ACL Reconstruction experiences

Keep it up with the physio, keep moving the leg, and stay positive! I was walking without crutches a little over a week post-op, and almost without a limp in 2 weeks. I was on the exercycle at physio 4 days after the operation. I think I started riding my bike to work about 4 weeks post op, and mountain biking not too far from that. My main problem was tearing the hamstring graft site trying to bunny hop onto a curb (kerb?) too early. I thought riding xc with flats would be best but it turns out you use your hamstrings a lot with flats... I stuck with clips. I did a trip out to Whistler in early June, which was 3 months after the surgery.

Remember that everyone heals different, and the extent of the injury can be different too. I had the luxury of being able to train like a madman before the surgery, hitting the gym 4-5 times a week just for my legs, which helps speed recovery.

Just keep at the physio, be aggressive with it, and stay motivated... and good luck!

edited to add: I should also have mentionned that when I returned to mountain biking, I was wearing a custom brace for the first 4 months. and that winter I used my brace for skiing all winter too. Didn't want to risk tearing the new ligament, which as has since been mentionned, can take a year or more to heal 100%.

I had my ACL surgery 3 weeks ago. I went with the cadaver graft, recommended by my surgeon. I was bearing weight immediately after surgery, while in the straight leg immobilizer though. After 16 days the surgeon told me i was done with the straight leg brace and I'm now in a sports brace, like you always see the fat ass linesman in the NFL wearing.

Follow physical therapy closely and you'll heal faster. If you do the exercises they tell you to at home, you'll get better faster.

My biggest milestone so far is getting a pedal around full circle on the stationary bike. It's all downhill from here

I had the same surgery last year in september. Don't do any DH anytime before 6 months post ops (thats what my doctor told me). The tendom takes up to or at least a full year to properly seal against the bone and act as the ligament. In this case, this type of operation is not one where you can say, "it feels good, should be good", its more like, "I won't do dh for at least 6 months or any other extreme sport, because I'll loose my new ligament". My doc explained to me that, no matter who you are, it takes a period for you knee to grasp properly on the new ligament/tendom. DONT RUSH.

I was in physical for about three months, and it worked wonders for me. My legs feel stronger than ever now.

A couple of pointers: When at home or laying around, try to keep your leg straight, it will help in the future. When loading weight or anything (including your own weight) bend the knee slightly like you are now. Dont try to flex the knee so much after the operation, give it a week or two from now until you start recovering from that (and the skin is completly sealed from the op). I was on a bike after a month, but just light pedaling (preferably in the gym, where you don't have to get off or stop and put your leg down). Pedalling is excelent, it will help you gain movement again and strenght, just make sure that when your pedalling, your knee is in a straight line with the leg and not wondering around. If its really swollen, lay in bed with your knee above your chest, that will make it drain a whole lot faster. When sleeping, make sure you don't put your other leg over the knee, you'll wake up in pain. I was aloud to jog after about 2 1/2 - 3 months after the surgery, preferably on a grass or soft ground. After exercise make sure you strech, not so much though... you could pull something. Last but not least, this may or may not be obvious, put ice on it after exercise and streching, helps a ton.

Most importantly, remember this is some what of a slow process, theres no need to rush. Don't get tempted to do something that could possibly jeoperdise your knee and operation, since its really easy to screw it up, specially right after the op, even if it "feels really good". I took it slow for about 7 months and now Im riding DH like never before. At first it was hard and scary, but then I realised my knee would in fact support my weight and impacts. Good luck, hope this helps!

What yuour brain thinks when you try to move your leg:


Had my ACL grafted from the patellar tendon in '96 by a sports med doc. Told him I had a stationery trainer and he told me to get on it as soon as I got in the house. Zero resistance was all I could do and basically clipped in and pedaled slow with my other foot.

I had a twisted physical therapist who really punished me. I hated her....how I hated her. Until she told me my percentage strength increases at the end of sessions.

Easily 9 months to gain 90+ percent strength back. Full stability at 1 year. One other thing they don't tell you is that you will think you're going to blow out your other knee compensating, but at 1 year you'll start walking/standing more normal and the pain in the good knee goes away.

Get on the stationery and move the joint to increase circulation and accelerate healing more than once a day. Eat lots of healthy foods with recuperative supplementation, etc too. Met-RX (think bodybuilding) was originally made for recovering from surgery as complete nutrition. I used it and it helped. Scabs healed quicker even.

I had light ACL surgery back in 2004. Fixed my ACL, MCL, Removed my T-Band, and Resurfaced under my Knee Cap. I did as much rehab on my knee going into surgery and was in the pool and bike 1 day after. Was able to walk about a week after and running in less than 1 month. I think the pool and my program for rehab helped me out the most. My right leg is now stronger than my Left. Keep your head up and you will be back on your feet and bike before you know it....

