Can an ACL tear heal without surgery?
Emily Dawson
Published Mar 24, 2026
Can an ACL tear heal without surgery?
Very minor tears (sprains) may heal with non-surgical treatments and regenerative medicine therapy. But full ACL tears cannot be healed without surgery. If your activities do not involve making pivoting movements on the knee, physical therapy rehabilitation may be all you need.
Can you still walk with a torn ACL?
With ACL tears, walking is possible but can be painful. The patient should be able to walk in a straight line but will be unable to make sudden turns or pivot. A knee brace can help stabilize the knee, but with ACL tears, surgery is almost always required.
What happens if ACL injury is not treated?
If left untreated, a small ACL tear will increase in size, causing more pain and increasing the laxity in the knee. Without a properly functioning ACL, the other structures of the knee experience greater strain, which causes further injuries to tissues in the knee.
How long does an ACL tear take to heal without surgery?
Non-surgical Treatment The time it takes to recover is approximately 3 months.
Is ACL surgery painful?
The First Two Weeks After ACL Surgery The first couple of weeks after surgery can be the most challenging. It’s when you are likely to experience the most pain. However, ACL surgery recovery pain is manageable. Icing and elevating your knee can help reduce your pain, and your doctor will also prescribe pain medicine.
Can you live a normal life with a torn ACL?
Can I live a normal life with an ACL tear? Yes, but it may take some time before you’re completely back to how you were before the injury. Whether you choose to have surgery or not, with physical therapy you will eventually be back to normal and able to live your life.
What does ACL pain feel like?
Signs and symptoms of an ACL injury usually include: A loud pop or a “popping” sensation in the knee. Severe pain and inability to continue activity. Rapid swelling.
How painful is a torn ACL?
When the ACL is torn and the signature loud “pop” is heard, intense pain follows and, within an hour, swelling occurs. Moderate-to-severe pain is very common. Initially, the pain is sharp and then becomes more of an ache or throbbing sensation as the knee swells.
How painful is an ACL tear?
How do you know if ACL is torn?
When you’ve torn your ACL you will lose a range of motion. Try bending your knee and then straightening it out. If you can’t bend your knee to a 90 degree angle or straighten out your leg because of pain, stiffness and swelling, then it is likely that you’ve torn your ACL.
Where is ACL pain located?
You will likely feel pain in the center of your knee during an ACL tear. Because the MCL is located on the side of your knee, the pain and swelling will be located on the inside of the knee structure rather than the middle.
How do you poop after ACL surgery?
Getting Up and Down From a Toilet: Reach back for the armrests/raised toilet seat/seat. Slide your operated leg slightly forward and lower yourself slowly onto the toilet. To stand, use a grab bar or place your hand at the middle of the center bar of the walker.