Returning to skiing after two stage bilateral ACL recons

**smelly** · 09-23-2008, 03:26 PM

Hi

I tore both my left and right ACL skiing in the winter of '06. I managed to ski last season but for only 30 days, with braces, and definitely only 80% performance of what I did have pre injury.

This summer I got my right knee reconstructed in May'08 and my left knee reconstructed in July '08. Both with hamstring autografts.

I have recovered well and am amazed at how different my knees now feel.

I cannot wait for the upcoming season, although my OS says I cannot ski until December '08.

I was just wondering how people felt returning to the slopes. Is there pain when you first try skiing again?

What's is the best way to go about it?
1 hour at a time and then a gradual build up to a full day?

Thanks

**Theodore** · 09-23-2008, 04:33 PM

Baby steps! Bumping it back a year sounds a bit cautious, but not that bad of an idea IMO.

As for how I felt on my first run, a bit cautious. Braces have been shown to not actually prevent injury that much, but they do provide peace of mind. Stay on track for rehab/PT, let him know you wanna ski and see what he says.

How'd you do the twofer?

**Vinman** · 09-23-2008, 04:58 PM

there will likely be no pain but all of your hard work in rehab doesn't compare to the mental hurdles you'll face getting back out there. My suggestion would be to get into a ski conditioning class (per the OK of your OS) to continue to build your strenght/balance and endurace as well as your confidence.

**ikkin** · 09-23-2008, 07:24 PM

my knee felt great on easy groomers, no pain at all, it was the confidence that was lacking. you'll be fine if you've kept up with your rehab. take it slow and easy. listen to your knee and to your common sense. good luck!

**Woodlandclown** · 09-24-2008, 09:02 AM

I am just 6 months out from hamstring autograft. I have been rehabbing all summer, mainly biking. just beginning to really step it up again in the next two months before i try skiing.

I personally feel like i will have to take it easy at first. Hard to tell until you try it. I feel like I wont be able to ski two days in a row because of pain. I am still dealing with one overly developed quad muscle and one shrunken quad. Hopefully in the next two months i can get them more equal and maybe the patella pain will go away.

I am planning starting out slow--easy groomers and gradually working my way up. Luckily for me on the east coast, easy groomers is all i have to start out with anyway. I may skip opening day this year (at least if we have another ice storm the night before like last year), as it was last year opening day that i slipped on a patch of frozen stuff and tore my acl. that ice scares me now--I will probably pick and choose the days on am on the hill. I may spend more time in the woods this year.

On a positive note, just made the transition into the gym (just gettign too cold for biking) and I ran on the treadmill for the first time since injury and surgery and it actually felt pretty good.

**smelly** · 09-24-2008, 01:38 PM

Thanks for all the replies, I appreciate it.

I do feel I have a long way to go, to get my fitness and body condition back to what it used to be.

My legs do feel weak and I currently cannot imagine spending a whole day hitting it hard on the slopes.
I have been back at the gym since week 4 after the second surgery and am only just now starting to feel some fitness return. It going to be a long job, but worth it in the end.

I live with in 1 hours drive of a few resorts, so thankfully if I do an hour and decide that's enough, I can head home.

Hmmm I can imagine confidence being an issue. I am hoping the new found stability, with my knees will give me more confidence. But I definitely hear you, after the pain/surgery there will always be that "thought" in the back of my mind.

My surgeon was quiet adamant that I should "take it easy" for a least a year, as it is the most increased risk period of reinjury.

So I guess the best is to be patient and listen to my body/knees.