Injury

I am not a big sports person but playing sports from my childhood.I used to play Soccer and VolleyBall every week-end Saturday and Sunday from 2006. One day I got injured in Soccer and Orthopedic suggested me to stop soccer atleast for 4 weeks. I thought Soccer is not a good game for me at this age (31) and stopped it but continued VolleyBall considering it as a safe game.

On Sep 29th 2012 (Saturday) I was playing for VolleyBall tournament in Sunnyvale, CA. I was prepared to spike but ball came very back. So I pushed the ball with my left hand and landed on my Left leg. Ball went to other-side and people were playing. But I sat on the ground. Everyone thought I fell down. But I know what happened. My bottom bone of the knee joint almost went out and placed back.

I asked my friend (Vidya Sagar Mula) to remove my shoe and had unbearable pain. I tried to bend my knee but it was horrible. I used ice immediately and sat for 2 hours in the ground. Tried to bend my knee again but it was difficult.

In the ground people asked me, are you married? I said "YES". They replied "then no problem. There is someone to take care of you:-)"

I called my wife and asked her to keep the ice in the refrigerator. She asked me "are you injured". I said "No just small knee twist".

Two of my friends (Vidya Sagar Mula and unnikrishnan udinoor) took me home thinking it is a sprain and it will subside. But it didn't.

So I went to Urgent care with my friend (Srinivas Reddy Algubelli). My hospital was PAMF (Palo Alto Medical Foundation), Mountain View, CA. Doctor suggested the X-Ray.

Nurse took me to the X-ray room. The guy in X-ray room asked me what happed. I replied, injured in Volley Ball. He said I got FootBall, Soccer injured guys and now you. So I covered all the sports today :-)

Doctor saw the X-ray and said no Ligament issues. I was very happy. Doctor asked me to walk by putting some stretch on the knee. So I came back home and my wife was happy after hearing the details.

Here is the twist :

Next day Sep (30th) 2012 (Sunday) I prepared to go for walk. Almost I was walking out of the door. I got a call from hospital saying "We have a bad news for you". They said don't walk and take rest. There may be Ligament and Meniscus damage in the knee. Tomorrow you will get a call from orthopedic department and will give you appointment to meet a Orthopedic.

I got the orthopedic appointment after 2 days and they confirmed ACL tear. To get more information about Meniscus they asked me to get the MRI. He gave me strong "Knee Brace" and suggested me to use Crutches. After a week the pain reduced and was wearing "knee brace" while walking.

They said it will take 2 days to get the MRI results and asked me to contact Orthopedic Surgeon regarding the results. Earlier contacted Orthopedic was not a Surgeon.

On Oct 8th 2012 I met the Orthopedic Surgeon and he re-confirmed the ACL tear. Because of the knee twist, bottom and top bones had small fracture at the edges. But he mentioned they will be recovered automatically after some time. Regarding Meniscus he mentioned there is no issue as per the MRI but there are chances of damage. They can see only when they open the Knee.

This is my MRI report Summary.

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FINDINGS:
A large joint effusion is present.
No definite meniscal tear is identified.
The anterior cruciate ligament is torn.  The posterior cruciate ligament is
intact.
The medial and lateral collateral ligament complexes appear intact.
Quadriceps and patellar tendons appear unremarkable.
There is a focal depression in the lateral femoral condylar articular surface
with underlying marrow edema, compatible with a small impaction fracture.
There is mild signal heterogeneity in the overlying articular cartilage,
although no focal cartilage defect is identified.  There is mild marrow edema
in the posterior aspect of the medial and lateral tibial plateaus without
discrete fracture line.
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Impression:

IMPRESSION:
1. Tear of the anterior cruciate ligament associated with small impaction
fracture of the lateral femoral condyle and mild contusions in the posterior
tibial plateaus.  There is a large joint effusion. -------------------------------------------------------

Regarding Surgery :

I asked them lots of questions about if I don't choose to go for surgery. Some are here

1. Can I play sports? NO

2. Can I run? NO

3. Can I use Thread Mill? YES. But only for walking. No running
4. Can I swim? YES

After hearing so many questions he said" You can walk and swim". All other physical activities are not recommended. It is your decision to decide the Surgery.

Finally he said "you are 33 year old and there are many activities you can do. So go for the surgery"

Finally I decided to have the surgery and got the appointment on Oct 31st 2012 (Hallowean Day).

I had little swelling before going for surgery.

My knee before Surgery