[firebladejr]

Hi guys,

long time lurker first time poster.

here's the shortened story...
I injured my knee about 1 1/2 years ago whilst running. I felt like a sharp tear pain just behind my knee cap.
Since then my knee hasn't been the same. I had to stop training (Muay Thai & BJJ) as I couldn't even do the warm ups.
I got fed up with it all and decided to get x-rays and an ultrasound done.. they didn't show anything.
I went to the physio last night and he thinks that i have a loosened ACL (apparently from MT training?? wtf?) and a patella tracking problem.
The physio thinks that we can build stabilising muscles around the knee to help the patella to track properly, but advises that any activity involving kicking will further ruin my ACL.

I think this is BS, as I'm sure there are heaps of people that have stretched their ACL and managed to go back to doing what they were doing pre-injury..

anyone had anything similar happen to them? any tips, or recommendations?

Cheers,
Pete.

[Hammer_Fist]

I don't know dude. I blew out my knee and have been desperately trying to heal it to the point where I can exercise right. I'm not even trying to fight and I have problems.

These doctors telling you that you're probably going to injure yourself more if you train are probably right. I personally would like to see or hear stories of people that have fucked up their knee and returned to 100%.

My knee injury happened, like yours, about a year and a half ago. It was bad too. My knee blew out laterally. I couldn't put weight on it for a week, then it slowly healed to about 90-95%. I felt pretty good about my knee, then one day it blew out again as I stepped off a porch. Sam exact injury all over again.

At this point I don't trust my knee at all. You won't catch me jumping off anything. I'm trying pretty desperately to build my leg muscles but I still don't see my knee getting back to 100%. Knee injuries are a bitch.

But also, you're going to want to check the FAQ because it says not to ask people for medical advice on the forums. Some people will be dicks to you.

[RollinDownRodeo]

I don't know much about stretched ACLs. Mine was stretched for a split second... then it completely tore. Might as well go see another doc for a second opinion.

Hammer_First, it doesn't sound like you had surgery. Did you tear your ACL?

[Hammer_Fist]

Originally Posted by RollinDownRodeo

I don't know much about stretched ACLs. Mine was stretched for a split second... then it completely tore. Might as well go see another doc for a second opinion.

Hammer_First, it doesn't sound like you had surgery. Did you tear your ACL?

Hammer_Fist doesn't have insurance, so he never saw a doctor to begin with. It sucks, but at the time I just couldn't afford the medical expenses. Now, I don't know if it would do any good to have surgery this long after the injury.

I couldn't even tell you what part of my knee I injured. My knee isn't stable laterally. It is stable if I'm moving it in the normal range of motion. It just sucks.

[firebladejr]

thanks for the replies.. hopefully the post doesn't get deleted as I read the rules and didn't ask for anything that's been disallowed.

I don't think my injury is as severe as yours hammer_fist, basically I get a tendon-type pain behind my knee cap when I bend or try to use force with my leg. The knee cap also clicks and crunches occasionally. Stairs, walking in sand, etc hurts alot. The physio has diagnosed it as a patella tracking issue and all info on the web seems to confirm this. I've been doing weights on my upper body 4-5times per week since the injury, and have also been swimming to keep up my cardio.. problem is being able to use my leg again with force, or getting it flexed/twisted in BJJ... damn even sprawling will be difficult

as I haven't done any direct leg exercises to build/retain muscles in my legs since the injury, I've lost all support muscles around the knee cap and according to the physio, this is probably a large portion of the problem. I'm hoping with a good quality knee brace (taping the knee cap to the side) I'll be able to do leg exercises to rebuild the muscles lost, and maybe after a few months get back into training. I still ride dirtbikes, a supermotard, surf and jog (on a treadmill), but most of these cause significant pain...

If you've got tips on general exercises to rebuild the muscles in my leg without placing a lot of stress on my knee it would be great. In particular the physio said I need to focus on my hams and quads...

[Vedic]

Did any of you go to physical therapists? I mean honestly?

[firebladejr]

Originally Posted by Vedic

Did any of you go to physical therapists? I mean honestly?

just went last night actually... My knee feels worse today, probably from focusing on it for a good 30mins last night.

[hatemail]

i inured my left knee and had a bad class 2 strain to my mcl. no surgery obviously but the stationary bike worked wonders for me. i couldnt even do a full rotation but it gradually got better. it seemed like the only thing i could do to get my range of motion back.

