Recommended physiotherapist for knee

anitack

Hello all,

I tore my cruciate ligament while skiing in February, the doctors are encouraging me not to have surgery as I am 29 and they reckon if I strengthen the surrounding muscles my knee will be quite stable for daily life. However, I am quite an active person. I mainly jog but do various other activities. They say I'd be fine without surgery for this but I'm keen enough to have it done all the same, don't want it to be dodgy. Does anyone have experience of having the surgery versus not having it and how they are now?

Also can anyone recommend a good physio who specialises in knees around Dublin so I can work on building strength in case I decide against surgery.

Thanks a mill!

double GG

Was it your PCL (Posterior Cruciate Ligament) you tore? Was it a full rupture? Do you play any sports?

anitack

No it was my anterior. They can't tell, even from an MRI, if it's a complete rupture, looks like not, but they can't rule it out. I train junior basketball (I'm a secondary school teacher) and play a bit myself but not seriously. I jog, hike, cycle, swim, all of which I know I don't really need my cruciate for. But I still do things like tag rubgy from time to time, aerobics and am very active so don't want to leave it torn in case it might hamper me down the line if you know what I mean. Any thoughts??

Thud

you sound like someone who needs it fixed, if it is completely gone, building up the muscle will be grand for walking and running in a straight line but anything that involves sharp turns will be a no go.

I had a bit of a wait before I got mine done (due to misdiagnosis) so had built up a lot of muscle but it popped out twice, once walking on a beach and once once going down a stairs (quickly) so would say basketball and tag rugby would be out of the question.

I would say their reluctance is probably based on not knowing if it's fully torn or just damaged. Generally if it's not fully torn they prefer to leave it and let/hope it heals slowly so in some scenarios you are better off having torn it fully than damaging it

Mousewar

Not sure on the surgery question but to be honest, sounds like you could do with a second opinion either way. I torn all my ankle ligaments last year and by sheer luck happened upon the best physio I've ever worked with. He's based in Dublin city centre and specialises in sports injury. If you want his details, give me a PM.

anitack

Hi guys, thanks very much for your replies.

One of the doctors did mention that they would repair it if it was completely torn but the way they have left it, is that it's up to me to have the surgery done or not. The doctor I saw gave me his professional opinion but left the decision to me. He said to bear in mind that it could take a year rehab to be back on track. I'm just anxious it will cause me trouble down the line and perhaps I should get it done sooner rather than later. Interesting to hear that, 'Thud', yours went on you twice!

I have a lot of bruising in the bone still so I have to wait a few months for that to subside before doing anything anyway. So in the meantime I'm going to see a physio in the sports injury Leinster clinic in Maynooth, it's close to home, but mousewar I might get those details off you anyway! I'll work on strengthening my legs and see how it progresses and what the physio recommends.

Thud, how has your knee been since you had the surgery? Did you have hamstring or patellar tendon repair? What age were you when you had it done if you don't mind me asking?

Thanks again guys!

Thud

I had the Patella Tendon surgery, to about 5months to get back playing, a bit longer to have full confidence on it. Bit of pain out of it for a year or two afterward especially on flights but nothing now and knee is as strong as ever. You lose sensitivity in knee nerves from the PT method, which makes kneeling on it a bit weird but it's not something that would impede you.