28 yr old life-long athlete - ACL only injury - allograft surgery Oct 15

by Sara
(Philadelphia, PA)

Hello!

I have been looking for more information about my upcoming ACL surgery on my right knee. (This has been a great site, thank you!) It has been a confusing time since I have a lot of mobility and little pain.

I injured it 4 months ago playing in a flag football game, but I was just setting up to throw and planted my foot hard. I felt a pop and my knee buckled under me. It hurt for a few minutes, and I was able to "run-it-off". It didn't hurt to run straight on, it didn't blow up, it just felt "off". I went to CVS, bought a knee brace, and played the rest of the day. It was a little sore, but nothing like what is described for the usual injury. I even went roller blading the next day, I thought it was only sprained.

I got it checked out, got an MRI and learned my ACL was torn. No cartilage or other ligaments were damaged. I postponed my surgery for a few months to "pre-hab" it, and not have to spend summer recovering. I had to stop running and playing sports, so I switched to elliptical and water exercising. When I try to use the recumbent bike, my knee clicks?

People are amazed how much mobility I have - no limp, wearing heels (I know, I know, I'm not supposed to!), dancing out and at weddings. They think I'm lying about having no ACL! Is this normal?? Maybe it was on it's way out??

Anyway, surgery is next week, and I'm really nervous....