ACL Class of 2012

[Kiwiskier]

My surgery went well last Monday. ACL and MCL stretched but not ruptured so no more surgery needed for the forseeable. Lot the surgeon had to remove lots of bits of cartlidge floating around in the joint (I have one of the larger pieces as a souvenir). Walked out of hospital but used crutches the first few days for comfort. Swelling quite bad which is limiting my ROM - extension OK but flexion limited. Any tips on how to get the swelling down appreciated - using ice packs and keeping leg elevated. PT focussing on quad contractions and hamstring slides. Feels so weak despite the dedicated pre-hab. Amazing how the neurons get turned off so easily. One of the first things the surgeon said post-op was "you can book your tickets to the 'Stans now" (was planning a ski trip to Central Asia in January when the accident happened). At the moment the thought of skiing strikes me with dread but hope to be back to (the new) normal by Christmas.

[climberevan]

My #1 weapon against swelling has been the ice machine. I got one for cheap off of ebay (Polar Care 300, $60) and it's been indispensable. The #2 thing is keeping it elevated--not just on a couple of pillows, but vertical against a wall. The difference after 30 mins up is pretty marked.

It sounds like you dodged the full reconstruction bullet! Lucky for you. That must be a huge relief...good luck!

[Kiwiskier]

Thanks Climberevan. Swelling seems to be going down very slowly. Being more active (in controlled bursts) helps. PT had me on bike yesterday and doing mini squats, hamstring curls (on floor with Swiss ball), step ups and calf raises. Even managed a 30 minute walk today without too many problems (iced and elevated immediately after). So relieved to escape another reconstruction, even so this cost me my job and 3 months of my life.

[BigJim]

Thanks BTS,

Just over 2 weeks out now and a huge improvement.. I'm back at work and going for my first trip back to the gym tonight. Managed to get full extension and so now it's just a question of working on the flexing and building some strength back up. Got another session with the PT in the morning so will hopefully get to move on to some new exercises there as well. I also got hold of one of those cryocuffs after hearing how much you raved about them and I agree, makes such a huge difference, would recommend to anybody!

Te big goal for me now is to get back on my bike, I got hold of one of those turbo trainers so I can ride the bike I like in the back garden without any risk of a fall or uncontrolled stopping. Never used one before so I'll let people know how it works out.

Looks like some parts of the US are getting snow already, bet you guys are all super excited to try out your new knees!?

Good luck to everybody

[bendtheski]

BigJim,

New knee, new ski! Prolly won't need the lhasa for a while, so I think I'll start out on the Moments. A-basin is opening Wed. (shitshow) and Loveland will probably open on the weekend. I probably won't get out until maybe Sunday, but totally psyched!

Even after 10 months I am still seeing steady improvement; less tender, more strength/confidence. Been feeling some weird twitching right around the VMO in the last week or two. Wonder if some severed nerves are starting to reconnect or something, or maybe the knee is excited about this year's quiver?

[flyman683]

Many posters in this thread unintentionally made me feel guilty for doing a terrible job with PT (especially with follow through once the medical benefits ran out), since I'm 6-7 months out of surgery...

However, on the bright side, for anyone else feeling like they didn't do enough: I played about 15 minutes of lacrosse and my knee didn't snap clean off, even though it's definitely a still bit weak and awkward... And it has snowed twice already here so soon its time for the WROD test.

So: there is hope, even if you're feeling guilty for not being a workout allstar. Might even get me back into doing some of the exercises a bit more regularly.

[Kiwiskier]

My knee coming along nicely 3 weeks post arthroscopy (no ligament ruptures as first thought). Swelling down considerably since I started using hold/cold therapy. Our season still has three weeks to run and surgeon says I could probably manage a gentle ski in the last week Just need to avoid runaway snowboarders (how could I, he was behind me jumping a natural feature blind!) and spring slush/ice.

[gointhedistance]

Pretty bummed right now...

Played a game of pick up football last night with some friends, planted my right leg down to cut back (had previous issues with it), and my knee completely imploded....

Heard/Felt the 'pop'... and went down hard. Very gingerly able to walk with the 'looseness' I know as a bad thing. Limited range of mobility.

Maybe not ACL, could be MCL or PCL... but pretty sure I'm missing something that should be intact.

Going to the doc in a couple hours - wish me luck...

[bendtheski]

goingthedistance,

That doesn't sound good, what's the verdict?

[gointhedistance]

goingthedistance,

That doesn't sound good, what's the verdict?

MRI was done tonight - radiologist appointment scheduled tomorrow AM....

Most recent injury is likely meniscus AND PCL...

She said there does seem like some play with the ACL which could be attributed to a 4 year old injury that went unprofessionally treated...

Full/Final diagnosis and update in the AM pending MRI results.

