ACL Surgery. How fast did you recover? How much pain? Etc...

**penguin Lancer** · 01-02-2007, 09:03 PM

How long did it take you to be able to walk without the aid of crutches? What kind of surgery did you have?(Hamstring or patella) How bad is the pain post surgery? Having ACL reconstruction surgery soon and I'm kinda scared. I am an athlete/weight lifter who would like to be able to lift again as soon as possible. Thank you for the help.

**penguin Lancer** · 01-02-2007, 09:23 PM

Also, how can you tell if you hurt your meniscus. I recently slipped on black ice and heard another "pop" in my knee. Is there any sort of "self test" I can do like pushing someplace to see if I am ok?

**flatlander420** · 01-02-2007, 11:14 PM

Originally Posted by penguin Lancer

How long did it take you to be able to walk without the aid of crutches? What kind of surgery did you have?(Hamstring or patella) How bad is the pain post surgery? Having ACL reconstruction surgery soon and I'm kinda scared. I am an athlete/weight lifter who would like to be able to lift again as soon as possible. Thank you for the help.

Uh....... search function? http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=59333

**altagirl** · 01-03-2007, 08:38 AM

Recovery varies a great deal - not only can it be different between two people with identical procedures, but there are different types of grafts, different complications (meniscus or MCL, etc.), etc.

And a meniscus injury can be really hard to diagnose. Sometimes they show up on an MRI, sometimes they don't see it until they're doing the surgery. Symptoms are locking, catching and pain in your knee, but you might also have those symptoms from the ACL injury. And you can have a meniscus tear without any symptoms.

You'll have to ask your doctor what his protocol is for when you can start lifting again, but I'm sure he'll tell you it'll depend on what he finds when he does the surgery (like if he has to do a meniscus repair or not).

**Vinman** · 01-03-2007, 10:30 AM

Typically most docs have people off crutches after 1-3 weeks depending on what their surgery entailed. If you had a meniscus repair that will take longer to get off crutches.

The pain will typically be bad for just the first 1-2 weeks for most people. After that it tends decrease. Then after it is gone your knee may be achy for sometime, especially after a rehab session. One of the most important things to do is keep on top of the swelling by using ice very regularly and take your pain meds if you need them. It doesn't help to be a tough guy and not take them.

As for the slip and fall, call your doc and tell him about the pop during the fall. He may want to re-check your knee.

**GoNads** · 01-05-2007, 12:20 AM

Feb 2001
R Plika debridement - Walking by day 2, no problems whatsoever.

Sept 2003
R ACL reconstruct (had a medial femoral condial divot aswell) - Crutches for 8 weeks, skiing at 10 months. Knee brace for full year after.

March 2006
L Acl reconstruct, mcl 3rd degree - Walking day 2, 120 degrees flexion and full extension by 24hours, biking day 3, 140 degrees flexion by 6 days...

AND THEN...

It was infected with Staphylococcus Epidermis from frostbite resulting from an ice pack they forgot in PAR for an hour while I was still out. The bacteria tracked up through the burn blister.

April 2006
x2 arthroscopic surgeries to flush the infection, 2 weeks in hospital and 8 weeks of IV x3 daily vancomycin infusions at home, I was walking at 4 weeks out of hospital, but didn't really leave bed/house for the next 2 months.

Skiing/training in Chile by August, lots of pain, my muscles had wasted to almost nothing. Inability to control isocentric contractions, and wearing brace.

Sept 2006
Arthroscopic surgery to clean up miniscal tear and synoveum overgrowth due to agitation and overuse from skiing and training too hard, and irritation from residual infection.

Went to Push premier at the Roundhouse in Whistler 1h 15m after getting out of hospital, 2 hours after getting out of the OR, only to realize that blood was running down my leg and it wasn't infact spilt beer from someone else.

Off crutches by the next morning.

