ACL Tear
Diagnosis & Treatment
Dr. Pamela Mehta, MD
What is an ACL Tear?
If you’ve experienced knee pain and a popping sound when making a quick turn, bend, or landing, then it’s possible you have an ACL tear.
The ACL, or anterior cruciate ligament, is one of several ligaments in your knee joint. It helps to stabilize the knee when you twist and turn. You’ve probably heard more about the ACL than other knee ligaments – that’s because it’s common for it to become torn or ruptured during a sports injury.
If you injure your ACL, it may still be possible to walk and run in a straight line, but your knee will be unstable and can collapse or give way when you turn. You can also cause further damage to the other knee structures such as the medial meniscus or risk a complete rupture if you only have a partial ACL tear.
Common causes for injuring your ACL include:
- Landing awkwardly from a jump
- Sudden twisting motions
- Stopping suddenly while you are running
- Trauma to the knee during contact sports
It’s important to get checked out by your physician or orthopedic surgeon if you have sudden knee pain. Many other knee conditions such as meniscus tear cause similar symptoms and by “walking it off” you risk causing further damage.
How Do I Prevent an ACL Injury?
If you are involved in sports that require quick turns or risk awkward landings, there are some ways you can protect your knee from injury. You should visit a physical therapist or sports medicine specialist (such as Dr. Mehta) to develop a program to teach you:
- Core exercises to prevent inward motion of the knee while you squat
- Leg muscle strength exercises, especially for the hamstring
- Proper technique for sudden turns and when landing from a jump
Book a Consultation with Dr. Pamela Mehta, MD
The Best Orthopedic Surgeon in San Jose
Dr. Mehta is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who can help you recover from your joint condition.
We can help if you:
- Are Suffering From Pain and Mobility Issues
- Need Orthopedic Assessment and Advice
- Want Treatment From a Top Orthopedic Doctor
Do I Have an ACL Tear?
So, what does an ACL tear feel like? The classic description of an ACL tear is when someone playing a sport such as soccer or basketball makes a sudden turn and hears a popping noise followed by sharp knee pain.
But even if it feels like an ACL tear, there are many other parts of your knee that could be damaged! Leaving a knee injury untreated can result in permanent damage – so look out for serious causes of knee pain.
To get a diagnosis of an ACL tear, you should visit an orthopedic surgeon to get a physical examination. By examining for any pain, swelling, or joint instability, your surgeon can tell you whether you can put weight on that leg and may arrange further imaging.
You may need to go for an MRI scan of your knee, though first you will need an x-ray to make sure you don’t also have a fracture.
If the diagnosis is still unclear, your surgeon may need to look directly inside your knee joint by doing an arthroscopy.
You may have an ACL tear if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:
- A popping noise, followed by pain in your knee
- Swelling or bruising of the knee
- Joint instability, like the feeling of your knee giving way
- Difficulty moving your knee
If you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms, you should book a consultation to avoid causing further injury.
How is an ACL Tear Treated?
If you suspect that you have an ACL tear, you can first take steps to ease pain and swelling. These include:
- Resting and elevating the knee
- Avoiding putting any weight on the affected leg
- Using crutches to reduce the pressure on your knee
- Placing ice or compression bandages over your knee
- Anti-inflammatory Medication
Once you have seen your orthopedic surgeon and made a diagnosis, they will discuss treatment options with you. For serious tears, you may require ACL reconstruction surgery, as well as treatment for any associated injuries. Dr. Mehta utilizes an arthroscopic technique and individualizes graft choice for each patient.
You will require physical therapy following an ACL tear, especially if you have undergone surgery. Depending on whether you have a partial or complete ACL tear, recovery can take from weeks to months. If you undergo ACL reconstruction surgery, recovery time is a few weeks, though full recovery and return to sport can take nine to twelve months.
With such a complex diagnostic process and wide range of treatment approaches, it’s important that you get treated by someone who listens to your priorities.
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How Resilience Orthopedics Can Help
Dr. Pamela Mehta, MD – Orthopedic Surgeon in San Jose, California
Dr. Pamela Mehta is an orthopedic surgeon and a specialist in sports injuries including ACL tear. Dr. Mehta is an expert knee surgeon and uses cutting edge minimally invasive surgical techniques to repair your ACL and get you feeling back to 100%.
Resilience Orthopedics is based San Jose, California. To make sure you get the right diagnosis and treatment the first time, get in touch to begin your journey to recovery.
Further Information
Learn about the causes of knee pain, what the diagnosis could be, and the treatments available.
Learn about knee surgery, including minimally invasive surgical techniques like knee arthroscopy.
Knee Conditions
Learn about different knee conditions, their symptoms, how they are diagnosed, and what treatment we can offer at Resilience Orthopedics, including:
