[blackohio]

As mentioned in my Whistler thread I drove home with injured. Just started seeing a Ortho to evaluate route. Too much swelling in my knee to determine if my ACL is torn. Emergency room doc could jet my knee to move an inch in testing the acl, ortho specialist couldnt get it to move at all, there is a tremendous amount of swelling. His main concern with my ACL is/was a bone fragment that he thinks might be from where I tore the ACL off the tibia. 2 more weeks and i'll find that out ironically.

I do know I have zero MCL ligament, it's completely hose so while riding bikes isnt in my foreseeable future when it is a brace will almost certainly be required. I'll know in 2 weeks if acl surgery is required or not.

So for all the guys who did surgery what was the downtime and PT like.

Also for the guys who've opted to do the acl surgery at a later moment what have been your recovery time?

 

[blackohio]

also percocet so excuse my ****ty typing.

 

[Raingauge]

A buddy had his done at the end of last year, I think he went under the knife in Oct or Nov. He's fully healed now but rides with a brace just for the mental aspect. He was able to ski in the spring but took it pretty easy.

He wears one of the Asterisk Ultra cell brace. http://www.asterisk.com/buy/protection/ultra-cell-knee-protection-system.html

 

[chillindrdude]

Most surgeons will await for swelling to subside before operating on the acl. If you toasted ur mcl its likely the acl and meniscus also went. Its a common triumvirate. I had a midgrade tear of my mcl last nov. Thankfully a mri confirmed that it was only the mcl and not anything else. The good news is that the mcl is an extra-articular ligament and therefore heal on its own. Even in cases of isolated complete mcl tear, surgery is rare because it does heal, unlike the acl. I did some PT and have since healed up. There is some side to side laxity if im not conscious of how i plant. I had a custom CTI brace fitted for my right knee and will be wearing it while snowboarding. Off the shelf medical grade moto braces are good, but ur insurance may cover a nicer custom brace like the cti

 

[atrokz]

Really sorry to hear dude. That blows.

Saw your Undead up for sale and it made me sad, even if we've never met. I'd grab it in a heartbeat if I didn't drop several k on a custom engagement ring!

Having never torn (knocks on wood) a ligament other than my wrist, I can't offer any medical advice, but I will say to keep your nutrition as lean and green as possible to aid with recovery. Glucosamine is proven to help with tissue repair and your immune system function. Lots of dark greens. Less meat. No smoking. Etc. All the good stuff.

Good luck dude! Keep a positive attitude and pretend your a pro athlete who needs to ride again!

 

[Floor Tom]

I did my ACL in September '10, but everything else was fine. I was a few weeks before I saw a surgeon so had to wait until I was 6 weeks out before they would operate. I was walking without crutches after less than a week, on a spin bike pretty soon after that. Road bike at 6 weeks, XC was about 4 months and DH 6 months. I was told not to ride off road before these time frames as if I had another incident it would have been easy to tear the graft off again. I am now close to 2 years out from surgery and my knee feels pretty good. I asked about a brace and was told that I didn't need one and would be better off not using one.
If you are going in for ACL reconstruction you need to hit the gym hard before you go in. Speak to a good sports physio and get some exercises. Your muscles will waste a good amount so the stronger you are before you go in the easier the recovery will be.
Good luck with whatever happens buddy, you'll be there before you know it.

 

[dump]

Tore my ACL and had it reconstructed going the cadaver route. The recovery seemed slow. I've heard stories of other people jumping around after a couple of weeks, but mine was nothing like that.

I could put weight on it after about a month. I started riding a stationary bike after about 2 months, but the muscle mass was entirely gone. I think I started riding a proper bike after about 6 months, but again, it was pretty slow to build up the muscle mass from zero. You really need the muscles to come back to have the knee feeling anywhere near stable, so it's a bit of cat and mouse for a while. After about a year it felt pretty decent, after 2 years it felt more or less normal.