Dec 2006
Arthroscopic surgery to clean up adema in femur, fracture in lateral femoral condile, and torn miniscus and laterla condile articular surface. 3cm grade 4 divot or Crator as my surgeron refers to the fractured surface in the end of my femur, yay! Crutches for 3 days, biking by day 3, was in gym doing upper the day after surgery, just got into the squat rack today at 2 weeks post op. Skiing by day 7 without brace. Still experiencing lots of pain from the adema in the marrow, I'm on arthrotec 75m x2 daily for swelling, but I've got full flex, and mobility since there was no damage to the structural integrity of the knee.

There's all... 7 of them I think. Apparently I'll have total knee replacements by 35-40.

**flatlander420** · 01-05-2007, 01:13 PM

^^^^^^

Thats gnarly dude!

**Colorado_Freeskier** · 01-05-2007, 03:58 PM

I was back skiing a bit less than 6 months after surgery (patella tendon). Recovery depends on you. I was on the excerise bike 6 days a week before surgery...the stronger you are going in the quicker you'll recover. After surgery, the pain wasn't too bad hanging out around my place. Once you start PT and try to get full range of motion back, you will experience daily pain as you stretch. Getting full ROM back at the point is very important. Once I got the okay to hit the weights, I actually came back stronger than ever. Of course I was working out (weights and bike) a lot. I've found that majority of the horror stories are folks who were not in shape before surgery and then didn't take their PT & recovery seriously.

**GoNads** · 01-05-2007, 08:23 PM

Both acl's were hamstring grafts, and I was fairly strong comming into the last few, so I was able to walk within like 2-5 days, and ski within 4 months of the ACLs, and 2 weeks for the cartilage/bone damage scopings. My last surgery was december 21st, I was walking by the 23rd, biking that same day, and skiing dec 27th. A good physiotherapist/trainer is key, so that they can help with range, mobility and give you some good strengthening excercises.

I've heard bad things about patellar tendon grafts, as they sometimes lead to patellar femoral syndrome. I've had good luck so far with two hamstring grafts, it just took a while to get that end range for ham curls.

**uncle crud** · 01-09-2007, 03:17 PM

I agree with AltaGirl.

I would also add that it's pretty strange that you'd let someone cut into your knee without that surgeon giving you the information you're now seeking from people who most likely aren't even MDs let alone orthopaedic surgery specialists let alone sports related knee docs.

Didn't your Dr give you the answers to the questions you're asking us?

I've had 4 knee surgeries and every single time I've received detailed information related to my recovery and post-op activity on the subjects you're asking us about.

If your Dr did give you this information and you trusted him enough to cut into your knee, why aren't you trusting him now?

**penguin Lancer** · 01-10-2007, 09:46 PM

My Dr. Also performed on my dad when he needed surgery for his elbow and shoulder, and he has no problems with it so i trust him. Turns out the only options I have are a Patella graft or an Allograft(From a donor, did I use the right word?). My doc said he'd discuss all this to me a week before surgery, which is why I'm asking here.

**flatlander420** · 01-11-2007, 01:25 AM

One week doesn't give you much time to think (research) about it! My surgeon said I could have either of the three. She does mostly hamstring grafts, but she would have done patella though she didn't sound like she wanted to. I choose not to do an allograft because she said 1 in 5000 chance of complications. I didn't want to be the "1". So I went with hamstring. I am 4 1/2 months out and my knee feels and looks normal. I am working on muscle strength still, PT twice a week which is actually really fun! Good luck dude!

**SummerSux** · 01-17-2007, 08:45 AM

I had Hamstring Graft in 2001 after tearing my R ACL playing pickup basketball in College. Had surgery in January and tried skiing the following december to no avail. Only logged 2 miserable days that year. But 18 months later I was a good as ever. IMO it takes about 18 months to truly be back to normal, tohugh you can start back up in about 6 months post-op.
Good luck and get some good pain meds after surgery.....vicodin didnt covger it for me.

