This is usually followed by swelling and pain in the knee. If there isn’t a pop, many patients report feeling a shift in the knee joint.
If these symptoms sound familiar and you suspect you’ve torn your ACL, it’s important to avoid these four mistakes so you don’t hinder your healing and recovery process.
1. Don’t ignore your injury.
While it can be easy to brush off an injury, the first thing you should do if you suspect you have torn your ACL is protect your knee from further injury. Continuing to play sport or participate in the activity that caused the injury in the first place can cause further damage to your knee. If you suspect you have an ACL tear, you should make it a priority to look after it.
Prompt first-aid can reduce the swelling and pain immediately after your knee injury. Follow the R.I.C.E model as soon as you get home – rest your knee, ice your knee every two hours for 20minutes, use an elastic bandage to compress your knee and elevate your knee on pillows.
You should make it a priority to see your doctor to have your injury assessed.
2. Don’t wait too long before getting treatment.
Having working knees is an important part of our existence. Imagine having a knee that can’t bend! Or a knee that can’t support your body weight! It’s important to take care of these vital joints if you do experience an ACL injury. A torn or partially torn ACL could restrict your activities, from being able to walk pain free to playing the sports you love. Your doctor will determine the best treatment approach so you can get back in the game again.
