Why I Chose To Get ACL Surgery vs Non-Surgical Treatment (& How I Weighed The Options)

Deciding to get ACL surgery is no easy task! That's why I wanted to highlight the reasons why I chose to get ACL surgery vs non-surgical treatment, and how I came to the decision that I did.

I think it's so important to weight the factors when deciding on if you should get ACL surgery or not. There are several reasons why it might not make sense for someone to get ACL surgery, and instead opt for non-surgical treatments. For example, if money is tight, if you don't have great health insurance or surgeons available, or if you don't feel like you want to return to playing sports again - then ACL surgery might not be best for you.

But for me, there were several factors as to why I did want to get the surgery done, and in this video, I explain what they are and why each of these factors mattered to me personally.

👉Interested in learning more about my ACL journey and my ACL injury tips and tricks?

👇Check out the videos below:👇
My ACL Journey

My 20 month ACL update:

ACL surgery tips:

Incrediwear Knee Sleeve Review:

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►TIME STAMPS:
0:00 Introduction
0:19 My ACL background story
0:55 How I decided to get ACL surgery
14:32 Final Thoughts

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[jenniferbryant]

Thank you so much for doing this. I am 43, tore my acl playing volleyball for fun in the backyard. Doctors said it was my decision but at my age most people choose not to do surgery. 7 months after injury and after doing pt I was outside with my kids and tore the Meniscus because it slipped. Had to have surgery for meniscus in April 2024. I am 4 days post op from acl surgery. I am not supper active but this video helped me confirm that I did the right thing. I have started flexing and stretching my leg a little. Any advice is appreciated.

[MsBrownHall]

Thank you. You hit on all the things I am going through right now in trying to decide.

[smartgurl]

Thanks for this video! I fully ruptured my ACL downhill skiing Feb 9th 2022. Tore my meniscus broke my knee cap as well. Stopped skiing walked on it all day before going into ER. Passed all tests. My MRI showed complete tear. I had clean out surgery and I am currently in aggressive rehab. I am in my late 40, s my ortho suggested I try this route 1st. I definitely have severe stiffness in the morning. I work through it everyday. I am trying to keep positive. I know I can go in for complete reconstruction at a later date if this doesn’t pan out. I’ll keep you posted. 🙏

[vasudev]

Got my full ACL rapture + lateral meniscus damage report today. First time something this bad is happening to me. I am despising the idea of surgery because of the crucial physical pain. I feel super anxious.
I have an active lifestyle and don't want to leave soccer at just 23 years of age.
Great video btw, thanks for information on this stuff, this comment section is soothing in this otherwise turbulent period.

[bloodhoundgang]

I've had two unsuccessful operations, one to replace my ACL and later one to repair Meniscus in my late 40's .Still my knee dislocates when my foot points inwards this movement puts the knee under tension . It's soul destroying, I'm a very active person and can no longer participate in sports but hopefully i can see an actual specialist one day and get to the bottom of whats going on..I'm 53 now .

[LifeofRip]

these were my same thoughts in 2006 when i blew my ACL-MCL-meniscus!
so i had surgery!
if i knew what i know now, i probably would have not had the surgery!.

its been about 16 years now in my mid 40s and im actually much quicker and recover faster!
im sure in 10 years from now you will be even far superior!
Every day im getting better!
i will give Ben his product a few years ago his teaching spark some power!

hyperarc fascia training which im sure in following months you will stumble on will truly change your athletic ability as the feet-glute-ab connect.

good video!

[monikakanojia]

Omg this really helped . I think just putting this out has made me confident. I'm gonna go thru the same surgery soon.j thought I'd not have toned legs glutes coz my doc was like u not gonna be able to do squats or jump the way I did with my normal knees. I would luv to know how I cud strenthn my inner thighs and outer to support my left leg better and the back muscles and glutes. Do share some pre AcL surgery excercises and post. I loved this video. Thank you @Victoria Dorsano

[Williamhand]

I’m glad it got better Victoria and i enjoyed the video

[asecmimosas]

ACL reconstruction does not cause OA. The ACL injury causes OA. ACL reconstruction surgery simply does not prevent OA. The main factor seems to be damage to the meniscus. If you simultaneously injure your meniscus, or it was previously injured, you will get OA whether you have surgery or not.

[clintmagican]

i would of chosen the non surgical option but i torn my meniscus a week after i had my ACL injury and that blocked my joint and surgery is the only option at this point

[ವಿಸ್ಮಯಲೋಕ-ಘಥ]

Hii Victoria!! Love from India! glad to hear that so for your recovery is great..even I have injured my right knee while playing volleyball. My MRI reports were like 1) partial ACL tear at femoral attachment. 2) medial patellar retinaculum tear. I'm 31 year old and Fire fighter. So with these conditions can I come back before injury level with non surgical treatment, or do I need surgery. Plzz suggest me

[akalapov]

When can I start incorporating nordic hamstring curls after ACL reconstruction with hamstring graft?

[svenjamd]

Hi, you make it sound like the surgery leads to osteoarthritis. In fact, it is completely the other way around: the instability due to the ACL tear is causing osteoarthritis longterm. surgery is performed to prevent this. So ideally there is no osteoarthritis after surgery, however studies show there is still a significant rate of osteoarthritis even after surgery. One explanation for this is that back in the days the drilling canals were usually misplaced in a high noon position and these are the patients that have been followed up in the cohorts. So osteoarthritis might actually be prevented by modern surgery, however we need to wait 10-20 years to see follow up data of the current surgery techniques.

[KaylahH]

Did you use a ligament from your own body or a donor for your acl replacement? I am trying to figure out what would be the best option for me to get back to dacning after the operation with minimal complications

[sabaribiju]

I had the surgery on feb 2022 but I'm having pain in hamstring but the muscle is taken from quadriceps how the pain in generating??👀 and hope you are fine

[silveradobp]

Hi Victoria, thanks for all your information on the ACL journey. I tore my ACL, MCL and partial tear in my meniscus playing soccer one month ago. I am scheduled for surgery on October 27th. I am decided on getting surgery but I’m stuck between quad autograft vs Patellar BTB. I understand you did the patellar tendon and was wondering if you are happy with that decision or would have gone with quad tendon in hindsight. There is not much research out there on the quad tendon ( at least not as much as patellar being the gold standard), but it seems to be gaining popularity (less pain, similar re-tear rate as patellar, no knee pain while kneeling, etc). I just want to make sure I make the right decision you know. I am 34 and still very active (soccer, hiking, weights). Any advise is greatly appreciated. God Bless.

[ganeshpandey]

Hey Victoria, hope you are doing well. Did you go with the conventional technique of bioscrew and endobutton?

[sarahhaodatodd]

Hi dear, my daughter played rugby and hurt her knee. Apparently she had a high degree tear .. is surgery recommended or can she delay a try heal non surgical?

[naveedahamed]

Are u performing the same as you do before surgery??

[charlesjacques]

Supposed you were a 72 year old retired man?