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ACL Surgery: Post Op Riding

Tenacious Doug

Tenacious Doug

Monkey
Dec 25, 2003
402
0
Edinburgh, Scotland
My op to replace my ACL is now a week away, just back from the hospital where I had a pre-op meeting with everyone involved.
Speaking to the physio I asked about riding with a brace post op, at the moment I own a CTi edge which I was fitted for several years ago when I first did it (wasnt operated on at the time as I was still growing) however it is now too small for me and can't be worn comfortably. The physio advised me that I would not gain any benefit from using bracing on my knee during sport as if successful the surgery will give me a knee that is as strong as a good knee. She suggested that benefit from riding in the brace was most likely to be physcological and if I did damage it then it would be in an accident major enough to damage even a naturally good knee.

I know there are a lot of monkeys riding with various knee injuries and braces and wondered what anyones experience was of this, have those of you with reconstructed ACL's gone back to riding using a brace of some sort, has anyone had advice that backs up what this physio has said or contradicted it?

The cost of replacing my current brace with one that fits me now is going to be considerable and while it is a price I am willing to pay if it is necessary for me to go back to riding, I am not prepared to pay that much money for what has been suggested may be only a psychological crutch.

This is something I want to get as many opinions on as possible and will be consulting every physio who touches me in the next few months but your experiences would help.

Oh and if she doesnt think I need a brace, what about something like the 661 MX-1/MX-2 guards, do they offer any sort of support aside from hard shell impact protection. I know they are going to be nothing like as effective as a CTi etc and wouldn't touch them if I was riding with an ACL defficient knee but I can pick them up cheap and they may give me just a small amount of peace of mind when I am "as good as new".
 
buildyourown

buildyourown

Turbo Monkey
Feb 9, 2004
4,832
0
South Seattle
I am PCL defecient. I tore it almost 9 years ago in a car accident. I didn't have it repaired cause we didn't realize that it was torn until months after. At that point, I was getting so much functionality out of my knee without it, that I didn't see the point in another surgery that may or may not help.

Anyways, my muscles have learned to compensate and it really doesn't affect my daily life unless I try and run. I'm not really un runner anyways so thats fine. I can ride a bike fine. In fact, it actually feels better to ride than it does to walk. I have found that the brace doesn't help at all on a bike. It gets in the way a lot and doesn't add any stability. The only thing I wear my brace for any more is snowboarding and backpacking if I'm carrying a heavy pack.

I know situation is drastically different. However, I can't emphisize enough the importance of strength. A strong knee will do fine w/o a brace. Ride the trainer a lot post op. I have found that clipless pedals help as they don't let your knee go where it shouldn't.

Good luck, and get back on the bike ASAP
 
BigStonz

BigStonz

Monkey
Jan 7, 2005
240
0
Swain!! NY
I'm a PT
I assume you had no meniscus repair with your sx.
If all goes well with your therapy you should be off the brace 1 month post-op.
All protocols I have indicate you could be riding with a protective brace 3 months post-op. You should have regained full range of motion and strength before any type of aggressive riding.
You should not require a protective brace after the knee is completely healed which may take up to 6 months.
This is the info I have and use. Opinions vary widely with doctors/therapists.
 
R

ride

Monkey
Jan 11, 2005
471
0
I had ACL/meniscus repair on Oct 12. I opted for a hamstring graft of my own tissue. I also was a rare case in which the ortho sutured my meniscus as it was in a high blood flow area, instead of trimming it.
Due to this issue I was non weight bearing and had restricted range past 90deg for 6 weeks. I had a CTI2 made 1 week pre-op.
I have been back on the bike for 6 weeks. I used the brace at first mostly for confidence. If your going to damage the graft in a fall from a bike the brace will not prevent it. If you use it long term you may create a muscle deficency in your leg, and you might become dependant on it.
I stopped using the brace a few weeks ago because it was pinching and rubbing the hell out of my leg in a few places. And I feel strong enough now without it.
I had one of the worst case sceneriao(sp?) reconstructive cases, and have had a recovery that exceeded my diagnosis due to my intensive PT.
I think this is the most important issue. You can have the best surgeon, and the best graft etc. but it wont mean sh*t if you don't re-hab properly.
 
Brian HCM#1

Brian HCM#1

MMMMMMMMM BEER!!!!!!!!!!
Sep 7, 2001
32,119
378
Bay Area, California
I had min ACL/meniscus done 5 years ago, they used the patella. It took a few weeks before I was able to make a full revalution on the life cycle, but never wore a brace for riding. I was back on my bike 3 months after the surgery climbing road hills on my MTB and back on the dirt 2 months later to doing DH 4 months after that. If you plan on doing any running/cutting (football, skiing etc) sports I would highly recomend a brace. Other than that you should be good to go. Just take your time and don't over do it cause the surgery sucks and it would be really bad to go through it again. LISTEN TO YOUR DR.
 