Cecil

looks like some pretty good advice posted so far, but the one thing I didn't see is ICE.

I had a Cryocuff which was fricken awesome and would highly recommend one if your insurance covers them and would even say to get one if you have to pay out of your own pocket. Getting the infammation down and keeping it down while doing your PT stuff is pretty key part of the recovery.

Agree with the advice here. And the cryocuff if you can get one -- ice that thing like mad.

I'm about 7 months out w/ a cadaver graft. Just picked up my CTI brace this afternoon. You will get there -- best advice I got from my PT -- "It's a marathon, not a sprint."

I had a pretty serious reconstruct on mine early summer of 07, and was out until late Spring 2008. Nearly a year. I was going to school FT and working FT, so I half-assed my recovery and still might be paying for it.

That said, Summer 2008 was my best season to date in terms of not only fun, but also progression. It's all good now, and while I feel it from time to time, I'm loving bikes more than ever.

I had my first ACL replaced in 1989 with a patellar tendon graft. A 13" incision straight down the middle of my leg. That took 3 months on crutches, a year before I could run. I wore several different braces after.

I just had the same knee done on Feb 9th. New tunnels and a hamstring graft this time. I was off crutches in a week or so. I wore the straight leg brace for about 2 weeks and bailed on the hinged one after 2 weeks.

The absolute key to the best recovery is gaining your range of motion, especially straightening it. It is highly uncomfortable to fit there with a pillow under your foot and nothing under your knee, but is the key to being able to rebuild your quads after.

Go to PT and push yourself, the tendon and graft are strong right after the surgery, so take the pain. Your Dr should tell you that at about 8 weeks post op the graft itself is at its weakest. This is when you are starting to feel good and want to try stuff...don't. Take it easy from week 6-10, meaning, stick to cycling, basic leg exercizes.

This time I was trail riding 3 months after and raced the first Platty DH in May...although tentatively. I was told that a brace is not necessary. The new ligament from a hamstring, if grafted well, is stronger than the original ACL. I don't believe in braces, and yeah, I've had plenty. At 3-4 months start building your legs with core exercizes: Squats, lunges, deadlifts. If you build these muscles up, a brace will definitely be pointless.

pterodactyl said:

I had my first ACL replaced in 1989 with a patellar tendon graft. A 13" incision straight down the middle of my leg. That took 3 months on crutches, a year before I could run. I wore several different braces after.

I just had the same knee done on Feb 9th. New tunnels and a hamstring graft this time. I was off crutches in a week or so. I wore the straight leg brace for about 2 weeks and bailed on the hinged one after 2 weeks.

The absolute key to the best recovery is gaining your range of motion, especially straightening it. It is highly uncomfortable to fit there with a pillow under your foot and nothing under your knee, but is the key to being able to rebuild your quads after.

Go to PT and push yourself, the tendon and graft are strong right after the surgery, so take the pain. Your Dr should tell you that at about 8 weeks post op the graft itself is at its weakest. This is when you are starting to feel good and want to try stuff...don't. Take it easy from week 6-10, meaning, stick to cycling, basic leg exercizes.

This time I was trail riding 3 months after and raced the first Platty DH in May...although tentatively. I was told that a brace is not necessary. The new ligament from a hamstring, if grafted well, is stronger than the original ACL. I don't believe in braces, and yeah, I've had plenty. At 3-4 months start building your legs with core exercizes: Squats, lunges, deadlifts. If you build these muscles up, a brace will definitely be pointless.

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sounds just like my doctor! I asked my doc if he could write up a prescription to use a brace (my insurance would cover most of the cost in that case), he told me if the recovery was done right, then my leg would be stronger than before and a brace would be pointless.

pterodactyl said:

I was told that a brace is not necessary. The new ligament from a hamstring, if grafted well, is stronger than the original ACL. I don't believe in braces, and yeah, I've had plenty. At 3-4 months start building your legs with core exercizes: Squats, lunges, deadlifts. If you build these muscles up, a brace will definitely be pointless.

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karpi said:

sounds just like my doctor! I asked my doc if he could write up a prescription to use a brace (my insurance would cover most of the cost in that case), he told me if the recovery was done right, then my leg would be stronger than before and a brace would be pointless.

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I 100% agree. But, the brace is a psychological thing. It might not be necessary after 8 months or so, but it helped me get out there and do stuff and not worry about my knee. However, I was glad to have it between 1 mont and 8 months. After a while it just got to be a pain in the ass and I gave up on it. To this day, it's the most carbon fibre my bike has ever seen!