What Causes Tennis Elbow?
Pain in your elbow can have many causes, including tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis. Find out what causes tennis elbow pain and how to ease it through home remedies and professional treatments.
Can an ACL Tear Heal on Its Own?
ACL injuries are common in athletes, but they can happen to anyone. When the ACL tears, it leads to pain and instability in the knee joint. Treatment varies depending on the severity of the injury and how active you are — but an ACL rarely heals by itself.
If you have an ACL injury and require professional care, the Alpha Orthopedics & Sports Medicine team offers conservative and surgical treatments. Dr. Brian Snow and Dr. Jon Thompson are both experienced orthopedic surgeons who offer ACL repairs at their facilities in McKinney, Prosper, and Sherman, Texas.
What is an ACL tear?
The knee joint contains many components, including ligaments, tendons, and bones. The ACL is one of the main aspects of the knee. It connects the shin and thigh bones to form the knee joint.
The ACL forms a cross inside the knee joint with the PCL (posterior cruciate ligament). Both ligaments provide stability and keep the joint from rotating too far. However, you can easily injure the ACL, especially if you’re athletic and active.
An ACL tear occurs when outside force puts pressure on the ACL, causing it to stretch and tear. There are three grades of ACL injury, with grade one being the mildest and grade three being a complete tear.
Most people who tear their ACL know it when they hear or feel a pop. Although it can be extremely painful, not everyone experiences severe discomfort. After an ACL injury, the knee usually feels weak or unstable.
Seeking treatment for an ACL tear is crucial to heal properly. As soon as you notice symptoms, contact our team or walk into our urgent care for expert treatment.
Do ACL tears heal on their own?
The first question most people ask after an ACL injury is, "Will it heal on its own?" Unfortunately, the answer is no. The ACL doesn’t have a good blood supply, meaning it won’t get the nutrients it needs to regenerate tissues to heal.
But just because they don't heal on their own doesn’t mean you need surgery. Many people with low-grade injuries or tears can live with the injury without surgery — but the knee won’t be the same.
People who aren’t extremely active and have mild to moderate tears can rehabilitate the injury with conservative measures. However, because the ACL can’t completely heal, the joint may still have some instability.
More severe tears or athletes who wish to return to normal activities require surgery to repair the tear. Surgery involves reconstructing the ACL using one of your other ligaments or a donor—s ligament to restore function in the joint.
We offer various treatments for ACL injuries, including arthroscopy, orthopedic surgery, and regenerative medicine. We also provide bracing and physical therapy consults for every form of ACL injury.
The treatment you require depends on your activity level, injury severity, and activity goals. We discuss each type of treatment at your appointment to determine the best treatment for your needs.
Call one of our McKinney and Prosper, Texas offices for an ACL tear consultation, or you may contact our team on our website to schedule an appointment with Dr. Thompson or Dr. Snow to discuss treatment options.
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