Is it possible to repair a torn ligament?

[Hooch]

Ok, so a while back I tore my acl. I didn't rip it completely it just has a little tear in it. At the same time I managed to get some cartilage stuck which stopped me from fully straightening my leg. I had keyhole surgery and had the cartilage removed so I can now fully straighten my leg. The ligament how ever was only trimmed and neatened up.

I recently spoke to the orthopedic surgeon and he said If I wanted to get back into tricking I might need a ligament graft ( I have to go back in 3 months for a check up).

Recently I've been doing physio and I've now joined the gym. So I can build up the muscles around my knee as the ligament is still damaged. I can walk and run and everything.

Life story over.

Any way this brings me to my question is it possible to repair a damaged ligament through supplements such as collagen ?

[Rahf]

This is something you shall discuss with your orthopedic specialist. This is definitely out of everyone's league here at TT.

[Hooch]

Ok thanks for the reply. I thought I'd give it a shot on here! Thanks any way :)

EDIT: I'm also curious if any one has had any experience with collagen supplements? If so for what reason?

[Rahf]

Skip collagen, it's one of the worst protein sources you can buy.

[tracekillz]

definately consult your orthopedic specialist. ligaments are capable of repairing on their own. however if the tear is too severe then surgery would be the answer. more than likely if they deem the injury necessary to be treated further, they'll do an MRI, and send you thru sports med or physical therapy. if the MRI shows the tear is too severe, and physical therapy does not work, then surgery will be discussed as an option.

its something that should be examined by a medical professional.



rahf..isnt collagen what makes up 99% of the ligament? i'm just curious about why its a waste, because i know patients that are undergoing some type of collagen treatment.

**edit* maybe you weren't referring to injection though. then it would make sense. comercially, as a "joint mobility supplement," i could see what you mean. but as far as injections go, because its not digested, the composition wouldn't be broken up in the same way.

[Hooch]

I was just talking about collagen as a supplement, taking it orally. As its what ligaments and nails and such are made of. I can do pretty much everything fine, I'm just worried that if I get back into tricking, I'll trash it totally. I want to try and avoid a ligament graft if possible.

My physio therapist said to see how it goes and try to build up your hamstrings as much as you can, to help take the strain of the ligament. But the orthopedic consultant said I might need a ligament graft possibly.

So I was hoping through exercise and possible supplementation of collagen or something. I might be able to repair the ligament?

[Papa Lazarou]

Meh, collagen is just a protein, made of basically the same stuff as all the others. I don't see why ingesting it would cause tissue to heal faster than if you ingested it's constituent amino acids.

[Rahf]

definately consult your orthopedic specialist. ligaments are capable of repairing on their own. however if the tear is too severe then surgery would be the answer. more than likely if they deem the injury necessary to be treated further, they'll do an MRI, and send you thru sports med or physical therapy. if the MRI shows the tear is too severe, and physical therapy does not work, then surgery will be discussed as an option.

its something that should be examined by a medical professional.



rahf..isnt collagen what makes up 99% of the ligament? i'm just curious about why its a waste, because i know patients that are undergoing some type of collagen treatment.

**edit* maybe you weren't referring to injection though. then it would make sense. comercially, as a "joint mobility supplement," i could see what you mean. but as far as injections go, because its not digested, the composition wouldn't be broken up in the same way.

I was referring to the supplement type that you take orally. It's pretty much like gelatine, a non-complete protein source that has come from the ground bones and leftovers from different types livestock. Collagen as a supplement is inferior to all other complete protein sources.

An injection is a completely different matter.

[tracekillz]

haha yea i thought so -_-. in that case, i agree :P