Advice on next step??

[savke]

In June 2011 I injured my left knee playing soccer.  I had MRI done and it showed complete ACL tear plus lateral meniscus.  However, the surgeon said he doesnt believe that ACL is torn due to physical tests he performed on me. 
Thus, in Sept. 2011 he repaired my lateral meniscus (stitched it up) and he said that my ACL was still 'hanging on'...thus he tightened the ACL, plus did something to ACL fibers to rejuvenate them as he said....
Presently, I am still having pain in my left knee, and I still cannot run.  My knee is still swollen and even though I have been rehabing a lot ( 4 to 5 times a week), my left leg (muscles) are still very weak.  I had another MRI done, and it once again showed complete ACL tear.  I have gone back to the doctor, who once again did physical tests, and he says that my ACL is fine.  He says that the pain is probably from my muscles not being strong enough and to keep working on them. 
I am in dilemma on what to do right now, or who to believe....Hope someone has good advice...Thank you friends.

[LAS]

Please get another opinion.  Usually the MRI is correct.  You could of reinjured your ACL playing sports or even have a retear and it needs to be repaired again.   I hear this over and over again about ACL failures especially when you play sports.    Can you lay off the sports for a while?   LAS

[crankerchick]

Hmm.

See same doctor, receive same result.

The definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over and expect a different result.

Try a second opinion.

With as "routine" as an ACL reconstruction is these days, you will find few doctors hard pressed not to reconstruct an ACL tear especially in a young person that is active. Get a second opinion from a doctor that does many of these in a year. Do some research on your graft choices and make a decision on surgery. The best thing about doctors is there will always be one to give you the answer you want to hear, you just have to decide what that is.

[savke]

Yes, I have already scheduled appointments with two different doctors..Since Sept. surgery I have not been playing sports or running...Besides all of it, how long does it appr. take to build leg muscles for good knee support?? The only thing is that my doctor was right in the first time as MRI showed ACL tear, but when he went in, the ACL was still intact.

Which one usually happens first: ACL tear followed by lateral meniscus tear, or other way around, or it can happen both ways??
thanks friends.

[LAS]

You can pretty much get around with a meniscus tear.  But with an ACL tear it is probably alot harder to get around because your knee is so unstable.  I should think if you were playing sports it probably happend at the same time.   It sounds like the OS missed seeing something in there.    I know you can have a meniscus tear without injuring the ACL or injure the ACL and not the meniscus.   Remember the MRI report revealed ACL tear twice.  Have you already seen the other surgeons or is the appointment upcoming?  LAS

[savke]

No, I will be seeing the other OCs some time next week.  In the meantime I had two physios look and expect (do different tests) and both think that my ACL is fine.  Thanks for the info regarding meniscus and the ACL.  I hope I dont have to go under the knife again. 

[LAS]

I hope you don't either.  It takes months  to build up your muscles as well.   But if that doesn't work despite PT then something else is wrong.  If the surgeon tightened up your ACL once then there is already a weaknes there.   If you need to have surgery again, I would go to another surgeon.
Let us know the results.   Good Luck   LAS

[savke]

Quick update:  I have gone to another Dr for opinion and by doing physical exam he said that my leg does feel loose and that he thinks I do have ACL tear....However he also said since I do not have instability or giving out, that nobody would do surgery until it becomes unstable and so forth....

I forgot to mentioned that I did have microfracture healing response on my ACL.  I know that recovery from this type of procedure can be longer than 10 months.  Anyone with this type of surgery I would love to hear from on advice or suggestion.  Thanks.