[Kiwiskier]

Had my first post-op ski today (4 weeks). Perfect spring conditions. Didn't push it and no issues while skiing (with excellent Donjoy brace) but aches a bit now. Icing it and have taken voltaren. Will probably suffer tomorrow. PT has certainly helped though. So thrilled to be back on the boards

[bendtheski]

Got out for the first runs of the season yesterday, and although I skied pretty conservatively, it went better than expected, and no real soreness/swelling this morning. Felt weird just walking in ski boots at first, and of course I was a little worried about stability, but that all went away about mid-way through the first run. No brace btw, but I'd suggest everyone do whatever their ortho/PT recommends in that respect.

Props to my ortho, Dr Faulk at Panorama, and my PT Cindy at Avalanche in Silver Thorne, and of course Loveland for providing some buffed out terrain for my first day back!

Quick edit from yesterday; should have shot some different angles to capture the knee in action, but got some unexpected shadow casting that gets the point across pretty well...

[gointhedistance]

MRI was done tonight - radiologist appointment scheduled tomorrow AM....

Most recent injury is likely meniscus AND PCL...

She said there does seem like some play with the ACL which could be attributed to a 4 year old injury that went unprofessionally treated...

Full/Final diagnosis and update in the AM pending MRI results.

Well - looks like I can stay here with all of you in the ACL class...

She said I tore it 4 years ago - it tried to grow back, but never got more than 25% recovered... and she was pretty amazed/amused that I was able to stay active on it.

The other day, I tore what had feebly grown back. Meniscus and MCL are clean. PCL showing partial tear - which they will likely leave.

So - chalk me up for some surgery. Bad timing...

[bendtheski]

Sorry to hear that goingthedistance,

Good luck with surgery. Lots of good info here and in the ACL class of 2011 thread, if you're looking for a healthy distraction. Pre-hab the crap out of that thing, it will really help with your recovery.

[climberevan]

I'm now 4.5 weeks out from surgery and am feeling pretty good. The meniscus repair still means I can't walk without the brace fully locked, and am limited to 90 degrees of flexion, but otherwise things are good. I can hobble around all day with no pain or swelling, and have been trying to learn to swim (like an actual swimmer) to stay in shape. I can also do 1-leg balancing on the bad one.

As others have said, pre-hab is key. I think the reason I am doing so well now is that I went into the surgery with very, very strong legs. goingthedistance, it sounds like you were operating without the ACL for so long, so you'll likely be in better shape than many going in.

The biggest challenge for me was boredom. I am used to working (builder), then riding my bike almost every day. Sitting around for weeks has been excruciating for me. Thank goodness for the internet.

[gointhedistance]

Sorry to hear that goingthedistance,

Good luck with surgery. Lots of good info here and in the ACL class of 2011 thread, if you're looking for a healthy distraction. Pre-hab the crap out of that thing, it will really help with your recovery.

Thanks bend... Appreciate it

[leroy jenkins]

Unfortuatly I've had some complications.

On almost the exact 7 month mark I did a 6 hour bike ride and it hasnt been the same. Really though i was up to it given what I had been doing but obviously not.

Doc says my vmo isnt strong enough, the patella isnt tracking right, and as a result, i have some chondromalacia.

Anyone had this? Its been almost a month since that bike ride and I still can't go up or down stairs normally and walking doesnt feel very good. The doc has not been great about communicating. Wentback and have called a few times and am having a hard time understanding just when this is going to get better. All I've been doing the past two weeks is the little legextension with foam roller underneath for the vmo and my vmo is almost as big on the weak knee as the healthy one by now, so I can't see that being the cause of this, also going for a walk or short easy hike a couple times a week.








I was doing light mnt biking at 5months post surgery, by 7 months i was up to 6 days a week doing 10 minutes on each of the elliptical treadmill exercise bike, followed by an hour of yoga, followed by 2-3 hours of mnt biking followed by an hour of switching between exercise bike, hanstring machine, and leg extensions for the vmo. I was doing all this for about 2 weeks with no soreness.

[snow gypsy]

It's been a while and what a while it has been.
After nearly 7 months of trying and striving and losing range of motion due to Arthrofibrosis, I bit the bullet and scheduled a scope.

BEST DECISION EVER.

Seriously, pull the trigger if you're even considering it. My knee hasn't felt this young since my pre-cross country years.

The doc had scheduled 45 minutes for surgery. 1.5 hours later she was still scraping. I'll try and upload some dicey photos, but regardless, take my word for it, I am a scar tissue machine. It was everywhere and over time had hardened into a large black rock that held my patella tendon, knee cap and all other moving parts hostage. Doc called it "malignant" and the "worst case she had ever seen." She's writing a paper. Awesome.

