The first thing I would like to say is I'm not a doctor so definitely listen to whatever they tell you! This is just some of the information that I had trouble finding. Also every body is different so this is not going to be the same experience for everyone.

What does a torn ACL feel like?

When the injury happened, I heard a loud pop and my knee felt like there was a bunch of small explosions going off simultaneously. It all happens really quick and it's hard to recall the exact feelings. People around me heard the pop as well. This was my first major injury and it's scary so I was instantly flooded with thoughts and emotions. After thirty seconds or so it didn't hurt anymore and I was hopeful... until I stood up. When I tried to put pressure on it it fell like my leg was about to collapse. The ACL is very important in the stabilization of your knee so this is generally how your doctor will try and diagnose it before an MRI. They have a serious of tests to determine if stabilization is lost. It will also be very swollen. Ice it for about 20 minutes every hour and keep it elevated. It was hard to pinpoint where it hurt but the inside and back of my knee hurt the most. Here is a link for more basic information.

Determining the Extent of Your Injury

About 70% of ACL injuries are non-contact. If you feel like you torn your ACL and didn't get immediate medical care, get an appointment with an orthopedic specialist. It is possible to walk on a torn ACL. After the initial few days of the injury I was able to start walking on it again and didn't end up having it officially diagnosed for a few months. I wasn't able to run or jump but I am a server so I walked on it a lot. It was rather uncomfortable during shifts and got really swollen afterwards so thats why I ended up going to the doctor. They will ask you a lot of questions and do some preliminary tests where they bend and press on your knee. Then they took an X-Ray to make sure there was no bone damage and an MRI for ligament damage. It could be sprained, partially torn, or fully torn. They will also look at the MRI to make sure there is no damage to the meniscus.

Whats Next?

It was determined that I had a fully torn ACL. From what I understand, sprained or partially torn ACL's can be rehabbed without needing surgery. You don't have to have surgery for a torn ACL either. This depends on how active and what type of activities you do. If you are young and active, especially in sports, you will probably want surgery. Without surgery, your risk further damage to the cartilage as well as other ligaments and tendons. You will also loose a lot of explosiveness in your running and jumping ability. If you don't have surgery you will need to build up the muscles around the knee to help stabilize it. The most important muscles in this instance according to my physical therapist are the quads, hamstrings, and glutes. If you do decide to have surgery, you will need to find an orthopedic surgeon. It is normal to meet a few different ones and find the one who you feel the most comfortable with. It is also helpful to spend some time and come up with a written list of any questions or concerns you have to go over with the surgeon and they will be able to answer all of them.

The Surgery

One of the most important parts of this aspect is choosing your ACL graft. Typically you will choose between a hamstring or patellar tendon graft but there are other options as well. Here is a link containing a lot of good information about these grafts. I chose a patellar graft because it is stronger and doesn't weaken the hamstring. The surgery itself is pretty easy. I was not allowed to eat or drink anything starting at midnight before the surgery. I checked in about 9am and was crutching out to the car about four hours later. You will need someone to be there during the surgery and drive you home from the surgery. When you go back they hook up an IV with some pain medication in it. The surgeon will stop by to confirm which knee and make a mark on it to make sure no mistakes are made. You will get a nerve block in the leg and then go to sleep shortly after. I did have quite a bit of anxiety with this being my first surgery and due to my irrational terror of needles. It was all very painless and easy though. When I came to, I was in a decent amount of pain and confusion but the nurse gave me pain medication and it was fine. I got a bunch of apple juice and cookies which is always my favorite part of doctor visits and that helped me get oriented. After I woke up I was only there for about 45 minutes before I went home.

After the Surgery

The first day is mostly just in and out of sleep. Put on your favorite TV show, have some water and snacks on hand, put the leg up and just relax. I just set a timer on my phone for every two hours to take medications and made sure to ice it regularly. The first two days are not bad as long as you have someone to help. The only part that really sucks the first few days is going to the bathroom. I have big legs to begin with and it was really swollen so it was hard to maneuver into a position and very uncomfortable. Also it is hard to get comfortable to go to sleep because you have to sleep on your back and I had some really weird dreams on the medications along with being up really early every morning (So don't be afraid to schedule early morning doctor appointments). The third day the nerve block started wearing off and I had a pulsing pain that lasted all day and about half of day four. After that it was smooth sailing. I was walking without crutches in just over a week. The most helpful stuff post surgery is multiple ice packs on hand with ace bandage to hold it in place, easy to eat and prepare food, gallons of water on hand (I went through about 5 the first week), pillows to prop leg and stay comfortable, reading material and/or tv to help with boredom, and someone to help. I didn't feel like visitors the first few days and it was really nice to just rest because of how busy I was leading up to the surgery.

Physical Therapy

One thing I heard the most about before the surgery is how much PT sucks. It has been my favorite part so far. It felt so good to get out of the house and stretch out the leg. There were some painful parts sure but nothing you can't handle. I have loved it and it feels so good to improve, just keep a positive attitude!

Closing Remarks

-It is a long process but stick with it! Full recovery is about 8-12 months.

-If you have a dog or other pet that requires a lot of attention, I would highly recommend you find someone to help you with them for the first week.

-I was back to work hosting in about 4 weeks and serving in 6. This was ahead of schedule. If you have a job where you can sit down you'll probably be good to go in a week or two.

-Surround yourself with positive people before and during the process. This is also helpful in life as a whole!

-Think of it as an opportunity to learn and improve. You will learn about a lot of technical health stuff as well as yourself. Ask a lot of questions and set goals for yourself.

-I was only on the pain medications for about a week. Stop taking them ASAP so you don't become addicted!

-I hope this information is helpful to you and good luck in your recovery. If you know anybody recovering the most helpful thing you can do is bring food and company, especially early on! It is very hard and uncomfortable to move around and do little things in the first week.

This photo is about a week after surgery:

It was very swollen and tender but felt so good to finally get tight wrap off and let it breathe!

This one is current, about 11 weeks after:

All swelling is gone and feeling good!