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bknyc,
I was visiting a friend up in Canada. By the time I flew home, etc the swelling was significant, so they wanted to wait. They also don't want to do my ACL surgery until the MCLs heal up some.
It's good to hear about that instructor. I'm leery of just trying to rehab my partial tear while we have surgery and repair my full tear on the other side. Laying there waiting for the heli evac was an ordeal that I don't want to do again.
Just got a Pod K8 V2 knee brace. This thing is awesome, leg feels rock-solid in it and it doesn't hinder movement. Highly recommend for you fellow gimpy ACL mags.
here's a shitty pic of it from my insta story:
Attachment 273087
And here’s how it fits with the ski boot. About one inch of clearance when standing upright, and it just lightly touches the top of the tongue when flexed forward.
Excellent brace.
Attachment 273970
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Had my surgery yesterday. They managed to sow the ACL back together and add a internal brace to the ligament, rather than reconstruct with the hamstring tendon. Pretty psyched on that, cause it means recovery will be somewhat shorter, although initially i have to take it a bit more easy.
First night was a bitch though, pretty painful and thus sleep deprived. But it's all upwards from here!
That's impressive that they were able to sew it back together, will probably make for a quicker overall recovery. Be careful with it for the next couple months, as I imagine that's a much weaker repair than the patellar graft until it fully bonds.Quote:
Originally Posted by smooth operator
First few nights of sleeping are awful, but it gets better. I'd recommend taking a benadryl before bed, it helped me sleep through the night.
Yeah it seems it is becoming more popular again to repair. At least at the Swiss clinic I am now (www.klinik-gut.ch) they have been doing it for a while and report good results. Indeed the first few weeks you have to be a little more carefull, but my surgeon said at 6 months it is as good as new. Compare that to the hamstring graft that needs more than 12 months to become fully vascularised and attached to the bone!
In the US this guy is also doing a lot of repairs:
https://www.momotion.com/podcast/ep-...gory-difelice/
https://www.google.com/search?q=dife...hrome&ie=UTF-8
Yeah that dude started following me on IG and it seems like he’s been really successful with it. He has patients with full ROM on day 5... and they’re back to skiing by month 4.Quote:
Originally Posted by smooth operator
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Tore my ACL on 2.1.19. Replacement surgery done today. Wish I could have gone in 3 weeks ago. Glad to be moving forward, rather than waiting for surgery. The fun really starts tomorrow!
Quote:
Originally Posted by macon
Really liking the look of this Brace/ not sure if I have permanent damage ..but 5 x my knee has suffered hits that send most mortals to the hospital;)
... worst has been recovering from a , calf tear/ tendon , lower hamstring, felt some mcl and meniscus damage too on that 1Attachment 277637
was a few years now- but a parkin lot ice fall slowed it all up
*blah blah>thx 4 the Brace suggestion!
& maybe Gimp Central should check out sticky on that???? or do they already have section 4 knee braces in gear? >
Aight, 6 weeks since ACL repair (not reconstruction) surgery today, so I ditched the crutches. Walking is fine, ROM is 0-120 degrees. Did a short stationary bike ride today. I've been on the stationary bike before, but only with shortened pedals, as to keep the ROM below 90 degrees. Now for the first time on a normal stat.bike. Knee is still stiff in the mornings but a bit of movement loosens it up. Excited for the next phase of rehab!
Doc cleared me this week for return to any and all activity. Said pain/swelling/etc might be present for up to 3 years, but the graft is rock solid. "Congrats, you've graduated!" were his words.
Naturally, I've been back to skiing since early February (while wearing the above brace), but yeah, feels really good to finally put this behind me.
How long post surgery?