12 hours after surgery my range of motion was -2 to 135 and it's only gotten better. Before surgery, I was at 5 to 120 (on a good day). Strength is rapidly improving, though I'm learning how to walk again. After 7 months of walking on a dramatically bent knee it's amazing how awkward your gait can get. Still going in weekly for cortisone shots to prevent the same scarring reaction from happening again.

Positive note: apparently there's a purpose for all these genetic tissue chaos. ACL graft is ridiculously strong. According to the doc it looks "normal." Unless I told someone, no one would be able to tell that it was a replacement.

Which means, the minute strength is back, it's take for revenge on that little rock and its pathetic excuse for a cliff. Yummy.

On the fast track to another great ski season, finally! It's been a journey, but I finally have something to look forward to.

[Kiwiskier]

My knee is feeling good. Did a back country course last weekend, followed by a mellow tour to the summit of our ski hill, Ruapehu 2,670m, last Wednesday. No issues with knee but have inflamed bicep due to all the poling we had to do on a very long travese and some intense skinning up the Mangaturuturu glacier. Here we are at the top (the 'lake' behind is the crater - it's a live volcano). Last day of lift-accessed season today. Have put the skis away and will focus on getting fit for the trip to Central Asia in January (planning to ski tour there as well). Feel for those still pre/re-habbing. Stick with it, you WILL get there

[climberevan]

Thanks for the reminder. Sometimes it seems like it will be forever before I can ski.

In other news, I was cleared to pedal yesterday with the provision that I "be careful". Thanks for the specific info, doc! Anyway, I hit the trainer last night and it felt great to finally be moving. Now Mrs & I will be fighting over the trainer....

[bendtheski]

Leroy,
I had some pretty good soreness build up about a month ago. Weird because I was actually starting to taper down on ride frequency and distance. Maybe that was part of the problem, but I had some real tightness and pain, especially in the hamstring area. I think maybe I was pushing too high a gear for a while, and maybe that was making my knee unhappy.

climberevan,
Are you looking into studded mountain bike tires? I tried a pair of the Sumo/Nokians late last winter. Casings were warped so my wheels had a permanent wobble. I was able to return them for a full refund, and by then it was spring and I didn't need them anymore. I'd still like to have a set for shoulder season though.

snow gypsy,
Sorry you had to undergo more surgery, but it sounds like it was for the best. See you on the W.R.O.D. soon!

Good to see people still checking in. Hope everyone is seeing good progress. Skied 9 runs at 5-0 degrees today, three weeks ago I was riding a bike in shorts. What up Winter? I'm probably going to be skiing 2-3 days a week at least until things get good, then maybe more. On non-ski days I'm doing 1/2 hr on a stationary recumbent, then hamstring curls (two different kinds), quad extensions, squats and a little one legged stuff on the trampoline. Kind of a switch from my usual routine of just skiing 4-5 days a week, but I'm just happy to be skiing at all, and am trying hard to perserve my knee/ski season.

[climberevan]

I had studded tires on my 'cross bike when I lived in Gunnison, but out here (Tahoe) we have a very different environment. It snows a ton, and doesn't really melt and form the kind of ice that studs work well on. No tires that I've seen can make riding on 5 feet of snow possible...

As a side question to everyone, what's been your experience with insurance? This is my first time using it (I just got this private insurance a little over a year ago), and I'm sort of blown away by how much mail I'm getting. They send lots of letters asking for "more information", and others saying "this is not a bill", etc. They all have reference numbers, but none of them are the same. AFAIK, none of them are actually asking me to do or pay anything yet, and I know I haven't met my deductible. How long will it take before they and the hospital work their shit out? It's no wonder our health care system costs so much!

[bendtheski]

climberevan,

Yeah, as soon as I mounted the studded tires I realized how limited their usefulness would be in anything over a couple of inches. You probably want something like this:



Money's no object, right?

As far as the insurance thing; yeah, there's a ton of paperwork, statements, explanation of benefits, etc. Bottom line with my surgery is everyone got paid except the anesthesiologist, because I hadn't met my $3,250 deductible by the time he submitted his bill. His office has been fine about me spreading the payments out as my payroll deductions accumulate in my HSA (pre-tax). I'm looking into taking out some additional coverage through Aflac should, God forbid, something like this happen in the future. For the $3,250 out of pocket for this one injury, I could have bought a sweet snow bike like the one pictured above!

[gointhedistance]

Going under the knife tomorrow morning @ 8:00AM... The countdown has begun...

I imagine I'll post a few updates in the coming weeks...

[gointhedistance]

Going under the knife tomorrow morning @ 8:00AM... The countdown has begun...

I imagine I'll post a few updates in the coming weeks...

Alive and.... Well. BTB was a success - and my first anesthesia experience had relatively no side effects, which is something I was worried about. Busy RICE-ing