karma: 13
When icing it, ice it for 10 minutes and use some wet kitchen towel to make it colder and not freeze to your skin, then get one of those beanbag things you can microwave and they go hot and put that on for 10 minutes, then repeat with the ice for 10 minutes.

When I went to physio I was told thats the best way to stimulate blood flow and help repair, obviously if somethings fucked, then somethings fucked but if you have just hurt it badly thats gonna help it the most.
Nov 16 2009 1:41PM
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K-Thomas
Posts: 2700 - Karma: 604
i was in your exact same situation last year in late december. landing forward, same kinda fall with the tip of my right ski getting squirly and shooting out and me falling the other way. Didn't really hear the "pop" everyone talks about. I felt the same stuff you've got going on pretty much. Walked (very, very carefully) off the hill and to my car in a lot of pain. Very swollen, sideways movement hurt, could still fully extend/flex slowly and in pain. ended up getting an MRI, and my ACL was torn. Surgery in June. I know that's probably not what you want to hear, cuz i know i was reading this type of thread looking for answers last year. Regardless, do like everyone else in the thread has been telling you and go get an MRI after the swelling goes down just a bit. Ice it like crazy for now and schedule an MRI in the near future. Also, if you can start going to the gym and working out, pre-hab goes a long way if you do in fact need surgery. Best of luck with it man, it sucks but it was a really huge learning experience for me and i feel like i'm in better shape now than i was before it was torn.
Nov 16 2009 1:47PM
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skiierman
Posts: 28699 - Karma: -5,563
naw man you're fine. most likely you rolled your ankle which heals in a few hours. to be safe though, you should do exercises that include sprinting with many abrupt turns and stops on turf wearing steel cleats. that'll toughed the knee muscles up.
Nov 16 2009 2:13PM
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Mr.Huck
Posts: 6096 - Karma: 14,902
Thx. +K.  Not what I wanted to hear but it makes sense.  I'll try to be mello.  Problem is, I'll be coaching in less than a month.  Do wraps work? 
Nov 16 2009 2:30PM
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sonty
Posts: 33 - Karma: 847
get yours checked immediately. i tore mine and i heard no pop and thought i was good. i skied two months  on it and did serious damage to the cartilage
Nov 16 2009 2:58PM
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ECski
Posts: 976 - Karma: 13
I badly sprained my MCL a couple years back and it felt a lot like what you are saying. Any lateral movement hurt like hell, and it got worse in the first few days. I just iced it a shit ton and wore a shitty brace for a little while cause i was in the lacrosse season.
Nov 16 2009 3:06PM
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dckiteboards
Posts: 372 - Karma: 76

I have had  multiple injuries similiar to this. and I would wait two or three weeks  before thinking about going to the doc. mainly because I didnt have insurance, but also because I could semi wait it. I had major swelling and could still move it. i finally had it checked after seveal years and many injuries. and I had no damage, only carilage , so it crunches when I bend it. tough call .

Nov 16 2009 3:10PM
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E.Durtschi
Posts: 250 - Karma: 203
I skied a whole season with my bruised rib. i do recommend taking it easy on jumps and what not because that will only make it hurt worse. you just have to be careful, and ice
Nov 16 2009 4:12PM
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shrEddie
Posts: 5117 - Karma: 65
health center doctor said it seemed like problem with MCL, but needed MRI to be sure.  My mom is scheduling an mri for early next week when i go home for thanksgiving.  this thread is making me depressed
Nov 16 2009 5:19PM
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jblaski
Posts: 5566 - Karma: 1,078
This sounds a lot like what I did lat weekend. To start off, I hurt this knee two years ago, same symptoms and have had problems since. No insurance = no doctor visit.

Came off a box. Landed with my legs too straight. Knee pops/slides out of place. Knee brace pushes it back in. Right now I have a bunch of swelling and pain. Movement is limited. Definitely not stable without having a knee brace on. Again, I don't have any insurance, so I'm just manning up and taking it. MRI isn't an option. Pretty sure something is wrong though.
Nov 16 2009 5:39PM
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TheWiseOne
Posts: 858 - Karma: 24
You are going to die in a month.


But seriously, glad to here you are getting checked by a doc
Nov 16 2009 5:53PM
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DDrem.
Posts: 3552 - Karma: 24
if i see you on crutches next week im going to beat your ass
Nov 16 2009 5:59PM
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B.Aussie
Posts: 5852 - Karma: 4,531

Go Get Proffessional Medical Help ASAP. Keep icing it and trying to get the swlling down.

Doesn't sound like MCL or ACL. Could be Lateral if you can't twist it. Can you pull your foot up and down against force?

Nov 16 2009 6:26PM
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-=koLLac=-
Posts: 4122 - Karma: 11

meniscal tears occur while twisting the knee when it's compressed. you could have pinched the meniscus as you landed and then ripped it a bit when your ski caught an edge.

a doc will be able to tell you exactly.

Nov 16 2009 8:06PM
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steezc-ross
Posts: 822 - Karma: 1,156
hard to say man
Nov 16 2009 8:26PM
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Brock.
Posts: 5698 - Karma: 1,332
that really sucks... i hope it isn't anything to serious.
Nov 16 2009 8:30PM
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twin-tip-hero
Posts: 2896 - Karma: 277
THIS!!!!!1 holy shit this.  i tore my ACL about 8 months ago, had my surgery 6 months ago.  i waited to get my MRI done and i missed out of 2 months no gym or anything.  i also missed out on my summer.  so if you dont want to miss too much of your ski season get it checked out ASAP. and dont get an w-ray when you go to the doc it does not pick up soft tissue, you need an MRI to see the true shit.
Nov 16 2009 8:34PM
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joshua
Posts: 5046 - Karma: 1,280
Dr.NS didn't go to medical school. You should probably see a docter
Nov 16 2009 8:39PM
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jason...
Posts: 9006 - Karma: 780
Sounds like meniscus/cartilage damage.
Nov 16 2009 8:52PM
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LMPJibbin
Posts: 1607 - Karma: 17
probably meniscus/cartilage stuff my dad JUST got knee surgery for that same thing on friday and you sound like you have the same thing. idk id trust an MRI and a doctor more than me though
Nov 16 2009 9:25PM
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