Renegade

Renegade

Monkey
Sep 6, 2001
333
0
It varies for everybody. I had my acl replaced and meniscus damage repaired a couple years ago, I was 46 years old. Age will play a factor in your recovery. P.T. is EVERYTHING! do it, do it, do it, and then do some more. The real support in the joint comes from the healing of the tissues and the strong muscle you will build up. I wore braces after the surgery when riding my moto, and I wear braces on both knees when I ride at the resorts. I consider it mostly mental bracing, allthough I believe my asterisk braces could prevent another injury. I have no desire to go through another injury like this one. Good luck to you. I hope it goes well.
 
Motionboy2

Motionboy2

Calendar Dominator
Apr 23, 2002
1,800
0
Broomfield, Colorado
I had ACL replaced with a Hamstring tendon graft. With proper strengthening and rehab you should be in place to ride in 6 months. It does depend on your surgery and if you choose Hamstring or Pateller tendon.

I am having trouble now as I get back in to shape where I am getting tendonitus in that knee. It is really pissing me off, because I am finally getting in shape again and I may have to rehab that now.. I hate knees.
 
Renegade

Renegade

Monkey
Sep 6, 2001
333
0
Motionboy2 said:
I had ACL replaced with a Hamstring tendon graft. With proper strengthening and rehab you should be in place to ride in 6 months. It does depend on your surgery and if you choose Hamstring or Pateller tendon.

I am having trouble now as I get back in to shape where I am getting tendonitus in that knee. It is really pissing me off, because I am finally getting in shape again and I may have to rehab that now.. I hate knees.
Click to expand...
Motionboy2's problems also stem from spending too much time dressed in lycra and road riding, and not enough time kicking back with the beers and the vicoden, but that's another story... :thumb:
Just kiddin ya Josh!
 
freeridekid

freeridekid

Monkey
Oct 18, 2003
789
0
U-District, WA
when I tore my acl a couple years ago, the doctor let me ride with a special brace made by donjoy that insurance covered. however, after the surgery my doctor (the one who did the surgery and went to stanford, if that makes any difference) said the brace would not be any more necessary now than it would have been before I tore my acl, so i don't ride w/ my brace. since my new acl (from my hamstring) is probably stronger than my old one, my main concern when i got back into biking was my leg strength, since my weaker leg would not be guarded as well by muscle. i haven't had any problems yet though, so everything seems fine.
 
H

Homey

Monkey
Oct 27, 2004
136
0
The O.C.
I too had my ACL done about 3 years ago. Knowing what the rehab and strength work involved was, I decided to wear my braces most of the time I ride (downhill/jumping - not X-Country). I have the Asterisk braces and the only complaint I have is the width of the brace. It took several weeks to get used to riding with them but now I don't have any problems. You can get 2 Asterisk braces, which use the same technology as the cti2, for $550. I use the braces in place of knee/shin guards and they work great, plus they don't slide down in a crash! I also got mine (bi-latteral) prescribed by my ortho and approved through Blue Cross!
 
Motionboy2

Motionboy2

Calendar Dominator
Apr 23, 2002
1,800
0
Broomfield, Colorado
Renegade said:
Motionboy2's problems also stem from spending too much time dressed in lycra and road riding, and not enough time kicking back with the beers and the vicoden, but that's another story... :thumb:
Just kiddin ya Josh!
Click to expand...

LOL, you may be right...but I am all motivated now to get into shape...it is tough to "rest" for 2-3 weeks!
This will only add to the reputation of lycra clad roadie etc but I think I aggrivated my knee when I went to Yoga. I went about 2 weeks ago for the first time ever, it was actually very cool but my knee flaired up again immediately afterward.

Just for the record I still don't shave my legs :)
 
bpatterson6

bpatterson6

Turbo Monkey
Jul 1, 2004
1,049
0
Colorado
I myself had ACL Replacement 2 years ago after Tearing it at Crested Butte Racing DH. My Dr. Set me up with a Company that made me a custom fitted Brace, it's ultra Light and Really Comfortable but Like mentioned before I also had Miniscus Tears as well and this was also my 3rd Surgery on the knee. My advice: Take it easy and don't rush it and your knee will recover and be very strong with minimal after effects unlike me.

http://www.kneeshop.com/x2k.htm

 
Tenacious Doug

Tenacious Doug

Monkey
Dec 25, 2003
402
0
Edinburgh, Scotland
Thought I would reply to this topic rather than starting a new one, since there seems to be a few people on here with experience.

