ACL Class of 2017

[hawkgt]

Hey!
Thank you for asking.
I'm feeling pretty darn good; this my third surgery in the last 8-9 years (2 ACLs: right in 2015, currently left; and left Achilles tendon in 2021) and I feel like a veteran (of the psychic wars!).
Got my heartbeat down to a low of 44 prior to surgery, was generally in the 50s.

Currently about 130° ROM in the left knee (right @140°).
Mainly playing with my 1.5 year old German Shepherd Sadie Mae for PT (PPT: Puppy Physical Therapy)!

PS I couldn't even read your compartment syndrome thread.
PPS I'm glad your good now.

good news pfluff

[hawkgt]

230 days since the knife, released by the doc today.

“Where the brace for sports for next year or so, I don’t ever want to see you again”

Sage advice

[ticketchecker]

Just stopping by to say give it facking hell fellas. 4x ACL alumni myself, two on each and I’m trying the clear the garage for a pair of Heritage Lab skis.

FKNA


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[pfluffenmeister]

^^^ FKNA!

About 3.5 months post-op.
I was able to do a circuit on my jumping logs today!
Ten logs 16" tall, 12-14" in diameter, spaced out in about a 30' long line.
Jumping in a zig-zag pattern up onto the logs and then down with both feet together.

The first jump up was pretty daunting.

[hawkgt]

^^^ good to hear pfluff, it is an odd one trying to do a cut or quick jump. I know more mental than anything right now.

snow coming

[pfluffenmeister]

Good God, the arches of my feet have been partially cramping off and on for the last three days.

Stopped today; the previous three days had the most and hardest PT since injury day; 4/7.

Today I feel tall and strong.

[montanaskier]

7.5 months….quad is about 75% of good quad. I’ve started doing some jumping and such, super scary but it’s progress. PT is brutal right now. She knows I’m gonna ski when it starts so she’s trying to get me as strong as possible.

My “good” knee has been worked for 7.5 months now and the arthritis in that bad boy is more of an issue than my repaired knee. Getting old sucks. I’m ready to ski but I’m real nervous too.


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[mst1228]

7.5 months….quad is about 75% of good quad. I’ve started doing some jumping and such, super scary but it’s progress. PT is brutal right now. She knows I’m gonna ski when it starts so she’s trying to get me as strong as possible.

My “good” knee has been worked for 7.5 months now and the arthritis in that bad boy is more of an issue than my repaired knee. Getting old sucks. I’m ready to ski but I’m real nervous too.


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Same and different. About 8 months and I’m feeling good. I’ve been bouldering for a few months, dropping and falling from up high (granted on to padded floors). I feel ready to ski but I’m still nervous… PT has said I’ll be good to go, but not officially cleared me. Have my last scheduled appointment with him end of month, so hoping to hear the words. Have another appointment with the surgeon on Thursday, will be interesting to hear what he says too…


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[bodywhomper]

I may be joining this class. Have a partial tear ID’ed during an MRI sept 2022 when I was stalled during rehab after a diagnosed partial MCL tear. MCL tear was in April 2022. Some meniscus issues also ID’ed in the MRI. Apparently, no other indications of the ACL or meniscus injuries were previously ID’ed by PT or my understanding physiatrist. several minor reinjuries (always when booster for a small air/landing) occurred during the beginning of the ski season. Then a larger reinjury landing a jump late April. New PT assessment was laxity in the MCL. More rigorous focus of knee stability via the new PT. Had a video tele-med session with a sports med doctor last month who thought that the acl could be ultimate causes for the reinjuries and occasional stability problems, and he recommended going to top tier nearish sports med doctor for in person second opinion and treatment plan. Saw UCD physiatrist (athlete but not a skier) who wants new MRI (makes sense) and currently defers to PT regarding skiing. Physiatrist detected slight swelling, possible meniscus popping, and slight laxity in one of his acl tests.

I’m going over the doctor report with my PT tomorrow. I’m looking for advise before next appt with that new physiatrist. That appt will probably be in early/mid-November.

What sort of brace designs would help keep my acl stable and be able to make tele turns? If surgery is needed, I’d prefer to defer to the end of season.

I have a patrol-ish gig - OFC. It’s fun and a great deal for my family (it’s the way we’re able to afford to ski). I usually patrol blues and greens. On light days, I hotlap bell to bell. Day one, I basically hit the ground running.

[hawkgt]

What sort of brace designs would help keep my acl stable and be able to make tele turns? If surgery is needed, I’d prefer to defer to the end of season.

I have a patrol-ish gig - OFC. It’s fun and a great deal for my family (it’s the way we’re able to afford to ski). I usually patrol blues and greens. On light days, I hotlap bell to bell. Day one, I basically hit the ground running.

i went with a OAdjuster from Donjoy for sport brace. I dont wear it daily other than workouts, hiking and disc. I like it but had it fitted so it really fits well. +10 months post surgery and still scared I will do something stupid to screw it up.

[montanaskier]

Had PT today and have 2 next week and I’m DONE. Insurance rolls over on Nov 1. Been 8 months next week. I’ll do strength testing next week and I’ll keep doing my exercises but my PT knows I’m skiing as soon as we open and I can. Said she didn’t think I’d be “cleared” officially until mid Dec but she knows I’m gonna ski. Just gotta take it slow and easy for a couple months, keep getting stronger, etc….I’m nervous about stepping back in but I’m ready, been a long recovery.


