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Many people commonly believe these two knee injuries are interchangeable, however there are many differences. However, a follow-up MRI is useful to provide pictures of the tissue and determine if you have also sustained cartilage damage, which usually occurs.Ĭall or request an appointment with Urgently Ortho through our online portal for all of your musculoskeletal needs.What is the Difference Between an ACL and MCL Tear?Īn ACL or MCL tear can be a seriously debilitating knee injury. She is usually able to diagnose a torn ACL from the physical examination and your movement limitations. Your Urgently Ortho physician performs a gentle physical examination of the knee. Immediate medical treatment includes stabilizing the knee, applying ice to reduce swelling, administering pain medication, and ordering an X-ray to rule out broken bones. You may not be able to fully extend your knee. It may move from side to side when you walk or even give out when you’re moving, creating the danger of a fall. Knee instabilityĪs noted above, once the swelling subsides and you’ve received initial treatment, you may find that your knee is unstable. If your tear is severe, you may not be able to bear weight on the leg when first injured. It can take more than a week for swelling to subside. Your injured leg may look 50 percent bigger than the other one right away.
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In the days after you sustain the injury, the pain may become a strong, deep ache in the entire section of the leg around the knee. You’ll likely experience severe pain at first. It’s actually the ligament tearing apart. Many people who tear their ACLs say that they hear a sound similar to that of a piece of popcorn being popped. Following are typical symptoms you’ve torn the ligament. What are the symptoms of an ACL tear?Īn ACL tear is a major knee injury. The injury can also result from any significant trauma to the knee: a car accident, missing a stair step, or falling from a step stool, for instance. Pivoting quickly, as in football, soccer, tennis, or basketball, can cause an ACL tear. If you love sports and play frequently, you’re at increased risk of an ACL tear.
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Female athletes are especially prone to injury. You don’t want your knee to give out suddenly and cause a fall and further injury.ĪCL tears are unfortunately fairly common in athletes and weekend warriors this injury has been called an epidemic. After nonsurgical treatment, usually involving physical therapy and recovery, if your knee is still unstable and buckles, your doctor may recommend surgery. If your ACL is completely severed, you may need an operation. It joins the large bone in your thigh - your femur - to your shinbone, or tibia, creating the stability you need to walk, run, dance, and move in general. Your anterior cruciate ligament has an important job. Our board-certified orthopedic surgeon and musculoskeletal and regenerative medicine specialist at Urgently Ortho, in Scottsdale, Arizona, are ready to provide the immediate medical treatment you need for an ACL tear.
What is an acl professional#
It’s important to seek professional treatment right away so that you don’t damage it further. If you’ve injured your knee badly, you may have torn your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL ). Knee injuries can be particularly disabling leg injuries can make it difficult to walk.
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