It all started when I came down HARD to a flat icy landing, putting almost all my force on my right leg (subconsciously protecting a sprain on the left, I suspect). I washed out the landing but there was no twisting and my skis stayed on. There was no popping, nor any swelling but after a run or two later through the park (including a full pipe run and switch take off stuff etc) I could tell I wasn't 100%.
I woke up the next morning and things were stiff, I couldn't get out of bed and walk to the bathroom without some serious effort. Yet there was still no swelling or bruising. I went to the physio and they couldn't find a "stop" to the knee using the Lachman (?) test (although my knees are naturally pretty lax and my muscles were "protecting" (I had a false positive lachman test before at the same physio, different leg) and suggested the ACL may be gone. I had an MRI that day and got the call from my GP saying the radiologist report suggested that that my ACL is partially torn but he is no knee dude and refused to translate beyond that and booked me an appointment with a knee specialist for Thursday, when the knee dude works at my GP's hospital.
I was supposed to be flying to Valdez on Friday so I needed a diagnosis before Thursday if I were to cancel flights and have any chance of selling my seat on the heli so I had a friend book me in with a ortho on Tues. This ortho comes out and tells me my ACL is fully torn before any physical checks, so I guess he figured that out from the MRI. Meanwhile I am still limping (though still no swelling or bruising) and I do know that there is "liquid in the knee" (general swelling), a sore MCL, and some bone bruising in the leg. As such, I cancel Valdez, sell my seat and start looking for surgeons.
Thursday rolls around and I remember my appointment with the knee guy my Doc suggested. I wasn't going to bother going but I thought, what the hell, and went anyway. Now the new doc comes out and tells me that he isn't convinced the ACL is even torn and if it is "he has seen pro footballers play on less" and (for some reason) he thinks it could be from a previous injury anyway (no swelling?). He does the lachman and seems happy with it. I am happy but still a bit concerned, who fukked it up?
Since then I had the radiologist report translated as best I could (there is almost no person on earth who can translate a radiologist report of a possible knee injury from one language to another. Those few people who are absolutely fluent in both languages also have to understand what an ACL, PCL, Meniscus etc are; stuff we only know because we ski and medical experts didn't major in language... Anyway, fellow mag, KoM, tells me that the radiologist report thought there could be a torn ACL but qualified their assessment with obfuscating factors such as swelling and what not.
Now, a week later as the stiffness abates, I am retaining my full ROM, feel strong and just spent 3 days shralping pow (in an Asterix brace) on my sled (avoided skiing for knee reasons). I have not had my knee "slip" (I have never experienced this so I am not sure I know what to look for but I am told I would know it if it happened) and am only experiencing the pain I would expect from impact.
Now I am left with the problem of what to do next? Believe the best news and return to normal (maybe jump on a last minute AK trip)? If he is wrong do I risk tearing a partially torn ACL that could be rehabbed to strength? Do I book another opinion and go for a majority? Do I rest a bit and see how it goes? H&B? Der Poopenheuser?
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