I damaged my knee almost 8 years ago & yes, living with a ruptured ACL & other knee damage is possible. I came off my horse, landed awkwardly & that was it. For the most part my knee is not an annoyance. There are some things I can no longer do - like squat or sit cross-legged & ever...

MUMof pain is right on target with her advice. Your ACL isn't going to get better. Yes, you might be able to deal with no ACL but you will constantly be aware of what you're doing & how you're moving so as to avoid the bones slipping out of place. A good custom brace will also be of some help bu...

Living without an ACL is entirely possible based on your lifestyle & degree of fitness. If you are diligent about keeping your leg muscles strong & you're not involved in sports that require quick changes in direction it's entirely possible to live with no ACL. Lots of us do. If you're heavi...

Take it from one who's had no surgery....no pain now doesn't equate with no pain later. If you don't work at keeping the muscles that support your knee strong, that little mensical tear will become increasingly larger with resulting increased pain. My feelings 7 years beyond the accident that caused...

Hi & welcome to the forum. Since you feel you're doing well enough w/o having surgery, should an MRI reveal a partially or completely torn ACL there's no reason you HAVE to go for reconstruction. It's elective on your part. The pain comes at the time of the injury but at least for me the only ti...

Hi ~ My thanks, too, for your service to the country. I find it amazing to reading about the extent of damage to your knee & how far you've come in so short a time. It sounds to me as though you're on the right track & given the improvement after just 4 weeks, it would seem your knee is goin...

Hi Rich ~ Perhaps I'm not the best person to advise you because I'm beyond the age where reconstruction of a ruptured ACL is even considered but I've had some 7 years to consider the pros & cons of the situation. And frankly, if you're not happy with what you're currently living with perhaps it ...

Casual runner said, "I don't try to hide the fact that I take a conservative view." Then that makes two of us. <g> I suspect we're pretty much on the same page. I had a classic Terrible Triad injury to my knee when I was 67 & although I tried to convince my doc that some of the mess wa...

Casual runner ~ I think we're perhaps talking the same thing except approaching from opposite angles & I don't disagree with you, either. As you'll note "apt" implies possibilities. I guess it's my old age that prompts my comments. May I ask how old you are without being nosy? <g>

I think there are a couple of "givens" here. First, that once a meniscus begins to tear, it's quite apt to continue to do so, & second...fair wear & tear takes its toll on our menisci. I've learned, too, that an MRI doesn't always catch a mensical tear & sometimes it's thru art...

Hi kerrylaser ~ Yes, people live all the time w/o an ACL & there's even the rare athletic who is able to play pro sports w/o that ligament. Keeping the leg muscles strong seems to be the key to success. That & a good brace if you're going to put yourself in a situation where the knee might b...

My injury, too, is a result of my horse & I parting company but I have to agree with Lottie...radiographs and MRI will give you a better picture of what's going on inside your knee. I'm rather surprised your doctors haven't suggested it. That being the case, it's up to you to be proactive. Go fo...

Should you keep the brace on until your knee feels stronger??? Good question because different orthopods treat their knee patients in different manners. I was given a neoprene brace on my first visit to the orthopod & told to wear it & further, to have a custom brace made. But that was prima...

Sorry to hear about your injury. it's a painful one. Back in '05 although I ruptured my ACL, I tore by MCL but not badly. Indeed in 6 weeks time it was in decent shape & at the one month mark I was back to riding my horse. So yes, you might be able to live w/o any surgery. Although I'm a senior ...

You asked..."Do braces provide more stability?" No brace will supply 100% support & certainly a custom brace is apt to be of more support than one that's OTC BUT...you have to know what you're dealing with before you summarily buy a brace. If the tool doesn't fit the situation, it's no...