Knee Instability: Torn ACL or Weak Quadriceps?
Posted , 3 users are following.
Recovering from a patella fracture 12 weeks ago. Been doing isometric quad exercises and ROM exercises for the past 6 weeks and It has improved a lot, ROM almost normal, but there is still some pain and instability. I’ve been walking a lot (6000-12,000 steps per day), but with a slight limp and I can only take stairs slowly.
3 different doctors analysed my mid-October MRI. 2 doctors and the original radiologist said there was no ACL damage and the 3rd doctor said the ACL is completely severed. Is it normal for two orthopaedic surgeons examining the same MRI to come up with opposite conclusions about an ACL tear?
Maybe I damaged my ACL after the MRI while doing ROM exercises so it didn’t show on the MRI? I did feel some sharp pain after going for too much ROM a few weeks ago.
Anyway, should my quadriceps be stronger after 6 weeks of physio? I feel like I can’t build any muscle doing only isometric exercises, but because of the fractured patella, I can’t do any quad extensions yet.
0 likes, 6 replies
jen04209 Garet
Posted
Garet jen04209
Posted
Yes, I will. I don't know which doctor is correct. I just know that I got completely different diagnosis from two M.Ds.
Oldfatguy1 Garet
Posted
Not sure where you are but around here the tests are read by a radiologist and handed off to the ortho so if the mistake is made the surgeon would have you go back and review the tests on his own. I'm in the mid US and if you get an mri at night st our local med center the results are sent to a service in Hawaii and read some the Dr can have the results when he comes in the office or to make his rounds the next morning. Only if he feels there is a question does he pull up the tests and look at them. Of course if surgery is necessary he will review the results himself. So, yes you can see how things can change from Dr to Dr and test to test.
Garet Oldfatguy1
Posted
I'm staying in Asia now. The doctor said he is an orthopaedic surgeon and the radiologist doesn't know what to look for. The surgeon looked at the MRI himself and said it was torn ACL. A different doctor said the MRI says the ACL isn't torn.
Frustrating that I feel like I can't trust any of them.
Garet
Posted
Let me rephrase that: The doctor said that because he was the orthopaedic surgeon, he knew exactly what to look for in the MRI of the knee, whereas the radiologist had more of a general knowledge. The doctor basically disregarded the radiologist's report.
Oldfatguy1 Garet
Posted
If you"re in Asia and they disagree I guess the only thing to do is have them go out in the parking lot and duke it out. I'm guessing you ate I'm a position that the biggest gun wins and the surgeon definitely is the winner. As I recall you work over there so you aren't in a position to me making a quick trip home. Sort of hard to offer any advice as it looks like you've had the 2nd opinion and you won't be able to get on your feet without a surgery.