|   ACL Reconstruction/medial meniscus repair | DODO
Jun 18, 2003 4:38 PM | | Hi, I had knee surgery may 13, basically what the subject says. I was wondering, has anyone had this surgery, and how soon did you start riding, as well...as going back to the trails? I am going absolutely crazy, wondering if i'll ever be able to go back to the trails. thanks, |
| I'll wager you don't like your orthopod's advice... | Quill
Jun 18, 2003 7:54 PM | | let me guess... "No mountain biking this year, then we'll see." The meniscus is nothing, but if you damage the acl before it completely heals you're toast. It makes a difference whether the acl was completely separated and needed to be reattached, or was still more or less intact but needed snugging up. If the former be very very careful. Assuming that you are going to cheat, ride with a brace and don't crash (i.e. road or easy trails). Make sure you've got plenty of miles of relatively pain-free riding under your belt before you start doing the kind of rides where you might come back bloody. |
| re: www.aaos.org/ | larryc
Jun 18, 2003 8:41 PM | | may answer your Q./ |
| Dec. 30th... | JsR
Jun 19, 2003 5:04 AM | | surgery - ACL reconstruction using my patella tendon. Also a complete tear of the MCL and partial PCL (injury in Nov.). Started riding in mid April and raced (beginner) end of April, ALWAYS with a functional brace. Moved back to the sport class and doing pretty well (5th, 2nd, 2nd). Biggest problem I had/have is not sure how long I can ride before the swelling starts, sometimes 45min. - sometimes 3hrs.
Watch out for tendonitis, if your patella tendon starts to burn - STOP, ice, ultrasound, etc.
My first month post-op was the worst of my life (pain, no sleep, etc.). My right quad was the size of my bicep. Was/is your as bad?
OOOOUUUUUUCCHH!!!!!
Good Luck------ |
| patellar graft 4/23/01; back on trail 11/10/01 | mikenice
Jun 19, 2003 8:32 AM | | My ACL was completely torn in a skiing mishap in January. I had surgery in April. The first month post-op did suck, alot of discomfort. I was riding a stationary bike in therapy by June, and permitted to road-ride in July (using extreme care w/ clipless pedals). I started commuting to work 10 miles each way for 3 days a week. That, along with the therapy, built my quad back up fast. My first trail ride was in November, less than 6 months after surgery. My surgeon and therapist figured on a 6-8 month recovery period, and it seems they were correct. I lived in Pittsburgh, PA at the time, and it was a mild winter that year, so I was able to ride well into December. Just do your exercises and listen to your surgeon and therapist, and you'll be fine. Good Luck! |
| 12-18months? What the ......? | ZXCASFDE
Jun 19, 2003 10:08 AM | | I tore my ACL in early April playing Soccer. I have put off having the surgery till July 30th as I have a Dive trip the first part of July and wanted to have a working (well at least some motion) knee to use under the water.
The surgeon I picked out turns out to work on some famous local athletes and college football and basketball players. There is one photo of Julie Furtado back in her day thanking the DR for probably her knee I'm guessing. It was hard to tell if all of the athletes we thanking him for this and that or if it was all the Dr.'s in the practice throwing up pictures of who they have worked on. But regardless it was one more thing that reassured me that when I get my surgery done it is by a Surgeon that knows sports injuries and fixes a lot of knees!
What he told me is that I should get a golf membership somewhere as I will be able to golf a lot this summer (I hurt my left knee btw). He said I could do anything I want (depending on pain tolerance) except run or anything that I have to plant my foot and pivot at my knee (Duh!) He said cycling was fine but first the stationary trainer and then later the road if my knee started felling better.. Mt Biking he did not recommend cause of the possibility of trying to get out of the clipless pedals in a fall might cause more damage. I tried to get his opinion on what he thought of me going to Mexico and diving for a week with my knee. He said he wasn't going to tell me what I could or could not do on my vacation but that the worst thing that could happen is my knee locks up and I come home early. I think he recommended staying on the beach and drinking margaritas if the pain isn't killing me first, before jumping on the plane home.
Ok so this is what he said my future after knee surgery would be.First off I would not be able to go back to playing soccer till about 5-6 months (He really was leaning more to the 6+ months). He also said the knee would be fully healed in about a year to 18 months. However, I should be able to return to full time activities (using my knee brace) by 6 months. His recommendation to me was to go to rehab 2 3 times and that is it. He realizes that I hate not being able to run and Mt. Bike and he can tell I have the motivation to learn the PT exercises and do them religiously for the recovery process. He also knows it cost a lot if you have to co-pay every time you go to PT. I think he wants me to save my money for that golf membership..hmm?? Anyways all the money I was saving for a new Mt. Bike can be used for next years latest and greatest as I probably will not get to see the dirt trails this summer and will be doing a lot of pavement spinning into early 2004.
The one thing I have been told by all of my friends who have had this surgery is that you want to go in strong so your recovery is shorter. So regardless of your pre-op condition I am thinking rehab will be tough but if you're in shape (before op) your body will recover faster from the PT exercises. If your taking longer to recover from your workout then yes it probably will take you a year to get back to full activities. As it will take you longer to build on your pervious excersizes.
My $0.02 |
| Work hard on your PT, wear a good brace until healed... | Pete.
Jun 19, 2003 10:53 AM | | ...and consider that many doctors are very conservative with their prognosis, for a number of reasons.
I severed my ACL/PCL/MCL/LCL and tore the medial and lateral meniscus (menisci?) one March. In a hip to toe cast for 9 weeks, then a brace, lots of PT, etc. etc.
I rode in August and skied on Halloween. I was 20, which made a difference. |
| Work hard on your PT, wear a good brace until healed... | dodo
Jun 20, 2003 5:02 PM | | I guess the verdicts in....:(
no mt for 6 months. Whats even cruel, i've upgraded my forks, and now i have to wait half a year to see how it rides. Thanks alot everyone, it gives me hope though, at least road biking, i'm just glad all of you were able to get back to the trails, especially hearing some of your guys surgeries. Well, keep riding, and hopefully i'll be riding next to you guys next in december :)
dodo |
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