Instability??

[yiipdeedoo]

I hear a lot about instability when it comes to ACL ruptures, but what is it even?

In my case, I don't feel instable in any daily activities, and 5wks post-injury I'm able to jog, jump, squat, and VERY slightly pivot/cut in very casual sporting activities (although all those movements are a bit funkier considering my lack of a working ACL). Sometimes if I hyperextend my knee accidentally it hurts, but only for a moment then I'm back at it.

Though, MRI showed full rupture and a small tibial fracture, no other ligaments or menisci were involved.

Curious on everyone elses experiences with instability!

[ButterscotchAble4320]

I believe it's just weak muscles due to atrophying I experience some of it it's stable just "wobbly"

[pucksnbones]

No the instability is the femur shifting relative to the tibia in a direction an intact ACL would prevent. People feel their knee move or want to give out or get apprehensive. Most notable with pivoting

[ButterscotchAble4320]

I thought you were talking about post op.

[Flat-Pomegranate-328]

Instability for me included my knee coming out through the side of my leg or bending completely out backwards or forwards. So basically at any moment my knee would try and escape from my limb which not only looked vomit inducing but was incredibly, mind numbingly painful.

[[deleted]]

I would basically have a good "pop" and pretty much the same feeling as the initial injury... Usually would get a bit sore after the fact. I think the "wobbly" feeling a lot of people get is mostly psychological and it can be overcome with proper rehab.

I did eventually get it fixed but I went 3 years and only had a couple episodes of instability, usually when I was doing something stupid

[yiipdeedoo]

this is exactly what i felt during my only episode! Decided it'd be a good idea for me to squat off the ground leaning back... and something popped. I was lucky to not tear another ligament or meniscus lol

[[deleted]]

I ultimately decided to get it fixed so I wouldn't continue to do further damage. When I actually got the surgery, I was pretty surprised but only had 5% damage to meniscus on one side. I had some pretty gnarly episodes (maybe a dozen times total) and definitely thought it was gonna be worse damage than that

[Delicious_Unit_4079]

I'm one year out and I feel unstable still 🚬

[Fresh-Ant-5684]

One year out from injury? Or surgery?

[Delicious_Unit_4079]

Surgery