Question: I have a partial tear of my L ACL, cartilage damage on the medial side and my hoffa pad is moderately swollen. I am having trouble walking and I see my surgeon in 9 days. I have recently developed pins and needles in my lower leg and my foot is puffy and swollen I fell on my left knee on the 11/11, I have problems with my right knee which gave precipitating the fall. I am unable to upload the MRI report. An MRI taken of my L knee in July this year showed no tear. Medial femoral condyle and tibial plateu articular cartilage maintained. Collateral ligament normal. The MRI taken last Sunday There is some cartilage defect medial femoral condyle. Patchy subarticular marrow oedema approx 10 x 10 mm Medial meniscus intact. The ACL looks mildy thickened and there is evidence of cystic change within the ACL which is prob indicatice of mucoid degeneration. It may be associated with some partial thickness tearing which is chronic within the ACL. I am confused that a report from July shows nothing and the report from last Sunday shows chronic degeneration. If you can explain this too I would appreciate it. I am concerned with the recent pins and needles and puffiness.

Thanks for your reply. I had both knees MRI in July as I was having problems with my right knee with kneeling and squating and having pain. I am seeing an orthopaedic surgeon but at the time my mother was dying from lung cancer so any surgery had to be postponed. The MRI conclusion for the right knee is chondromalacia weight bearing medial fem condyle with delamination component and focal flap tear suspected. Small joint effusion. My left knee at the time showed only patellar chondromalacia. 2 weeks ago I fell onto both knees taking most of my weight into my left knee, I left it for a week but swelling and pain increased so I saw my GP to get an MRI as I will be seeing my surgeon on the 7th of December. The latest MRI is now showing a partial tear, cartilage defect med femoral condyle, marrow oedema. Moderate sized joint effusion to the patellofem joint. This is all in keeping with the current level of pain and inability to mobilize easily. Although it is not long until I see the surgeon over the last 2 days I have experienced intermittent pins and needles (like a numbness) and my left foot is visibly puffy. Shoes leave a marked indentation. I am trying to keep my leg raised as much as possible and have applied ice regularly. I can wait but I just want to be sure about the numbness and swelling of my foot. I do have hypertension and take eprosartan - hydrochlorothiazide and have very well controlled blood pressure. I am currently taking a codeine/paracetamol pain reliver (panadeine forte) I do have arthritis as well as my auto immune problems, I have previously had both left and right successful rotator cuff repairs. Despite my problems I am a very active person and this really has stopped me from doing most things, even driving my car is problematic. I guess what I really need to know is do you think I am ok to wait until the 7th when I see my ortho surgeon? Thanks