So I think my ACL died

[ak_powder_monkey]

my knee has been hurting a bit for the past week off and on yesterday I ran and worked out and things were totally fine today i did my workout things are great then I walked down some stairs and my knee just tightened up. The off an on thing is so weird today my ACL was definately giving me shit. I've got like a month left in the ski season then fishing season starts (money making time ) should I really be worried or should I just keep going and get it stronger untill the pain goes away. I never heard it pop or had a sharp pain leading me to believe its just inflamed and not torn, but it hurt then I was fine then it hurt then I was fine and now it hurts again.

Anyhow should I really be concerned (get an MRI) or just rest and see if it gets better?

[bklyn]

This is an easy decision for you. I'm sure the fam has good insurance.
Go to to doctor. Keep a positive outlook, it's probably not as serious as you think.

[ak_powder_monkey]

thanks for the imput, I'll see a doctor when I get back from school. i thinka month and a half should be enough time to heal for fishing season (setnetting) of course it could just go away

[altagirl]

I agree. A torn ACL doesn't typically hurt, except possibly right when you tear it. It makes your knee unstable, and it would be giving out when you're doing pivoting movements.

If your only symptom is that your knee hurts, it's something else. Not that you couldn't have torn an ACL without feeling a pop, or that it hurts because you did something in conjunction with an ACL, like a meniscus tear or something. But I don't see anything in your description of your knee problem that would make me think it's an ACL.

[fez]

when i first tore my acl the thing that made me think it was torn (besides the definite pop when i did it) was instability when walking. when my heel struck the ground taking a step, if my leg was straight, the knee felt like it was a crap shoot whether it would bend normally or backwards (hyperextend).

[Vinman]

i also agree, doesn't sound like the typical ACL injury.

A good first step without actually going to the doc would be a quick trip to the college health center. They should be able to point you in the right direction at least. While you may not get a perfect ortho exam it is probably the quickest way to get it checked at least.

Believe it or not most college health centers see a lot of ortho problems. Just think of all those indestructable teenagers and early 20 somethings that go around doing stupid things and get hurt.

[Skibumtress]

AK, from experience this season.... go to a Doctor. I had my injury on 1/21/06. Felt and heard the pop (didn't know it was "the pop" at the time). Fell, skidded sidesways a few feet and yelled "my knee." Friends who were skiiing behind me said "can you get up." Me: "I think so." Got up, pain was bad, skied down to the lodge and done for the day. Figured I'd just walk it off and the pain will be gone. Rested, skied the next day but only lasted about an hour or so. Pain still was there two weeks later when I went back up to ski. Skied three days but only lasted an hour or two each day. Friends of mine (some had gone through the knee thing before) looked at it and said, you got some major stuff going on there. Finally went to the doc two and a half weeks after the injury and couldn't believe how much damage I had actually done (see other threads). My last day of the season was 2/6.
Get it checked out!!!