ACL/MCL/menisci tears

That's part of our problem. My son wants to play for either Miami or NC State. The recruiters from these schools come to the local high school he plays for. This is a large 4A school that has sent multiple players to both college and pro football teams. He is in the top 20% of his class, so I believe he could get a scholarship either way. I just think the risk to his knee is too great to not go ahead with the surgery.

Getting surgery now merely delays his goal of playing in college. Playing a contact sport competively (at a high level apparently) with a very unstable knee is an invitation to even more damage that might just completely kill his chances in the future.

I tore my left ACL about 5-6 years ago. Heard the pop, limped around a little and never had it checked. I've been increasingly sedentary over the years and it didn't handicap me that much until I tried to play a sport again. The knee buckled within 15 minutes of my first church softball practice. Not an intense workout believe me. The result was a torn meniscus. MRI confirmed and also discoved the ACL tear. In fact, my ACL was totally gone-body just reabsorbed it. Doc told me that without the surgery I could live a sedentary lifestyle but would increase the likelihood of early arthritis. I will be able to play golf again this year, go turkey hunting up and down the steep mountain ridges and will (more importantly) be able to chase my son around the yard this summer. Will be post op 1 year in May. I've been lugging heavy orthopedic patients around for 12 hour shifts since Aug/Sept.

Here's another thing. Post-op rehab takes about a year to complete for those returning to competition. The sooner he gets the surgery the sooner he's ready to go in college.

Finally, the injury and a bulky brace will almost certainly affect/diminish his performance this year. The scouts will notice and they will notice the brace.
They'll have questions. They may want to see medical reports. Unrepaired ACL/MCL/meniscus? Not worth a scholarship. Too much risk. Take the academic scholarship and show up at practice healthy and ready to impress.

I read about your post and found some of your symptoms being very similiar to mine. I had an injury about 11 years agos while landing from a jump and heard a pop sound and my knee gave way. Till now I do not know if its an ACL INJURY. I also never had it checked and it didn't handicap me much except during squating I am still able to play badminton and cycling not sure if it would lead to early arthritis? Can staff nurses who have sustain ACL INJURIES still able to function as STAFF NURSES?