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A somewhat different perspective here. Most people's mileage will vary. I first tore my left ACL in 1981 playing flag football (actually warming up before a game). Surgeon then said ACL is funny. Some people need it more than others. And at that time the surgery was a full flaying opening of the leg. Very invasive. He recommended PT and see how it went. I skied over a hundred days that season. I avoided cutting sports like soccer and basketball for 23 years until the meniscus shredded on a trail run in 2004. I had patellar tendon graft along with 70% menisectomy, chondroplasty (smoothing out what was left), and microfracture. I was no weight bearing for four weeks, ran at 12 weeks, and skied tele on sand dunes with a brace at 15 weeks. Never looked back even though the repair was not as tight as I had hoped. It was still much more stable than it had been before. I stopped wearing the brace after one season, though I still have it in case I come to need it. I went on to run again and completed one ultramarathon in 2010 before right achilles tendonitis began to severely limit my mileage.
Three years ago I hit a tree with the left knee just at the bottom of the kneepad on the medial tibial plateau. My leg didn't break but I had nerve damage for several weeks that was super painful and then it resolved itself. The knee feels looser and my Lachman test has a lot of movement of the tibial plateau. I suspect the ACL is gone or mostly gone again but I have no problem skiing at all. Running is bad only because I have other injuries that crop up as a result of compensating. I really should consider myself finished running but I never say never and I'm a slow learner. There are days when the knee gets inflamed and I have to rest, ice, and take ibuprofen to knock it down. But once that resolves, I am good to go. I ski mostly backcountry and mountaineering. At my age, if I went to see a doc about it, they would tell me I am a candidate for TKR and I am just not ready to go that route just yet, though it probably is in my future.
I can still ski pain free on freeheel gear making every kind of turn I know how to make. I can hike and climb. I walk or ride my bike almost everywhere I go. I do tai chi and yoga, as well as typical knee rehab exercises on a bosu ball. I go to a personal trainer/physical therapist who does body work on my for hip, neck, and shoulder issues. He isn't any more worried about my knee than I am. There isn't much meniscus left in there to damage. And the microfracture surgery was a spectacular success. Most of the time I have zero pain and like I said, skiing is never a problem for it. I must have abnormal physiology to not need an ACL to ski at a high level. Lucky in the genetics perhaps?
Well, shit Was one surgery down on my left leg. Rehab was going great on the right leg ACL reconstruction was booked for June 27, 3 months to he day after my left leg. Three weeks before surgery - Pop! Audible. Broke my patella doing a lunge. It was my front knee and was doing body weight, prescribed that day by my PT. Back to a leg brace. Right knee ACL delayed until at least Sept. Looks like another season on the sideline.They tell me this happens in 1% of Patella Autografts.
Quote:
Originally Posted by geo_skier
Absolutely agree. Get it done now and you will be ready to go next season. Those extra few months of rehab and healing will make a huge difference IMO.
But it sucks you had this time set aside to ski and this happened. Truth is there's never a good time though. Good luck whatever you do.
1st day back on the snow. Just under 9 months. I can tell soft snow is going to be a challenge but the groomers were great.
So I just found out I tore my ACL (sounds like it is totally gone, just got a text right after MRI from Dr friend at hospital) on Feb 13th. I have been skiing with a brace for the past 3 weeks with no issues, just a bit of pain. Worst thing was doing the trails with my kiddos. 2 days touring as well.
Sounds like more and more people are going without surgery? Anyone here done this and kept on skiing? I ski pretty aggressively.
If you are < 50 and the ACL is completely torn, I would absolutely get it done. Just hitting the highlights... it will give out out on you when you least expect it (jumping over a puddle, walking on uneven terrain, etc), you will never trust that knee completely again, and it will always be in your thoughts.Quote:
Originally Posted by el hefe
Just my opinion being a 20something that got the surgery a few months ago.
Chris
I got the MRI and was told by some MD buds I have experienced "the unhappy triad"
10 weeks later whatever is left of the knee has healed & doesn't hurt but I don't trust that knee to ski or do much of anything SO I couldnt see NOT getting surgery
The cutter has read my file, sez I am non-urgent for surgery and a pandemic is a bad time to be needing non urgent surgery
so one buddy said " just get a brace and come skiing " but pull up a surg-med site and there are dozens of braces,
another buddy with bad knees and 4 knee braces sez i'm lucky it doesn't hurt
I think I will wait till the cutter is done
Spoke with surgeon and he said since I am skiing, playing other sports, went wakesurfing the other day without issues to just leave it for a couple of months and re-evaluate. Some people are not ACL dependent. It's not like I would be getting surgery anytime soon right now I don't really have a choice. Just happy I can keep on doing what I like to do.