Now at the 9 week stage and things are going well. Was given the go ahead to start on the bike again a couple of weeks ago, nothing strenous but to and from work along the paved cycle path, 15 minutes gently each way every couple of days which is better than nothing.

The last few days the knee has been a bit loose though, felt like I twisted it like it was pre-op yesterday and just felt a bit funny this evening. No real pain or anything, just felt a bit strange. Is this normal, should I expect things to be a bit loose before everything gets settled in properly. From the fiddling around the physio has done with the knee I am guessing it will currently still have a bit of movement in directions a normal knee doesn't so I am hoping it is just this.

I will of course have a chat to the physio about it but she is currently halfway through a 2 week holiday and I have just been left to my own devices with a list of exercises as it has been coming on so well :)
 
Jm_

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
18,960
9,630
AK
buildyourown said:
I am PCL defecient.
Click to expand...

Me too, I tore a good amount of meniscus too. This was around 5-6 years ago when I was in the Army, and these days my knee feels fine and works great. One reason for not having surgery was that PCL surgery doesn't have as great a sucess rate as ACL, the 2nd was that it would be an Army surgeon doing it, and the 3rd was that mine was "boarderline" on what they'd want to operate on. I did physical therapy and I turned out great, it took a while for some things to go away though, for a while I didn't want to go skiing because it felt like any time there was weight hanging off my lower leg it felt like my lower leg was kind of "disconnected" to the upper, a very odd feeling. These days I run regularly, as well as cycle, and everything is great. I just passed a physical to get into navy OCS school, so it's obviously not causing me any problems these days. If I was in your shoes I'd probably get the ACL reconstructed because ACL reconstruction these days is pretty routine and the doctors have gotten very good at it.

I had a nice knee brace for a while, I can't say that it really helped with stuff. With the PCL tear you get "lag" in the knee and the lower leg bone can move back and forth a little, a knee brace didn't seen to do much to counter this.
 
DHDror

DHDror

Monkey
Feb 7, 2005
181
-1
Israel
I had my ACL reconstructed 10 years ago (!) with a pattela graft , I think...
It was quite revolutionary at the time and it was a few years after I tore it.
I actualy rode BMX with a turn ACL for 5-6 years and spent 3 years in the army (tank commander) as well .

My surgeon also told me, at the time, that I wont need a brace after the op but I used it anyway for a while.
I wouldnt spend mony on it - I know today it was realy unnecessary.

I started DH 3 years ago and my knee is fine 10 years after the reconstruction.
I only have some aches when I try to play soccer or ski but I realy don't find any interests in these sports . Snowboarding is no problem though...
 
bmxr

bmxr

Monkey
Jan 29, 2004
195
0
Marietta, GA
DHDror said:
I had my ACL reconstructed 10 years ago (!) with a pattela graft , I think...
It was quite revolutionary at the time and it was a few years after I tore it.
I actualy rode BMX with a turn ACL for 5-6 years and spent 3 years in the army (tank commander) as well.
Click to expand...
Interesting you mention the military. I enlisted in the USMC one year post-op (1990), their doctor turned me down. Their loss 'cause I was running three miles a day for soccer ... :)

I had an ACL allograft, MCL reconstruction and partial menisectomy on my right knee in 1989. I took my time going back to sports and did a lot of rehab. After one year I was running and playing goalkeeper on a HS varsity team. Two years post-op I was pretty much 100%, although I stopped playing basketball and volleybal as the jumping aggravates it. At the time, doctors and threpists were all recomending bracing, so I used a couple different DonJoy's and a CTi2.

I started racing motorcycles and bmx and somewhere along the line, probably in the early nineties, tore the meniscus and ACL in my left knee. I went until 1995 when a big hunk of meniscus jammed my knee and locked it up, but I still did not opt for the reconstruction since I had no real trouble living without the ACL at that point. I had no ACL in, my left knee for more than ten years...

After racing bmx and riding mountain bikes all these years, I finally had an ACL allograft on my left knee last November. I ripped more meniscus up by hyperextending it, and since the technology has gotten so much better, I figured I'd give the allograft a shot. Now, nobody recomends using a brace except for snow skiing and motocross...something to do with the boots(?)

