New ACL 4 days ago!

[TahoeAk1]

First off I had a complete tear of my R ACL in late January just prior to my season in Alaska. Missing the remaining portion of the season was not an option and I knew I was taking a chance at additional injury...I did end up tearing my miniscus in April but did finish my season. Knowing that sumer is a great time to heal and it also gave me ampell time to train and get that much stronger which is crucial prior to surgury. I just received my new ACL graph on Friday (cadavor pattella tendon allo graph with bone on both ends). I feel very lucky... So far I have had zero pain and very minimal swelling. I had a small grenade type bag on my leg that was removed yesterday at post op. Has anyone had a drain just after surgury? It is my belief that this has saved me on the pain. After knowing to many people to go through this and most of them did not have the drain until the post op appoinment again I feel lucky. I Was able to get 90 degrees ROM and then sme in my first PT session and am feeling very good. PT has me not doing anymore than 90 degrees for 2 weeks. I did have a small tear on the back latteral part of the miniscus (excuse my spelling) and am non weight bearing for 2 weeks. Given the location of the miniscus, again I am lucky to not have to be weightless for 6 weeks or so plus I was told I can go 25% weight bearing for two weeks (basically I can put my foot on the ground for balance when I take a leak.....and will not push it. I have been reading this TGR blog for a long time. This is a skiers site correct? I have a problem with the DR. from texas (DRMark I think) thats on hear always putting everyone and there graph ideas down. If he does so many ACL repairs how does he have any time to respond to this blog daily and on most everyones blog thats written? I do think he has some good ideas, but thats all they are. You can research a million sites out there and find something about every type of graph possible....Allo, auto, cadavor, the new "double bundle" the old gortex....you name it. Bottom line you have to go with what you Dr is good at. The Steadman clinic in Vail, Tahoe Frature Clinic in SLT, those DR's are the very best in the business for skiers...thats just my opinion. They deal with skiers.....and boarders daily....from reconstruction to PT therapy. My Dr. is Terry Orr, Tahoe Fracture clinic....oh yeah...the US ski team Dr as well as the Dr who along with Steadman in Vail is leading the way for technology. They are not DR's in Texas dealing with joe city slicker who just fell off his office chair and has zero concept on skiers and athletes...proffessional or not. Most of us on this blog are skiers and riders and have a pretty high level of fitness. I guess what I am trying to say..no offense mr DR in texas...but do you even ski? Your hamstring idea is obsurd....Tahoe fracture states that it is a good graph however there are better ones.....I do realize I take a chance on rejection for having a cadavor, and could of gone with my own graph Pattella or hamstring but....the hamstring is the hardest muscle in the body to regenerate and build and why create an injury to fix one? it makes zero sense....the new graphs that have bone on both ends have you doing aggressive therapy in 4 weeks. You are still 4-6 months before you are normal...(sort of) but again with the idea of hacking at your flesh only gives you the option for pain later on and arthritis, etc.....I am taking my chances on the graph.. Again I cannot recommened enough the Tahoe Fracture Clinic, and DR. Orr. I received my ROM machine at post op and that is keeping my knee oiled....This is just my opinion, no offense MR DR in texas, but you need to quite putting everyone down and stick with your advice as most of it is all right...but again if you really do so many ACL surguries...how the hell do you have so much time to respond to everyones blog......I spoke to DR ORR and I said that he should get on here and look at this site as it is very good and does have a lot of very good advice, opinions, etc.....He said....yeah right...like I have time for that....I do know that the Knee Guru Site is pretty good and Steadman and Tahoe Fracture post in the Sports Med journal. You can find them there along with many others..enough said.....Oh yeah...lastly..when you walk into Tahoe Fracture every poster signed on the wall is someone that everyone on this web site looks up to....high action sport athletes, US team members, high profile celebs, low end knuckle draggers, to the guy who is like most of us here...the guy who eats rammon noodles every day and rides or 200 days.....again enough said.....Listen to your DR and go with what he likes to do and is comfortable with....also do your research...I would again (given my graph does take) go with the cadavor Pattela tendon allo graph with bone on both ends. Each one you do you take a chance with something...being a skier I dont want the side effects from butchering my own hamstring or pattella...thats just my opininon. Will post more soon.

[drmark]

This past season I have survived some double blacks in Davos, Sun Valley and Park City. I have also raced bikes for nearly 30 years.

I certainly wish you good luck and I certainly would never get into a match about who is a "bigger doctor" Heck, I am only 6 feet tall. But, I can tell you that posters on the wall of a clinic is not the true test, you can buy them for about ten dollars a piece without the frame. I know, I have dozens and dozens on my walls too. Proven results that you are personally aware of are of far greater importance.

