Does your ACL Ligament get better?

If you tear your ACL, will it heal by itself? My sister told me that her husband torn his and that it healed back on it's own. I was told by my orthodepic dr that it will not and that i have to have reconstructive surgery.

no ACL tears will not heal on their own. Ligaments, once stretched stay stretched, they have very minimal blood supply. You will, most likely, have to have a surgical repair. These are common surgeries, they take part of the patella tendon, and essentially thread it up through the thigh. The worst part about it is getting the strength and range of motion back, controlling the swelling and pain. Physical therapy will also be involved for pain control, swelling management and strengthening.
Hope this helps

All but the most severe tears will heal just fine on their own within weeks. I even have a website with comments from a doctor to prove it. http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/ate... Report It

If it is torn - no - it will not heal by itself.

A partial tear MAY heal in time.

ya i think your sister is totally lying lol (jk) he might be a rare case or something but i dont think so. Your going to have to get that fixed with surgery.... Its no too horible to have knee surgery ive had 3 and im really young to have them (16) so if i can handle it ...its cant be that bad.

trust your doctor, partial tears can sometimes heal themselves without surgery but not full tears. Have the surgery.

(Sorry about your knee, feel better soon!)

Also in response to the poster below partial tears CAN heal themselves as long as the ends are still in close proximity. Thats essentially all a surgical procedure really does anyway, sew the torn ends together to facilitate healing. I agree that a previously damaged ligament will be less strong. But speaking as someone who has recovered from a partial ACL tear without the need of surgery, it is possible.

No, Ligaments do not heal by themselves. A partial tea does not heal by itself either, all that happens is you develop scar tissue around the injury which helps compensate for the partial tear. In the long run you will need surgery to remove all the build up. So just have surgery now, and be done with it.

No, a Complete tear will not hweal, you will mostlikely need surgery if you want to regain ALL stability ni the knee. if not, You'll be made to wear a brace and do leg exercises. a Partial tear rarely heals too. feel better hun