knee pop 6 months after ACL reconstruction

At age 20, I have had my left ACL repaired once and my right repaired twice already...you could say im kind of a pro at ACL reconstructions haha.

Popping is normal within the first few months after surgery. Its normally due to a build up of scar tissue/fluid, plus the fact that you havent done much physical activity for a few months. If it was your ACL that tore again, you would definitely know it; a lot of people compare the pain to child labour. My knee did this a lot after physic or doing any sort of physical activity, it did this for almost a year. The best thing to do is just apply ice to reduce the fluid, and make sure you move your kneecap around (up, down, sideways ect.) because scar tissue can build up there.

I experience slipping or a pop feeling in my knee when I twist or purposely try to pop my knee out (when showing my surgeon). This slipping/popping caused no pain what so ever, just a weird feeling that definitely didnt feel right. After my first surgery I experienced this slipping, and had my second surgery to try to fix it (they thought part of my ACL graft didnt take the first time), but even after the second surgery I still experience the same thing. Come to find out my tibia is more anterior then normal, this causes the popping/slipping of my knee. Im not sure if this is common, but it sounds like some of you are having the same issue. 

Hi, i am 6 months and two weeks out of ACL reconstructive surgery(hamstring graft) and i never got full strait extention on my leg. i got my range of motion back all the way going back wards but i cannot fully straiten my leg. if i put both of my legs strait together my bad knee sits just a couple centimeters higher. will this be a problem going forward? or is it really not a huge deal being only a short distance off fromthe other leg? appreciate any advice

Experiencing a re-tear is totally different from the first time. I know that when I re-tore my acl I jumped up and landed on the one leg, next thing I knew I felt a pop and was on the ground. I had some pain on the outside of my knee but nothing else and the swelling was very insignificant. It didn't hurt at all when I re-tore so it was hard to believe that I actually did re-tear even though I knew I did in the back of my head. It sucks but it happened and life goes on, just know it's easier the second time and I WILL play soccer again :)

7 months out, I ride bmx, and I was riding some trails(jumps, doubles, google it) and had to jump off(bail, abandon ship) well I had no pops on impact of both feet, but was somewhat sore but not enough to stop me from riding, took a few more runs then called it a day, the next morning I was very sore but only moderately swollen, days later we are at the present and I am half a month from my 8 months and I was swimming in the Atlantic, i pushed off to catch up to a wave and my leg came out of the shelf again(not a dislocation as I've been calling it but apparently a subluxation) took a second but it was re-aligned or what have you, now it feels sore again.

 

Other notes: I have done lots of physical training in addition to extensive road cycling, I waited the full 6 months I was told to begin even cruising my bmx, I went into surgery very strong too, logging several miles a day road cycling or spin cycling and because of this I was dismissed from physical therapy early.

I guess what I'm trying to find out is if it should even be able to subluxate? Have I not waited long enough?

Any help would be awesome and greatly appreciated.

 

ps: I know these are questions for my doctor, I'm just nervous for the truth....not a cheap operation

I'm 2 months and a couple weeks post op and I've experienced numerous popping noises while running or just standing up from sitting down, it never swells and I'm pretty sure it's just the scar tissue. When I was about 6-7 weeks in I had a couple of days where my leg would completely lock back randomly and it would scare me because I felt like I had no control over my knee. I talked to my physiotherapist and he replied by beasting my thigh muscle in one session and it did the job, it hasn't locked back sharply since. So in my experience its all about building up the muscle and keeping fit (Y)

THANK YOU !! Thank you for actually posing an answer / information :) Most of the posts are individual stories...which is fine, but very happy to find a little answer.

At 9 months post op, I was walking down the stairs when my leg gave out. I had ACL allograft and partial lateral meniscectomy. I didn't fall bc I caught myself with my good leg. Walking was difficult and swelling ensued. I went to a Ortho surgeon from MUSC (I moved and my surgery doc is in Cali). He x-rayed my knee and said the screws were still in the right place and that my quad just failed. I took it easy, applied heat and the swelling has steadily decreased. The acl will be reconstructed from a tendon to ligament at 6 months. The screws take 16-18 months to disintegrate. That was in December. A month later, after getting back to the gym To strengthen my quad so the problem doesn't return, while walking I heard a pop and minimal stiffness. I know I have some mild scar tissue (doesn't affect my range of motion, but I can hear it click if I try to squat). I simply put a brace on, went to the gym, and decided to do low impact cycling. My knee feels fine. I'm actually glad that the scar tissue is breaking up so that I can get back to full exercising.

I had an ACL and Bucket Handle meniscus tear. I had the exact same thing if it is not accompanied by pain swelling it is probably the kneecap moving about (quadriceps deficiency) and it is good to have a joint that makes noise.

I'm having the same problem, my knee feels as if its lock.

My son has had 2 left knee ACLs can I ask you a question please?

Hello, I am 7 1/2 weeks post op an my knee feels like it catches in the front of the knee cap. I also experience pain in the back the knee after physio. I had a popping in the knee twice since surgery. The therapist stated this is caused by scar tissue breaking up.

Did you figure out what your popping was? Did it ever go away? I have the same thing. Mine is consistent every time I straighten fully. I am 7 months post op.

Hi I'm two months out of surgery and I accidentally jumped and my knee used popping every time I straighten it. Did you ever figure out what was wrong with yours? Did it get better?

What ever happen with this, experience something very similar but at 5 weeks post op??

I am not even to the two week mark yet and my knee pops often. It's not painful and actually feels pretty good. Ever hear what it is from?