**fumando** · 01-21-2007, 11:33 AM

I've had reconstruction on my right knee twice and repair on the left once. The left was a meniscus only repair, tore it playing futbol and it felt weak and wanted to give on the inside of the knee. The repair of my meniscus lead to 6 months recovery, skiing in a year and the surgery was arthroscopic (no incisions, just holes). The right knee was much worse. Hit a tree skiing and hyperextended. ACL, PCL, lateral (outside) meniscus, iliotibial band, compression fracture of femur and tibia. It was repaired with patellar tendon and worked great for 8 years. Rehab was the same as the meniscus repair and I skied in 8 months (with the blessing of the doc). Tore the ACL and the medial meniscus and had them repaired. ACL was cadaver ACL and I was on crutches for 5 days. Started rehab immediately. Played futbol after 6 months (with permission and a kick ass brace) and skied after 8. My father in law is an orthopedic surgeon and I've spent a lot of time recovering. In my opinion, your best bet is to get into and stay in shape as best you can. If you work on your hamstrings and quads, you'll build the strength you need to protect your knee. I'd have to say, since the cadaver came from elsewhere, the recovery was so much faster, a lot less pain and supposedly just as strong, if not stronger than the patellar tendon graft. Surgery sucks anyway you look at it, good luck. Get a good physical therapist and stick to it. My motivation was looking forward to deep pow.

You got it, it is an allograft

**drmark** · 01-21-2007, 03:51 PM

Older sedate extreme athletes can have an allograft. (sedate, what that?) The down side is that the graft takes one year to revascularize and become strong. Its fine to have that if you can sit out one year.

Almost no of the MXers and BMXers that I care for can sit out that long. Because of that for the past 5 years we have been using a guys own patella tendon graft form the opposite knee.

There is almost no pain from the donor side. The recepient side is just like an allograft, but the living graft stays strong. By three months, guys can go back to everything that they ever wanted to do, although they continue to get stronger for the rest of the first year.

drmark
www.sandersclinic.net

**fumando** · 01-21-2007, 06:54 PM

"Almost no of the MXers and BMXers that I care for can sit out that long. Because of that for the past 5 years we have been using a guys own patella tendon graft form the opposite knee"

Only problem is you have two legs to recover...

**drmark** · 01-21-2007, 07:41 PM

Yes, both legs need to go to the gym. But, you always took both legs to the gym anyway.

Neither leg ever hurts enough for guys to even need crutches.

Here is something off our website. Someone will say it is trick photograhy
Note the guys are still in the hospital.

http://sandersclinic.net/postsurgery/index.html

drmark
www.sandersclinic.net

**amyzilla** · 01-21-2007, 09:58 PM

Originally Posted by drmark

Here is something off our website. Someone will say it is trick photograhy

I believe it - I was walking short distances without crutches the day after having an ACL reconstruction (allograft).

I had an allograft done because my surgeon said I didn't have enough harvestable tissue in my damaged knee to use for a graft. He didn't want to cut into my other knee because my body makes lots of scar tissue, so then we'd run the risk of losing range of motion in that knee. My advice for the author of this thread: every case is different - talk to your surgeon about what's best for you. And don't be afraid to get a second or third opinion.

**drmark** · 01-21-2007, 10:26 PM

Provided a guy is allowed to move his or her knee immediately and isn't held back by the doc, its darn near impossible to lose any motion resultant from a patella graft harvest. In over 500 cases, I have never had a stiff graft knee.

**amyzilla** · 01-22-2007, 11:21 AM

That may be the case, but after having seven surgeries on the right leg/ankle/knee, I was okay with not having the left knee opened up.

**CBtoNYC** · 08-04-2007, 09:04 PM

Originally Posted by drmark

Older sedate extreme athletes can have an allograft. (sedate, what that?) The down side is that the graft takes one year to revascularize and become strong. Its fine to have that if you can sit out one year.

Are you saying that you shouldn't ski until a year has passed following an ACL allograft? Would that endanger the graft?

**drmark** · 08-05-2007, 08:07 AM

Eighteen monthis would be better, but not less than one year.
An incredibly uncertain and complex biolgical process has to take place. During this time the graft is extremely vulnerable to injury.

**mf1336** · 05-07-2016, 07:01 AM

I am at 9 months at the moment, running, side moves, biking, everything general is totally fine. But I still have a lot of pain right on the top of the knee during squats, or jumping so that keeps me limited to some of the more aggressive sports I want to return too. Its frustrating but not much you can do other then stick to the program