- A loud pop or a “popping” sensation in the knee.
- Severe pain and inability to continue activity.
- Rapid swelling.
- Loss of range of motion.
- A feeling of instability or “giving way” with weight bearing.
How do you check for a torn ACL?
When you’ve torn your ACL you will lose a range of motion.
Try bending your knee and then straightening it out
. If you can’t bend your knee to a 90 degree angle or straighten out your leg because of pain, stiffness and swelling, then it is likely that you’ve torn your ACL.
Can you bend your knee with a torn ACL?
Some people find that the knee joint feels looser than it should. Less range of motion. After you damage your ACL,
it’s very likely that you won’t be able to bend and flex your knee like you normally would
.
Can a sprained ACL heal on its own?
The ACL cannot heal on its own because there is no blood supply to this ligament
. Surgery is usually required for athletes because the ACL is needed in order to safely perform the sharp movements that are required in sports.
Where do you feel pain with an ACL tear?
You will likely feel pain
in the center of your knee
during an ACL tear. Because the MCL is located on the side of your knee, the pain and swelling will be located on the inside of the knee structure rather than the middle.
Does a torn ACL hurt all the time?
When just the ACL tears,
it may not hurt so much
and the swelling can settle down after a week or two. ACL tears don’t heal by themselves, though, and the athlete will be left with an ACL deficient knee. There may be no symptoms during regular, daily activities.
What happens if ACL injury is not treated?
If left untreated, a small ACL tear
will increase in size
, causing more pain and increasing the laxity in the knee. Without a properly functioning ACL, the other structures of the knee experience greater strain, which causes further injuries to tissues in the knee.
How bad is a sprained ACL?
Because of this, ACL injuries
can be painful and debilitating
. There is a risk for an ACL injury in activities involving jumping and landing, sudden stops, or changes in direction (like in football and soccer). Many patients noted that they remember hearing or feeling a “pop” in their knee at the time of the injury.
Can you walk on a sprained ACL?
Can you walk with a torn ACL? The short answer is
yes
. After the pain and swelling subsides and if there is no other injury to your knee, you may be able to walk in straight lines, go up and down stairs and even potentially jog in a straight line.
How long does it take for an ACL sprain to heal?
Generally speaking, surgically repaired ACL tears usually take
six to nine months
to heal. This typically includes several weeks or months of physical therapy—a regimen of strategic exercises and conservative techniques that help restore joint strength and range of motion.
What’s worse ACL or MCL tear?
While not always the case, an ACL tear is in most cases going to be the more severe injury.
It is considered worse than tearing the MCL
because ACL tears are in general more complex to treat and require a longer recovery time after surgery.
What does a partially torn ACL feel like?
Many people hear a pop or feel a
“popping” sensation
in the knee when an ACL injury occurs. Your knee may swell, feel unstable and become too painful to bear weight.
Can you tear your ACL without knowing?
Please note: In some instances, you
may not experience any swelling or severe pain
when you tear your ACL. We’ve had patients come in with discomfort, not realizing it was an actual tear because they didn’t experience any of these common symptoms.
How long does a Grade 1 ACL tear take to heal?
A grade 1 injury may be completely healed
within a matter of weeks
. In contrast, a grade 2 injury may require several months and continuous therapy to completely heal.
Can an xray show torn ACL?
X-rays are performed and often an MRI is ordered. The X-rays show the bones of the knee, but
do not show the ACL
. The ACL is shown on an MRI. Treatment options vary from physical therapy, to bracing, to surgery.
How painful is a torn ACL?
When the ACL is torn and the signature loud “pop” is heard, intense pain follows and, within an hour, swelling occurs. Moderate-to-severe pain is very common. Initially, the pain is sharp and then becomes more of
an ache or throbbing sensation
as the knee swells.