Hi all,
8 hrs after the spinal block and its wearing off after an (apparently) simple ACL Reconstruction.
Typical story apparently, trying to impress a girl and keep up with a pro. Got back seat in a landing and kept trying to stand back up to save face and back of the ski caught and
...rip.
Op was originally scheduled for 23rd March but that was the day Switzerland went into lockdown so had a month or so walking and skinning in the mean time. It was fine walking or skinning up but any sort of running or down was very unstable and eventually it would catch. Even worse was just standing in soft snow or cleaning the house.
Thanks for the tips in the thread. Definitely good to hear some positivity right now.
(Owww!!)
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Bit of an update. Been 4 months since full tear and am carrying on normally without a ACL. Lots of activity like wakesurfing and skating, ultimate, pickleball (don't laugh its fast and fun) and working out. I am not even wearing a brace anymore and don't notice any pain or discomfort. Has not given out on me for months either. Pretty stoke.d
Is the constant paranoia that you've re-torn the repair normal for everyone it just me..? [emoji15]
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While the paranoia is real, I think the general consensus is that if you actually re-tore it, you'd know it. Many of us have severely strained it by overdoing activities before the ACL is fully healed. If you don't have any new swelling or instability, you're probably okay--just take it real easy for a while.Quote:
Originally Posted by ddraver
Yeah, went to the gym today where my Physio works and tried to make eye contact so they'd ask how I am
She said it's a hamstring tear and to stop being so silly :o
5 months out from fucking it up I can bike pretty well which also seems to pretty good physio and helping the recovery so the knee is doing well
i always wear the knee pads, I ditched the clip less pedals on the mtn bike cuz I don't wana fall off and twist that knee
I was deemed non-urgent by the cutter after he looked at the picts but I got a consult with the cutter in a couple weeks, get surgery some time after that, skiing next season does not seem out of line
When I first got up on crutches and was able to shower, I somehow pulled a bonehead maneuver stepping out over the edge of the tub and landed on the wounded leg and my knee folded back so far I thought it was going to just break. Serious paranoia after that. Or.... I was so paranoid while making the move I just fucked up thinking about one simple step way too much.Quote:
Originally Posted by ddraver
had the video consult today which sounded pretty positive, buddy sez i got the knee of a teenager which i assume means no wear but he wants to see it next month for real and then I get cut on in september right here in small town hospitol ... I'm stoked
ah jesus christ man, I''d sooner post in the cat stoke thread than admit that.Quote:
Originally Posted by el hefe
Pray to ullr he doesn't find out or canada will be the new florida :fmicon:
I tore Meniscus and my 30 yr old ACL graft in May when the kids were remote schooling. My 12 yr old son kept wanting to play hoops every day as spring AAU was cancelled and baseball was on hold. Knew it was a bad idea but started getting into it despite being a god 25 lbs overweight. Made the mistake of starting to jump. Jumped to block a shot and heard and felt a pop, but no pain.
The next day I had medical pain and tried to take a gentle bike ride. That hobbled me and I knew I minimally tore Meniscus.
Got the MRI showing the full extent of the injury in June and had surgery on October 12th. 13 days out I'm walking with one crutch with a fairly decent gait.
The surgery is night and day from what it was 30 yrs ago when I was 21. Had an immobilizer on for 5+ weeks back then with no weight bearing. This one, weight bearing as tolerated from the befinning. The pain level is 10% of what I recall as an uber fit 21 yr old. Really unbelievable difference in techniques.
Dreaded therapy, as my PT is about 5 foot and 100 lbs, and I had bad memories from of a petite PT leaning on my ankle to crank my knee for flexion. This time I had 90 degrees on my own and full extension - no cranking needed!
I know I am out for skiing this season, but there is always a chance for a few April turns. Hoping the healing and strengthening process continues to go well and looking forward to ditching the remaining crutch.
