If you enjoy staying active and participating in sports but chronic knee pain due to a torn ACL has put you out of the game, Michael Sander, MD, can help. At Sander Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine in Weslaco, Texas, Dr. Sander and his experienced medical team offer a number of diagnostic testing and treatment options to reduce chronic knee pain and instability. Both nonsurgical and surgical treatment options, including ACL reconstruction, are available to improve how well your knee functions. Learn more about the innovative treatment options available at the Weslaco office by calling or booking an appointment online.
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is an important part of the knee joint. This ligament connects the femur bone to the tibia and runs diagonally through the middle of your knee. The ACL is responsible for stabilizing the knee joint and preventing the tibia bone from moving in front of the tibia.
Because of its location and how heavily it’s used, the ACL is susceptible to injury, especially during sports-related activities. The fast movements required in basketball, skiing, soccer, and football, for example, can put your ACL at risk for tears and other damage. Awkward landings during a fall can also injure your ACL.
Immediately following an injury to your ACL, you experience intense pain in your knee. The area surrounding the joint begins to swell, and your knee may not feel stable when trying to stand or walk.
In the hours after your injury, there is an extensive amount of knee swelling, and you may not be able to move your knee normally.
The Sander Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine team discusses your activities that led to the injury and performs a physical examination of the knee joint. They may order imaging tests, such as an MRI or X-ray, to get a closer look at your knee joint and rule out other injuries that may be causing your pain.
Depending on the severity of your ACL injury, the team creates a custom treatment plan to reduce swelling and improve the functioning of the knee joint.
Initially, the team may recommend rest and medications to reduce swelling and alleviate your pain if your ACL has a partial tear but remains stable. If nonsurgical treatments aren’t effective in reducing your pain, they may suggest ACL reconstruction surgery. They may also perform this type of surgery if you plan to remain active in sports.
To repair the ACL, the team uses a graft of a tendon from another area of your body to reconstruct your torn ligament. This surgical technique is more effective at providing long-term stability and pain relief than simply suturing the torn ligament back together.
Following your surgery, the team provides an aftercare plan to ensure your knee has time to recover fully before returning to your usual activities.
Find out if ACL reconstruction surgery is right for you by calling the office for an appointment or booking online.
