New Here! ACL/MCL reconstruction question

**skiboats** · 09-29-2006, 06:51 PM

Skiing last March I tore both my ACL & MCL left knee. Surgery was April 13th. Hamstring Graft and rebuild of my existing MCL. Rehab has been going well and I expect to be back on the slopes by Thanksgiving or so provided we have snow.

I see the Doctor in two weeks for OK to ski again. I'm no athlete but feel strong, do the exercises and think I will be OK. Already paid for passes and am looking at new skis! Been skiing 35 years, can't wait.

What I am wondering about is that I have a real time with kneeling on the repaired knee. On a hard surface, forget it. Kind of numb. Other than that does pretty well. I walk alot and can jump up and down on it but can't kneel.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Thanks for any input.

**flatlander420** · 09-29-2006, 07:58 PM

Sounds like you had a patella graft?

L7 · 09-29-2006, 10:18 PM

I couldn't really kneel on mine for several years after an ACL recon (semitendonosis graft). One day something kind of tore some of the scar tissue and voila.

**Rain King** · 10-02-2006, 01:00 PM

It gets better after the years go by. I was never really able to get full flexion back which scares me everytime I sit down on my skis. Eventually you'll get used to it.

**Theodore** · 10-02-2006, 01:39 PM

Originally Posted by flatlander420

Sounds like you had a patella graft?

. Why would he be numb from a hammy graft?

I had one of those and it does take time. I recently started Brazilian Jiu Juitsu and have been really impressed with how much flexion I have. I had MAJOR ROM issues, but then again I'm almost 4 years out from my last surgery.

L7 · 10-02-2006, 01:44 PM

Originally Posted by Theodore

. Why would he be numb from a hammy graft?

I had one of those and it does take time. I recently started Brazilian Jiu Juitsu and have been really impressed with how much flexion I have. I had MAJOR ROM issues, but then again I'm almost 4 years out from my last surgery.

I was numb down the medial side of my tibia for probably close to 10 years and that was hamstring. I think it has more to do with fishing in there to wrap the graft around the femoral tuberosity and maybe the attachment then anything else.

**Vinman** · 10-02-2006, 04:09 PM

Originally Posted by Theodore

. Why would he be numb from a hammy graft?

With any surgery there will be superficial nerve ending cut which will cause numbness. The saphrenous nerve runs near the spotwhere they cut for the hammy graft. Which like L7 said will make you numb down the medial side of the lower leg.

As for the kneeling, with a patellar tendon graft, that is a common side effect. Eventually it will get better. I can't put a time frame on it for you. For some it will be quick, others it may take years, others may always have some sensitivity.

**Theodore** · 10-02-2006, 04:49 PM

Ahh. Does anyone have a pic or diagram of the incision for a hammy graft?

**Vinman** · 10-02-2006, 04:54 PM

generally the inscision is just medial to the center line of the knee about 1-2 inches betow the joint line.

Then they take a tendon stripper and shove it up there, clip 1/3 ot the Semiteninosis/gracillus/sartorius tendon and yank it out.

Bound to cause some numbess somewhere along there.

Sorry no pic, but if you google a bit I'm sure you could find one.

**altagirl** · 10-02-2006, 05:23 PM

A little hard to see these days, but the left knee has the hamstring graft scars. I underlined it in red (admire my mad "Paint" skills).

Actually it looks just like the allograft scars on the right knee.

**skiboats** · 10-03-2006, 07:07 AM

Thanks for the input here.

As far as the incisions I have 3 small "X's", 2 on either side of my kneecap and one above it to the outside, and a small hole in my upper thigh, supposedly were the scope pokes out. Then I have a 6in., 15 staple vertical incision from the top of my knee down the inside to the top of my tibia. They had to spread that open to fix my MCL.

The numbness is below my kneecap kind of were my shin starts.

I notice no discomfort with my hamstring.

How does anyone feel about me skiing this year? How was it for you?

Thanks

CD

**nexus** · 10-03-2006, 08:00 AM

my elbow reconstruction was in 1995 and it stiff bugs me EVERY FUCKING DAY!

**Vinman** · 10-03-2006, 05:09 PM

Originally Posted by skiboats

Thanks for the input here.

The numbness is below my kneecap kind of were my shin starts.

How does anyone feel about me skiing this year? How was it for you?

normal spot for numbness.

as for how do I or anyone else here feels about you skiing, that is a question for your doc and yourself. Even though your doc gives you the OK you must be comfortable with your knee and trust it, which IMHO is the toughest part of rehab.

**skiboats** · 10-03-2006, 06:39 PM

Got it. I feel like I will be ready and looking forward.

**Theodore** · 10-03-2006, 10:04 PM

Originally Posted by altagirl

A little hard to see these days, but the left knee has the hamstring graft scars. I underlined it in red (admire my mad "Paint" skills).

Actually it looks just like the allograft scars on the right knee.

Thanks for that. Interesting that they do it so low...