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Dude you obviously haven't played with fit younger athletic guys. Don't knock it. It was a big part of my mcl comeback. So much cutting and quick change of direction. I am dripping sweat after a couple of games.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marshall Tucker
^^^ haha thanks for that. Some cougs in there. Its mainly older 50+ ladies here in Vernon. FYI i am only 40 so not quite the retired dentist demographic.
Update to say i.ve fully graduate by riding this year without my brace!
Thought about doing it last year but didn.t make it happen.
I knew that my resistance was all mental so just went for it on day 1. All good feels great man!
Sticking to the snowboard though... sold my skis and have no bothered to get new ones. Got a new splitboard instead. :)
Haven't heard any others in the class of 2023. I did my right ACL and meniscus 1/8/2023 and had surgery 2/14. They have me in a DonJon brace locked at full extension and non-weight bearing for 4 weeks. Post op pain was more manageable than anticipated, I haven't needed the strong stuff yet just the Tylenol they sent me with. The brace and crutches are the most annoying part now. Started some straight leg lifts and heel slides a few days ago, feels good to start moving it but have a ways to go. First follow up with surgeon in a week and start official PT a few days after that. In the meantime, it's supposed to nuke tomorrow, still hard to come to terms with missing pow days but I know I'll be back.
Congrats on your brace-free season sparkle! Welcome back :cool:
so I guess i'm in this thread as well, i got cut-on sept 29 2020, I did 6 days of hydro morphine and then extra strength IBU cuz I didnt like the Tramadol they gave me, I had no real issues post op
Then I was seeing the PT every month to monitor the recovery, it was covid season so everything was locked down, i was a very good boy did the 9 months of rehab and did not fuck up the repair, so I skied last season and this season. The knee is not quite what it was so I'm only doing blue & green runs but at least I am still skiing, livivng/ sleeping / skiing / mtn biking with no pain, I would say the knee seems pretty stable but is still weak , I got a gym pass and have logged almost 100 days this year, I'm hoping for a more of a recovery by september which will be the 3 yrs from surgery.
I asked the surgeon ( a back country skier with a new ACL) which brace and he said " if I did a good job you won't need one, I used a brace the first year and i haven't since " the knee seemed pretty stable so I skipped the brace
I have it in my mind that I'll be able to ski at full strength by next season, maybe a slower early season start but hoping to feel really good by the middle and end of the season. Reading through this whole thread and your last post gives me pause there though. Sounds like that full recovery has taken longer for some people so I should be cautiously optimistic and keep my expectations in check.Quote:
Originally Posted by XXX-er
XXX-er do you mind if i ask how old you are?
I blew my acl at 45 and was definitely not full strength the first season back. Probably never be fully back but the second year was much better and now it just depends on my conditioning and the current state of my relentless IT band syndrome.
I suck at rehab, so my strength comes from doing my sports, and that isn't ideal. Also, for me, making money requires a working knee so pushing myself out ahead of my rehab. was never an option.
You can do it. The end of the first season on snow you can rip. Younger and less arthritis will make it easier, older and more arthritis make it harder. Just be patient.
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The PT sez it takes 3 yrs to fully recover from ACL surgery and i expect to take ever y bit of those 3 yrs , an orthopeadic surgeon I skied with last week sez ACL is a major surgery and gave me a consult on the chairQuote:
Originally Posted by mst1228
I'm 66, been retired since 49 , doing fine touring and alpine skiing 75+ days a year until I did the ACL at 63, had to take 2 yrs off so its harder to come back and i am running out of time TO come back but i havent given up yet
also did alot of biking & paddling, now I also I got bursitis in the hip on the other leg so I can't sit in a boat ... sold all the kayaks
bought a big honking E-big, Braap !
so I'm assuming I might be starting to age out but i havent given up yet
Thanks! Yeah I'm the same as you, never been one to exercise for exercise sake - i just like doing my activities and some of them happen to be decent workouts... I haven't started PT with a Dr yet, still just doing leg lifts and heel drags at home until my first appointment next week. I'm feeling psyched to work hard at it right now but knowing myself keeping that psych up will be one of my biggest challenges over the next 6+ months.Quote:
Originally Posted by uglymoney