[jkwongr8]

Originally Posted by firebladejr

Hi guys,

long time lurker first time poster.

here's the shortened story...
I injured my knee about 1 1/2 years ago whilst running. I felt like a sharp tear pain just behind my knee cap.
Since then my knee hasn't been the same. I had to stop training (Muay Thai & BJJ) as I couldn't even do the warm ups.
I got fed up with it all and decided to get x-rays and an ultrasound done.. they didn't show anything.
I went to the physio last night and he thinks that i have a loosened ACL (apparently from MT training?? wtf?) and a patella tracking problem.
The physio thinks that we can build stabilising muscles around the knee to help the patella to track properly, but advises that any activity involving kicking will further ruin my ACL.

I think this is BS, as I'm sure there are heaps of people that have stretched their ACL and managed to go back to doing what they were doing pre-injury..

anyone had anything similar happen to them? any tips, or recommendations?

Cheers,
Pete.

hey pete,

sorry about your knee man that sucks... i'm a 2nd year graduate student working on my doctorate in physical therapy. first, i am still only a student and not licensed so i suggest you take this with a grain of salt and see an actual physio or physician, your general practitioner. second, it's impossible for me or anyone else on this forum to suggest anything concrete with just a subjective history. you need to do objective screening of your muscles (strength and length) and other special tests. lastly, an xray isn't goin to tell you shit about your ACL, ultrasound isn't that great either. If you REALLY want to know whats going on with your knee get an MRI.

after all of that here's my advice... HA! you should be rehabbing your knee - plain and simple. If something hurts, stop freaking doing it. the worst part in treating athletes is they want to push themselves too far. pain is your body telling you something isn't exactly right!!! swimming is great, someone mentioned bike riding - also a good suggestion... please don't run, or jog, or even skip for that matter

bracing for your knee is okay for now while you are rehabbing, but a brace is not going to fix things, so don't put one on and think you're cured.

exercises: NO heavy lifting - do low weight, high reps. stay away from doing knee extension on a machine - this is the worst thing to do for your knee!!!

MT and BJJ: I know it's hard not to train, trust me I do... this is a guy you sawed off his arm cast on his own 2 1/2 weeks early to play in a district game in HS. BJJ is probably out - sorry, MT just focus on technique, no sparring... go 50%

summarize: see a physician for a MRI to check out your ACL... go to a PT/physio to rehab your knee. if something hurts STOP! and hurry up and get well so you can start training again!!!

[jkwongr8]

Originally Posted by firebladejr

thanks for the replies.. hopefully the post doesn't get deleted as I read the rules and didn't ask for anything that's been disallowed.

I don't think my injury is as severe as yours hammer_fist, basically I get a tendon-type pain behind my knee cap when I bend or try to use force with my leg. The knee cap also clicks and crunches occasionally. Stairs, walking in sand, etc hurts alot. The physio has diagnosed it as a patella tracking issue and all info on the web seems to confirm this. I've been doing weights on my upper body 4-5times per week since the injury, and have also been swimming to keep up my cardio.. problem is being able to use my leg again with force, or getting it flexed/twisted in BJJ... damn even sprawling will be difficult

as I haven't done any direct leg exercises to build/retain muscles in my legs since the injury, I've lost all support muscles around the knee cap and according to the physio, this is probably a large portion of the problem. I'm hoping with a good quality knee brace (taping the knee cap to the side) I'll be able to do leg exercises to rebuild the muscles lost, and maybe after a few months get back into training. I still ride dirtbikes, a supermotard, surf and jog (on a treadmill), but most of these cause significant pain...

If you've got tips on general exercises to rebuild the muscles in my leg without placing a lot of stress on my knee it would be great. In particular the physio said I need to focus on my hams and quads...

top three that i can think of:
1) mini body weight squats, squeezing a ball between your thighs

2) lay on your back with your legs on a physioball, bridge up so your lower body is off the floor (your shoulders and head should be the only part of your body on the ground) and roll the ball into your body using your hamstrings

3) this one is tricky... lay on your stomach on a table with ONLY your leg of the table. the leg that's off the table - place the sole of your foot on the inside of your knee/thigh of the leg that IS on the table. the bent leg's (the one off the table) kneecap should be pointing towards the floor. raise the bent leg up so it is level with the table and lower it back to the starting point.

i hope the last exercise made since... it's hard, anyone on this forum that does it properly will have trouble at first - regardless of their level.

again high reps 15-20, only once a day, every day, and slowly build up your strength.