Thread: Knee braces for being active 5-12 months post ACL

I'm self pay, so looking for the cheapest option that won't suck. I was mnt biking at just after 4 months, but doc says I should have a brace for hiking running and skiing.

Any ideas? Anyone got something used they wanna sell me? If its in SLC it'd be worth a couple beers just to try it on.

I got a donjoy playmaker from my ortho. I only used it for a few days post-surgery and have been doing just fine without. I'm a little hesitant to part with it before I have a chance to test the knee skiing, and by then (mid-late October) you should be well past the point of needing it. Damn thing cost me over $200.00 because I hadn't met my deductible yet, but I've seen them on Amazon for less.

Maybe check with the ACL class of 2011 and see if someone's got something similar? Mine’s pretty matted with dog hair by now anyway.

Good luck. bts

PS. 7 months post-surgery and hiked a 14'er Tuesday with no tenderness, swelling or soreness that day or the day after. Psyched!

Yea I'm debating if I even need one at all. I kinda think he just wants to sell me one.

This is what he recommended.

http://braceshack.com/breg-x2k-compact-knee-brace

That thing looks pretty serious. Definitely more support than the playmaker, and not nearly as spendy as some, although I think half the reason they're priced as high as they are is because they know most are covered by insurance.

It might be worth contacting Breg directly to see if they'd do a deal for you being sans insurance and what not, although it looks like the one you linked is already half price.

I'm no ortho so I wouldn't tell you that you don't need one, (but you don't need one.) At least that's been my experience.

I think I've still got a custom Donjoy, about 10 yrs old, for left leg. At the time I was 5'9" and about 175lbs. I'm still 5'9" but I can't even see 175 in the rear view mirror anymore (cuz my fat ass blocks the view). If you're about that size, I could go digging for it.

Where are ya james? Its my left leg, I'm 510, about 165. If you're in slc, I'd be interested for sure.

Anyone else have any imput as to whether a brace is even needed or not? I don't think I need one for hiking, skiing is about all I'm worried about.

the donjoy Defiance line is built specifically for ACL's. go to their site and check them out. Ossur CTI's are also a good choice and designed by Steadman.

Leroy, I'm in Boise, so at least even the cheap shipping methods would be reasonably fast.

Hmmm, don't start digging yet, I may or may not even want it. If you happen to come across it let me know though. Since yours is custom it most likely won't fit me as well as a non custom.

Leroy, do you have a PT you're seeing regularly? I'm just curious what their take would be on the brace. Not that a PT's opinion should trump your Ortho's; just wondering.

bendtheski raises a good point. I think I used my brace two or three times post-surgery. By the time ski season hit, that knee was feeling great, better than the other, better than new, in fact. I occasionally wore a neoprene/elastic brace, but that was more to keep the joint warm than anything. I worked my PT aggressively, strengthened the muscles around the joint, and never looked back. Wish I hadn't spent the money on a custom brace.

I have a Donjoy ots that's about 6 years old you could check out. I also have a CTI custom. Just a note the CTI custom fits a little wierd as it leverages on the tibia. Most people don't complain about this but for me it was an issue. Also the knee/shin pad on the CTI is pretty wimpy in contrast to the Donjoy. Prolly best to try these before you buy as hard to get your money back. Also, check out Asterik.

Leroy, I'm 6'0 and 175 and have a custom, carbon donjoy defiance for my left leg. I'm in Ogden, you're welcome to try it on.

I can vote for CTI, have one from my right ACL repair back in 94

I'd throw a vote in for Ossur braces if none of the used braces being offered here work out. I went with the Paradigm, but also seriously considered the CTi. The Paradigm was very lightweight but gave really good support while I worked to get my leg back to full strength. I wore it when I went back to skiing six months after surgery for the remainder of that season (Feb through May). Unfortunately it's a custom brace and I'm tiny, so unlikely to fit a bigger leg - but I'd highly recommend the brand.

I've had two ACL reconstructions on the same knee.

The first was an open surgery using an autograft. I got a custom Lennox-Hill brace out of that one.

The second one, years later, was an arthroscopic surgery using an allograft. I got a very sweet Don Joy custom out of that one.

The Don Joy custom is FAR lighter than the Lennox-Hill was...the DJ is made out of some sort of light composite...carbon-fiber??? And just seems plain better. Just shows how brace technology hadchanged over those years. The Lennox-Hill was high-quality (and high dollar), made from surgical-quality stainless steel...but was heavy. Not so with the DJ! I can't remember what model it was, but it's burgandy with tiger stripes.

My insurance covered nearly 100% of it, but I think it was either $1200 or $1300. I HIGHLY recommend the Don Joy!!

I don't use it much anymore unless I anticipate doing something especiallly strenous...like a ski or snowboard race.



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The CTI is a great brace with some advantages over donjoy. for example, because the cti fits anteriorly, you can put it on after your ski boots are on. Not a big deal but could come in handy for skinning, hiking if you only want to wear the brace on the descent. Unfortunately for me the cti rubs wrong on my tibia and the donjoy fits me better when wearing the brace for long periods of time. If you are still interested, i have the cti custom for a left leg i will sell you and or a donioy off the shelf i would sell in a size medium. I am in Salt Lake.

The bitch I have with braces for skiing is the ones that will slip down my leg after a couple runs and just be annoying.

Originally Posted by leroy jenkins

Anyone got something used they wanna sell me?

I'm about ready to cast off my brace like crutches in a revival tent. It's a Donjoy Armour OTS, size medium?, left leg, with the FourcePoint hinge. Super comfortable and doesn't slide down my leg (but I don't have tree trunk thighs). The doc originally prescribed a CTI, but it killed my MCL repair, so they got me the Donjoy instead and it cradles the repaired MCL wonderfully. I don't even notice it skiing.

I'm 5'9", 155 lbs. If you can't find anything local, I'll measure the circumference of my knee, mid-thigh, and mid-calf and we can figure something out for shipping, unless you have a trip to the Sierra east side planned any time soon.

Originally Posted by leroy jenkins

I'm self pay, so looking for the cheapest option that won't suck. I was mnt biking at just after 4 months, but doc says I should have a brace for hiking running and skiing.

Any ideas? Anyone got something used they wanna sell me? If its in SLC it'd be worth a couple beers just to try it on.

HI I need to get a brace too for post ACL reconstruction and meniscus repair. I'm undecided between a CTI or Don Joy brace- do you know if anyone prefers a particular one over another? Insurance will be covering so it's mainly up to me to just pick which one I prefer.

Will be using mine for skiing/snowboarding, hiking/running, kayaking, horseback riding and high contact martial arts.

Any recommendations/advice would be good?
Thanks!

Originally Posted by splat

The bitch I have with braces for skiing is the ones that will slip down my leg after a couple runs and just be annoying.

I have a buddy who has skied with a custom brace since college 23 years ago. His brace has a quick connect to the front/top of the boot.