[Craw]

So after tearing my ACL around 3 years ago, I'm finally going through the process of having my knee operated on. I'm pretty sure, my knee is worse off now than it was when I first injured it. In fact I blew it out pretty bad last Friday.

Not sure when I'm going to have the procedure done, but hopefully it will be sooner rather than later.

Those of you that have had the surgery done, what was your recovery like?

How did you keep yourself in shape during the recovery?

How long was it until you pretty mobile and active?

How's your knee now?

 

[CChris]

Funny, I waited about 3 years before I had mine done too. Used a brace in the meantime. A good one. Gave up snowboarding though. Tried it with a brace and it just wasn't the same...

I finally got it done nearly a year ago. They used the hamstring tendon to replace the missing ACL. In all honesty, prepare for some pain. 2-3 weeks following the surgery were pretty rough for me. On crutches for a week or so, then used a cane for a couple more weeks. Then I moved on to the stylish gangsta limp sans cane.

My doc had me on physio a week after the surgery. I`m sure it was the right thing to do, but MAN! the pain....the pain....

Mostly a warmup stretch (light, slight pain);
a little mobilization/massage (not bad.... not bad.... ow. ow! OW!!!);
then electrical stim (3-2-1- uuugghhhghghghg!!!! mmmmmmuuuuuthhhhaaaa f$%$##$^^cker!!!!!!! ahhhhhhhhhhh....... 30 seconds to breathe - repeat);
then ultrasound (pleasant);
Then the ice. That damnable ice!

Went through that process about 3 times a week for about a month, then down to once or twice a week for another month or so. Once I could walk, things weren't so bad.

How did I stay in shape? Welll....I didn't really. Once I could bend my knee enough, I rode my stationary bike. Not often enough though...

I was probably mobile enough for mild activity 3 months later.

I'm at about 10 months now and the knee feels good. Still a little stiff at full bend, but has been improving much faster now that I"m back rock climbing (about 6 months after the surgery, I'm in the market for a cheap DH, I know, there's no such thing...) Strength isn't bad considering I sit behind a desk all day.

Do all your PT. It helps a lot. Good luck.

Oh yeah, stay concious and watch your surgery if given the choice. What a show!!!!!

 

[Craw]

Funny, I waited about 3 years before I had mine done too. Used a brace in the meantime. A good one. Gave up snowboarding though. Tried it with a brace and it just wasn't the same...

I finally got it done nearly a year ago. They used the hamstring tendon to replace the missing ACL. In all honesty, prepare for some pain. 2-3 weeks following the surgery were pretty rough for me. On crutches for a week or so, then used a cane for a couple more weeks. Then I moved on to the stylish gangsta limp sans cane.

My doc had me on physio a week after the surgery. I`m sure it was the right thing to do, but MAN! the pain....the pain....

Mostly a warmup stretch (light, slight pain);
a little mobilization/massage (not bad.... not bad.... ow. ow! OW!!!);
then electrical stim (3-2-1- uuugghhhghghghg!!!! mmmmmmuuuuuthhhhaaaa f$%$##$^^cker!!!!!!! ahhhhhhhhhhh....... 30 seconds to breathe - repeat);
then ultrasound (pleasant);
Then the ice. That damnable ice!

Went through that process about 3 times a week for about a month, then down to once or twice a week for another month or so. Once I could walk, things weren't so bad.

How did I stay in shape? Welll....I didn't really. Once I could bend my knee enough, I rode my stationary bike. Not often enough though...

I was probably mobile enough for mild activity 3 months later.

I'm at about 10 months now and the knee feels good. Still a little stiff at full bend, but has been improving much faster now that I"m back rock climbing (about 6 months after the surgery, I'm in the market for a cheap DH, I know, there's no such thing...) Strength isn't bad considering I sit behind a desk all day.

Do all your PT. It helps a lot. Good luck.

Oh yeah, stay concious and watch your surgery if given the choice. What a show!!!!!

Hahaha, that made me laugh. I don't know if i'll still be laughing when I go through that recovery experience.

you mentioned that you're back climbing, were you able to climb a bit a couple months after the surgery? Or did you just start again, after the 10 months? I ask because I boulder a lot, and the quicker I can get back to bouldering after the surgery, the better .

How did you tear your ACL? I tore mine attempting to click my heels twice in mid-air. What really chaps my hide, is that I could do it, but unfortunatley when I tried to prove it to some friends, my knee decided to explode. Now no one thinks the elusive double heel click can be done. Dammit.

 

[CChris]

Heh heh heh, much like the ol` hip hop 'jump through the hand-foot loop' trick....that sucks. I'm sure you'll pull it off. YA JUST GOTTA WANT IT!!!