But my clinic deals nearly exclusively with motocrossers, road racers, full contact fighters, bmxers, base jumpers, heliskiiers, active duty military such as Coast Guardsmen inclusive of rescue swimmers and guys that go out into Cat. 4 and 5 storms, as well as other Service branches on recruiting duty in Houston, and other forms of extreme sportsmen.

That is why we are so anti-allograft, pro immediate active motion, and pro early return to sports. These plans are well grounded in the English speaking peer reviewed literature and have stood the test of time, in my clinic as well as numerous others in the USA, Switzerland, and West Germany.

An ACL case takes me 8 minutes to harvest the opposite graft, and 35 minutes to install in the ACL deficient knee. I carry my laptop with me all the time, as I am currently in the doctors lounge at our hopital waiting to do an ankle fracture dislocation which came about in a bad get-off on a missed double jump in practice.

If you continue to think I am full of beans, go the the Health and Fittness page of www.thumpertalk.com which is a off road motorcycling site and ask about me. Furthermore, the risks and injuries in the gas driven sports make most, but not all, snow types look like hopscotch players.

Feel free to bash me, but not my patient population.

Let us know how your leg turns out and when you return to sports.

[ikkin]

paragraphs are good.


good luck with your rehab.

[MarkNL]

I dont want the side effects from butchering my own hamstring or pattella...thats just my opininon. Will post more soon.

Same here, I am having a PCL reconstruction in 2 weeks. Getting an allograft myself... Here in Holland its either hamstring or allograft. In there opinion no hamstring defects after harvesting...? After reading recent medical studies on the net... No hamstring harvesting on my leg.

I wish you the best of luck with your rehab.

I think everyone should value Dr. mark his perspective on allografts. Its the less best choice for a graft... yet, it wont "butcher" up your own leg even more.

in a few years they would probabaly clone your ACL or something... Or let nanobots fix it :P untill then there is no "perfect" graft ?

[Woodlandclown]

paragraphs are good.


good luck with your rehab.

gimp central sure is hard to read these days..maybe its the meds?

[TahoeAk1]

I really dont mean to "Bash" you Drmark. Your opinions are good, however. I do think you have to much time on your hands.....You are on way to many blog sites....but again, your opinions are OK...
As for the posters all were given and signed.....Its hard to go against the US skiteams Dr opinion.....we are skiers on his site...
Day 5, minimal swelling, good extention, good ROM, zero pain. Lets hope it stays that way.....

[FredsTrees]

I really dont mean to "Bash" you Drmark. Your opinions are good, however. I do think you have to much time on your hands.....You are on way to many blog sites....but again, your opinions are OK...
As for the posters all were given and signed.....Its hard to go against the US skiteams Dr opinion.....we are skiers on his site...
Day 5, minimal swelling, good extention, good ROM, zero pain. Lets hope it stays that way.....


I happen to be the "office guy city slicker" who ripped my ACL in Montana. I visited a US SKI Team doctor with the Harvard Degree on the wall, cancelled my apptmnt with Dr. Andrews, all of whom has worked on on the hotshots etc. The bottom line is Dr. Mark was the best possible surgeon i talked to. What i can say the man is one of a kind. You will not find anyone like him.

Since i am accepting your personal slight on city slicking skiers who fall of of our chairs ; You my friend are a great example of spewing condescending mountain surfing dusch bags who looks down on anyone not spending days drinking red bull in Alaska range, while the rest of us deal with the reality of the world.

Skill level, recognition, signed posters or Fame by association are NOT what make good doctors.

[TahoeAk1]

FredsTrees....enough said.....Are they really yours?

If you were reading correctly, I did not mean to bash DRmark and did give him good credit...

Its just strange that he is on so many blogs talking and giving ideas when in the dr lounge. And I did give him credit for his good ideas...or should we say opinions....

I would hope that when my dr is in the lounge he is thinking about his next case. not the concerns of the various blogs he takes part of. For that matter, just about every blog on this site he has posted a comment...again, not that they are bad!

As for your other comment...I drink Go Fast. Its better for you. I have never heard of Dr Andrews...Steadman / Hawkins / Orr...say no more. They are proven. Dont take offense on the office job...thats the choice you made....you could live in the Mts if you wanted to. It sounds like you wish you did. As for the d bag part...do we really need to go down that road? You have no idea who I am nor does it matter. I hope you come to visit me one day in AK. [url]www.alaskahelsiki.com...that is me...thats my business. I can assure you, we are far from D bags....You sound like one writing that. This is no place for that...but I guess thats what you do when you have a office job in city......

Lastly, skill level is the very most important! Recognition goes a long way....signed posters..those are my friends with good posative first hand accounts, thats all.....Fame by assoc. again...Steadman / Hawkins / Orr...say no more...do you research my friend in the city!

[drmark]

Let's close this one down all ready.
Tahoe, tell us how your allo is serviing you in about one year from know.
Thats when the chickens will come home to roost.