ACL reconstruction in older people
Hello,
First of all, this is my first post,and thanks for this forum. I'm trying to learn as much as possible as I'm sure you all did..
I'm gonna be 46. tore my acl almost 7 months ago. I just had surgery April 20,acl was not repaired..It never showed up on mri, my dr felt possible meniscus tear was reason for my knee giving out, since my knee is tight with flexion tests.. after surgery he told me my meniscus was fine, but acl was at least 95% torn.
As of today I do have 100% rom on that knee. I swim and am walking 3 miles a day. Returning to dr, I told him I wanted reconstruction surgery. he wants me to build up surrounding muscles and is worried that my age will lead to the knee freezing up. I injured it during a simple exercise during my self defense class, and really want to return to that and other strenuous activities for the rest of my life.. I'm getting a second opinion in 2 weeks and would like to schedule the surgery if I get it for possible 4 months due to financial reasons..
I want all your opinions because I don't want to feel like I can't be active person anymore just because I'm over 40. I was told that most reconstructions are for ppl under 30.
Any advice would be appreciated.. I look forward to reading responses, by for now, I have to leave for work!!
46 and you consider yourself an older person? Good grief.
See full story in [ame="http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=189676"]this thread[/ame].
I am an "active outdoor person" but not an athlete by any stretch of the imagination. Short version, tore my ACL at 46. Did rehab, was skiing 2 months later, got a Donjoy brace, continued skiing (alpine, tele, XC), snowshoeing, paddling, portaging, hiking, throwing frisbee, etc. etc. OK, I gave up snowboarding and learned to be careful (most of the time). This year, at 52, I got it fixed. No one suggested I was too old, everyone suggested, "ït's about time."
Now, at the advanced, geriatric age of 52, my surgeon tells me that I "am healing ahead of schedule." And that is without Dr. Mark's accelerated program, just my own motivated rehab and the work of a skilled surgeon.
46 year old nyc firefighter
all i can say is thank goodness for my allograft knee reconstruction, i am back to work and doing the insanity workout video with no problems. i had my ALLOGRAFT on august 18th 2009 and now 8 months later i almost as good as new. this is because of proper prehab and determined rehab. me old i can run circles around half the 30 year olds. old shmold its all a state of mind. just my 2 cents:FIREdevil
Another acl rupture! 47 years old
DrMark I sent Yvonne an email and asked for some feedback. I'm in philly and am trying to find a good surgeon but really would strongly consider a trip to houston if my insurance covers the surgery. I play hockey on ice and on foot and ruptured my left acl on 3/12. I am getting my leg in good shape, riding a bike about 30 minutes a day, strength training as much as it will tolerate. I'm definately considering doing autograft patellar... 2 Questions here...Does the technique of the surgeon have a strong effect on the likelyhood of chronic patellar pain afterwards or is it more unexplainable? And second, After surgery what holds everything in place while the patellar bones grow togetherin thier new home? I think my doc that I am considering puts patients in a brace fully extended for as long as 2 weeks. That scares me as I worry about the atrophy for that long of a timeframe...I am going to see him on Monday and plan to ask a lot of questions about the rehab. Again, isn't there worries in the first few weeks that you should not move around too much? Thanks for posting here! Maybe I'll be on a plane soon...
ACL reconstructive surgery 20 years after injury?
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I am wondering if there are others in my situation with an ACL injury from decades ago and how they proceeded -
I tore my ACL 22 years ago, when I was 18. I adapted to the pain for the next 6 months with physiotherapy but did not undergo any surgeries (personal situation). Now, with two kids, I find myself having intermittent knee pain from torn meniscus and instability from the torn ACL. MRI confirmed both. Ortho was okay with either surgery or not, and left it up to me. I would like to maintain an active lifestyle and delay any arthritis. Has anyone with an ACL injury from young age gotten it reconstructed decades later? What was the recovery like? Are there any special caveats about such a surgery? Is it too late to avert early arthritis? Will the surgery now help delay it?
Thanks so much for all your help! Enjoy the day!