I am glad I found this thread, at least people are sharing and talking. I had my ACL torn some 22 yrs ago, but didn't gave a demn as I didn't really know what the hack it was. Not much detail was told to me or I didn't pay real attention. Had part of my cartilege cut off due to hair line crack. This was due to a fall while playing badminton and since then, had stopped playing completed. However, was suffering constantly from coolness in my left feet, easy tireness from short while standing, can't sit on my left side for long as it causes uncomfort. I when to see doctor but no one can really tell me what was wrong, just tell me found nothing wrong. about 5 years ago, I started massaging my leg and slowly things began to improve and all those symptoms started to ease off or becomes bearable so much so that I don't even feel it most of the time.

However, due to work fatigue and stress, I started searching for detoxification, etc... started drinking brown rice tea then eventually when back to play sports. Last April, while playing badminton, just a little jump and had lost balance, fell and sent to hospitial A&E to see doctor. Knee cap came off, was on wheel chair and clutches when walking. could not bend my feet at all. Doctor arranged for me to visit the sport clinic the follow week. I went to visit my TCM after A&E visit and my knee cap was put back in placed. I was able to walk immediately and went home without clutches or wheel chair. Sport's clinic placed me on physio program, also arrange to see bone specialist. MRI was done 2 weeks late due to "full house", even then, was done in the evening because they had to clear many backlog.


Some where in the 3rd week, I already started playing but within my limits but I was still running like before except the weakness on my left leg. MRI out in 5 week indicated complete tear. Physio asked that I go re-construction. I hestitated and search the internet for info... Found conflicting research report regarding going for Op. Initially, was almost certain to go for day surgery to have it repair, but after reading another recent report about those who had it, after 10 years, sufffering from other knee related problems. This report was from Romania regarding their atheletes who had undergone Op and went back to their respectively sports. Another report interview those who had not done so after 10 years, non sporty people are still doing well. So decided not to go but was put on rehabilitation program. Suppose to last 5-6 moths depending on progress. Stick closely to the routine and even did extra on my own to improve my condition. My left tight muscle strink 6cm after 3 days from accident. became very weak but was able to do most action but with some form of pain. physio did some test and then follow by instructor's on working on my leg. Surprisingly, within 10 weeks, I was off the program. in fact, from the 4 weeks, I was back to my game but had adjusted to suit my leg condition. Adjsuted my game plan so that I don't stretch my left knee too much. I also put on a knee brace with stablizer. Physio told me I had to strengthen my hamstring muscle as it would act to support my knee movement backward and forward. As for the side movement, the brace would help as the steel metal in the brace help stablised the knee.

All in, don't loose heart, you are to determine how you are going to recover and what sort of quality of life you want as compare to previously prior to the accident. Lots of thing was told to me during my rehab program and I do take care not to aggravate it for fear of "THE END" for my left knee. I am still enjoying my game, would rate it as 8-9 out of 10 compare to previously, buy I hardly need to stretch to that extent only on occcasions. If there is no need, I would not like to. most time, I rate myself 7, which is what the phyiso target set for the patient prior to being drop from the program. Should I feel that my bone touches each other, that is it, I call it a day and rest. Do my message everyday. Once in a while, visit my TCM for some message to improve my blood circulation.