I started to climb again around March. That would make it 5-6 months after the surgery. But I think I'm a bad example cause I started a new job in that time and was generally pretty lazy outside of work. Made my knee stiffen up a lot. Made me chicken to climb.... The gym wasn`t all that attractive anyway.

I guess I was lucky as far as the 'how' goes. I came up short on a jump on my snowboard. I went really high and really far, but the jump was even bigger than I thought. Almost made it, but did the equivalent of `casing` the landing. SLAP! The crest of the landing ramp was between my feet when I hit the ground so my rear leg bent completely, but my right butt cheek hit my left binding highback. Sort of a full bend twist if you can visualise it.

Also tore the MCL in the same knee and the LCL on the other knee. They both healed.

Had some nasty bruising on the soles of my feet. Couldn`t stand on either foot for a couple days.

Stupid snow parks....I'm done with em.

 

[jet]

I blew out my left knee about 4 yrs ago. I let it rest for about a week and then kept riding. I didn't even go to a doctor for three months. i knew what happened, so I figured what the heck. I had surgery in December (blew it in June). The Doc said the fact that I kept riding actually helped keep the other muscles strong. He also said it wasn't the best idea.
I had a really samll apartment back then and I could prop myself on the walls and I was walking around on it that afternoon. hurt like hell, but I could do it. I had some really simple exercises to do starting the next day. Roll up a towel and put it under the knee and try to raise my foot. This will make you cry, but do it. I walked into therapy 2 weeks later and the PT's jaw hit the floor. He said that he had worked with some Falcons players and they cried like babies for months (then again they are Falcons).
i kept myself off the bike for about six weeks, then I started walking my trails. The only lingering effect that I have is numbness on the front of my knee.

BTW- I had the hamstring thing too.

 

[MMike]

The only thing I can add is that I worked with two guys that both had the patella prodecure done, and they are still limping around two years after their surgery.

And my brother is a girlie-man cry baby....

 

[bpatterson6]

So you want to know about ACL sugery eh??
Well here goes...I'm kind of the Knee Sugery Guru.
Last year I tore my ACL and my Miniscus Racing DH at Crested Butte.
It was my First MSC Race of the year that I was able to attend.
After that, I was pretty much done for the summer. Sucked Badly.
I sat all winter just waiting for everything to open again. Like an Addict
on a Jones for Drugs...LOL
anyhow, I have had 3 surgeries on my Right knee.
oh yeah and just for good measure, all damage to the knee was due to wrecking on a Bike. Go big or go home...Right?

1. 1985 - First Surgery Tore ACL, MCL, Tendens, Cartiledge, Miniscus and everything Else you can think of. Plus Cracked Knee Cap and 2 Broken bones in Lower Leg - Complete Reconstruction - 2 years Recovery - 6 Months in a wheel chair, and 1 year of PT everyday. 6 weeks after surgery Was riding bike literally with 1 leg. Right leg was in brace 24-7 and was not able to move it.

2. 1995 - Second Surgery - Tore Miniscus - Scoped and 4 Days on Cruches and was riding 2 weeks later at full capacity literally no PT Ever Done.

3. 2003 - Third Surgery - Tore ACL & Miniscus - Graft from Patellar Tendon and Reconstruct ACL and Trim Miniscus - 4 Days Laid up in Bed, 7 days on Cruches, 2 weeks later started PT and Limited Riding 6 Weeks Later.
Eased back in to normal riding. Gym Work outs 2 times a week and 30-45 Minutes in the hot tub straightening the knee to get it to full Flexion both Straight and bent at full Flex. Hard Core Knee Flexion Exercises Right After Surgery to get the knee straight.
I now ride with a brace that my insurance paid for. 1000.00 for the brace.

I'm kind of little bit older but I think I covered it. ACL Surgery is of course easier the younger a person is. I was 32. So It took me a few months longer in recovery. However, I know kids who Tore their ACL at age 17 - 21 and their recovery was a quarter to half of mine. So age is definately a factor, Plus I'm sure it didnt help that I have had several previous surgeries on the knee.
Good Luck.

-Billy

 

[Brian HCM#1]

The only thing I can add is that I worked with two guys that both had the patella prodecure done, and they are still limping around two years after their surgery.

And my brother is a girlie-man cry baby....

The pain and time healing takes longer with the patella surgery, I had that done 4 years ago and it took up until last year where I was finaly able to fully crouch down. However I've been told its much more durable than the hamstring. I did blow out my ACL & meniscus playing ball 5 years ago, and rode until a week before surgery. No limping, no pain however I do not push myself any longer at most sporting activities.