Hopefully you're in the other group and not mine, but if things do take a long time, you'll know it's not out of the ordinary.

 

[blackohio]

thanks for the advice guys. Never thought about the diet aspect of it. I had pretty much planned on a minimum of 6 months off the bike. Minimum, however at 37 it'll probably take longer and thats fine. I want to be healed fully not just able to ride.

 

[UiUiUiUi]

oh **** get well soon!


when i tore my acl the opted for immediate reconstruction from my patella tendon... this meant 6 weeks on cruches, i was back on my feet shortly after and fit to do as i please about 3 months off. but i was 22 back then... and since i hurt that knee a few times i am riding with a brace now... it hinders pedaling a bit but works wonders for stability...

 

[Da Peach]

Def get the knee fixed. Braces are okay for a while, but they get annoying fast.

Wear one during recovery until you're strong and confident again

The surgery hurts like a mofo, but it's worth it.

 

[blackohio]

I guess I was wondering for the people who put it off for a few months what recovery was like. I can get in on my ladies insurance at open enrollment and then i'll have to wait 3 months past that. She'll find out this week when open enrollment is and if it's even an option.

 

[wiscodh]

I guess I was wondering for the people who put it off for a few months what recovery was like. I can get in on my ladies insurance at open enrollment and then i'll have to wait 3 months past that. She'll find out this week when open enrollment is and if it's even an option.

thats a long time mate. Should just shotgun wedding the shuttle driver.

medicate with booze soon?? ill bring a vaild id.

 

[dump]

I guess I was wondering for the people who put it off for a few months what recovery was like. I can get in on my ladies insurance at open enrollment and then i'll have to wait 3 months past that. She'll find out this week when open enrollment is and if it's even an option.

My broken/missing ACL was misdiagnosed as a knee sprain at the hospital, so I went a whole year of taking it easy, therapy and rebuilding to get back to where I was, when it popped out again doing very light jogging. The initial doctor gave it a couple good tugs, but w/o an MRI, there was no way to know for sure. So I went about 13 months w/o an ACL before having surgery.

 

[ustemuf]

man.. i just blew my knee up at whistler the other week too.. you can't get a MRI? it's the best way to tell...

my results:

Joint effusion posterior soft tissue T2 signal abnormality seen.

There is full-thickness tear of the MCL and PCL. There is partial
tear or sprain of the proximal fibular collateral ligament. Bone
marrow edema is seen.

Possible tear of the root of the medial meniscus.

i have another appointment at the end of this month to see if i'll need surgery on my pcl.

i'm betting i won't need it and i'm just going to hit the gym and keep the P.T. top notch and come back stronger than before.

i'm also going to invest in some tld catalyst braces probably.

 

[blackohio]

Theres too much swelling to get an MRI that'll not potentially be a waste.

 

[Huck Banzai]

Theres too much swelling to get an MRI that'll not potentially be a waste.

You must have great insurance; you seem to also have a great attitude.

Im not put off of bikes, but sequential injuries/surgeries has put a dent in my mental; going to need to work my way through that. Seeing people with pragmatic, positive attitudes like yours helps.

And yes, for those who know me, and those who just see me on here and havent ignored me yet -- yes, I was already mental.

Once its appropriate, I hope the MRI is as 'nice' as it can be given the array of damage you have already confirmed.


Lots of healing vibez to you. <bzzzzzzzzzz>

 

[blackohio]

thanks. I've always just looked at it this way, it already happened. The ball is already in motion and theres almost nothing I can do to change whats to come. Just figure how to minimize damage, cost and sanity.

Ironically I don't have insurance, nor do I have a job (full time, I freelance but not full-time) I put myself in the position to be injured and now have to deal with the fallout. Money is nothing, it comes and goes and to be honest all I care about enjoying the time on this pressurize rock in space. Worrying about all the little **** in-between will drive you crazy.

 

[demo 9]

Torn in may, riding in october. Was not that bad, not that id want to do it again