Anyway, I am six months post-op and all I can say is GO TO THE GYM! I have been on my bike a couple of times, but it's still tender. The rehab is the most important thing you can do, and if you do it diligently, your knees will be stronger than any "uninjured" person's, with no need for braces. When my kids get into contact/impact sports, I am going to make sure they build their quads and hams, that's for sure.
 
ncrider

ncrider

Turbo Monkey
Aug 15, 2004
1,564
0
Los Angeles
Well as for Knee Braces helping or not, I can't say. Some doctors say they help others say no and or they are dangerous. However, if you think they will help you then get one. Take a look at the Asterisk brace, there about $550 and most medical coverage will cover the cost under the "DME" section(durable medical equipment). I used one for about a year when riding moto, but I don't use it anymore.
 
Repack

Repack

Turbo Monkey
Nov 29, 2001
1,889
0
Boston Area
SHort version:
Feb 1991, torn ACL and meniscus. Bad diagnosis, Doc said sprain.
June 2003 Crashed at Snowshoe in practice, adding a 2nd meniscal tear.
Dec 2003 Surgery. Patella graft. 1 tear smoothed over, the other was too small to worry about. Rode Plattekill in May 2005. Raced very well at Mt Snow, but still afraid of drops. Back to 100%+ now. An injury makes you faster b/c it forces you to ride faster. Just my POV. I had a remarkable recovery. 5 days later, went to Pats game. 3 weeks, 90% done with crutches.
Screw to PTs who say that a brace won't help. What we do is so far beyond what they base their standards on its rediculous. My CTi2 fits on over my Dainese when the brace's shin pad is removed. But I haven't worn that since my first ride back. Where the brace truely made a difference was day-to-day stuff. i would walk/be active until I dropped. The brace added many hours to my days. Brace = greatly reduced inflamation.

PM me if you want the rest.
 
K

kamicasey

Chimp
Jun 7, 2010
2
0
just had ACL reconstruction April 20. Also 30% lateral meniscal tear and stress fractures in the tibia. Doctor says I am strictly forbidden from downhilling this year. The issues is I really, really like downhilling. Wondering if theres any way I could sneak in a few days. The REAL problem is that I return to competitive ski racing in November and it is beyond crucial that I dont re-tear. Any advice?
 
pterodactyl

pterodactyl

Monkey
May 1, 2005
191
0
On the other side of your monitor with a baseball
well...I had my first ACL replaced with a patellar graft in 1989...when i was 17. I just had it done again on Feb 9th with a hamstring graft...new tunnels, etc. Torn Meniscus both times. Anyway...I'm 37, had 3 knee sugeries and was able to make the first race at Platty this year in May. Its a little weak, but in the end if you blow it up, they'll fix it again. The weakest time for the graft is about 6-8 weeks post op. Take it easy till about 3months out. If it feels loose or sore or has good days or bad days, thats normal...
After all, they drilled holes thru your bones, removed part of your leg and reattached it somewhere else.

The bottom line is, cycling is easy on the knees...hockey and skiing...not so much. You shouldnt need any braces for DH.
 
tomacdaddy

tomacdaddy

Monkey
Feb 2, 2005
224
0
Minturn, CO
kamicasey said:
just had ACL reconstruction April 20. Also 30% lateral meniscal tear and stress fractures in the tibia. Doctor says I am strictly forbidden from downhilling this year. The issues is I really, really like downhilling. Wondering if theres any way I could sneak in a few days. The REAL problem is that I return to competitive ski racing in November and it is beyond crucial that I dont re-tear. Any advice?
Click to expand...
Way to revive a 5 year old thread. Nice. :thumb:

I had my ACL replaced 4/20 this year as well. (I had plans, but that's another story)

I've gone ahead and swallowed the bad news that I'm not on a DH bike this season. It's not worth it to me to pop it again. I can just see myself jamming a foot down in a turn or something and...

Save up the energy. Get 100% for ski season. You (we) are screwed this season, but there's always next.

PS> If you do blow it up again, apparently you'll need surgery where they have to take out the graft and remove the graft 'mount' hardware. Then you heal the bone back and rehab. Then you have another surgery 3ish months later to graft in another ligament, heal that and rehab again. I'll pass.
 
K

kamicasey

Chimp
Jun 7, 2010
2
0
tomacdaddy said:
If you do blow it up again, apparently you'll need surgery where they have to take out the graft and remove the graft 'mount' hardware. Then you heal the bone back and rehab. Then you have another surgery 3ish months later to graft in another ligament, heal that and rehab again. I'll pass.
Click to expand...
Oh YUCK! That sounds terrible. Think I'll take it easy...

Thanks. May be Jesus, resurrecting the dead.
 
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