Twisted knee while rehabbing
Today I slipped on soap water while cleaning my room and twisted my knee. This is the same knee with a complete ACL tear and partial PCL tear that I’ve been managing conservatively. Before this incident, I was able to squat and walk long distances, but I still couldn’t generate force for jogging, running, or deep squats.
During the twist, there was significant pain but no popping sound. Afterward, I was still able to activate my quad and bend the knee. However, when I try to walk, my hamstring feels tight and doesn’t allow proper bending. Elevating the leg reduces the tightness and discomfort temporarily.
Since I had to walk a bit and couldn’t rest properly, the swelling has worsened mainly around the kneecap and at the back of the knee. Tonight, the swelling increased further. I’m now unable to properly activate my quad, and straight leg raises are difficult unless my knee is slightly bent. I can bend the knee to around 90 degrees, but there is dull pain even at rest.
I’m concerned about whether this could be a reinjury and what might be causing these symptoms. I would also like to know about similar experiences from others who had setbacks during or after conservative ACL/PCL rehab and how they recovered.
Posted Feb 18, 2026, 8:08 PM UTC