I tore my ACL downhill skiing last year. I opted to try rehab instead of surgery. But my knee gives out from underneath me without warning. What do I do now?

Your first step should be to see your doctor for a follow-up exam. There may be a treatable reason for the knee instability you are experiencing. You many need a second course of physical therapy. An ongoing home program of exercise and activity modification may be required.

Frequent giving way of the knee suggests knee joint instability. An arthroscopic exam and/or X-rays may be helpful in diagnosing the problem. It’s possible there is a secondary meniscal tear. Or the ACL tear has become unstable resulting in this problem.

Sometimes, despite all efforts to avoid surgery, an operative procedure to repair the problem is really the best course of action. The long-term effects of any treatment approach selected should be considered. Chronic knee instability can lead to further injury. Some type of early intervention may help prevent future problems.