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[XXX-er]

Had PT today and have 2 next week and I’m DONE. Insurance rolls over on Nov 1. Been 8 months next week. I’ll do strength testing next week and I’ll keep doing my exercises but my PT knows I’m skiing as soon as we open and I can. Said she didn’t think I’d be “cleared” officially until mid Dec but she knows I’m gonna ski. Just gotta take it slow and easy for a couple months, keep getting stronger, etc….I’m nervous about stepping back in but I’m ready, been a long recovery.


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The pro's will tell you it is officially considered to take 9 months to heal from ACL surgery

and 3 yrs to completely recover

but only if you don't kid yourself

[mcski]

I may be joining this class. Have a partial tear ID’ed during an MRI sept 2022 when I was stalled during rehab after a diagnosed partial MCL tear. MCL tear was in April 2022. Some meniscus issues also ID’ed in the MRI. Apparently, no other indications of the ACL or meniscus injuries were previously ID’ed by PT or my understanding physiatrist. several minor reinjuries (always when booster for a small air/landing) occurred during the beginning of the ski season. Then a larger reinjury landing a jump late April. New PT assessment was laxity in the MCL. More rigorous focus of knee stability via the new PT. Had a video tele-med session with a sports med doctor last month who thought that the acl could be ultimate causes for the reinjuries and occasional stability problems, and he recommended going to top tier nearish sports med doctor for in person second opinion and treatment plan. Saw UCD physiatrist (athlete but not a skier) who wants new MRI (makes sense) and currently defers to PT regarding skiing. Physiatrist detected slight swelling, possible meniscus popping, and slight laxity in one of his acl tests.

I’m going over the doctor report with my PT tomorrow. I’m looking for advise before next appt with that new physiatrist. That appt will probably be in early/mid-November.

What sort of brace designs would help keep my acl stable and be able to make tele turns? If surgery is needed, I’d prefer to defer to the end of season.

I have a patrol-ish gig - OFC. It’s fun and a great deal for my family (it’s the way we’re able to afford to ski). I usually patrol blues and greens. On light days, I hotlap bell to bell. Day one, I basically hit the ground running.

Same, same. I’m most likely gonna end up kicking the acl replacement can into next year, so any skiing will be pretty chill and definitely w a brace (if at all).

Mainly , I think I’m still in denial and don’t want to face the reality of the recovery time needed.

[montanaskier]

The pro's will tell you it is officially considered to take 9 months to heal from ACL surgery

and 3 yrs to completely recover

but only if you don't kid yourself

With my first ACL 12 years ago….I “skied” (made 4 turns) at A-Basin on Molly Hogan at 4 months and skied off the top of peak 10 at Breck at 6 months. Wore a big brace for both and both were incredibly dumb in hindsight but I was younger and dumber! I skied that entire next season but it was 2 years before I was back to where I was before the injury. I expect the same this time. I’ll ski slower and not as aggressive and avoid bad condition days, but I’ll be skiing and that makes me happy. Still really nervous, I’m too old to do this again.


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[XXX-er]

I say " if you don't kid yourself " cuz I have heard all kinds of stories about people getting back too early, it like a badge of stupidity to tell how dumb your were, some stories ended good some bad but I am just repeating what my PT said

he led me to believe you really don't wana do much of anything for the 9 months post-op but let it heal, like don't lever your shoe off with the other foot behind the heel cuz it could blow the repair and he gave me the one-out- X -cases in which people blow their surgery up just taking off a shoe

I got back skiing the next year but not well cuz its still weakand i almost gave up twice, I've done 140 days in the gym and the operated on knee is not as good as the good leg so i might be too old to make it back to where I was

the surgeon said I shouldn't need a brace if he did it right so I skipped the brace and no problem

[Irlts]

On Feb 2021, I tore my ACL skiing, had surgery that March. I skied in January 2022 for the first time, and a bunch of times after that to finish out the year, sometimes with a brace, sometimes without, never felt great. It wasn't until 2023 ski season that I felt recovered skiing, although I get aches in my surgical knee in cold temperatures, but skiing is pretty much good to go now.

[Djongo Unchained]

All of this talk about timing...

It's incredibly subjective.

Depending on so many things: how good was the surgery, the doctor, the PT, your overall health, how lazy you are, yada yada.

MTSkier sounds like he's working harder than I did. I skied 7 months to the day and for the next 100+ days.

It's about being smart. Not waiting for dates to pass.
Being tentative is wise but assuming you're not ready, when maybe you are, is a long row to hoe.

Tiptoe in, get stronger and more supple. Try your darndest to not overdo it physically but try to expand the possibilities too.
I took a few thumps that season but bounced pretty well.

Got shoved off the loading deck first run, first day to a 2 foot drop then had to squat to get the moving chair over my head without getting conked.

New lifty was off doing some shit and missed the chair with the seat up. Had I set in it, I woulda had to leap out after stopping or ride the distance with my ass hanging through the frame with my knees draped over the front seat support.
Not gonna happen.

And the scary idea of reinjuring due to pushing your shoes off is funny, almost ridic.
But we've heard that in here a dozen times, at least.

If you do that, you or your Doctor sucks.

[XXX-er]

And the scary idea of reinjuring due to pushing your shoes off is funny, almost ridic.
But we've heard that in here a dozen times, at least.

If you do that, you or your Doctor sucks.

well thats ^^ everyone then isn't it ?

[Djongo Unchained]

No.
Actually I've never once heard of anyone reinjuring their new acl because they pushed a shoe off. Only from you, relating the info from your source.

And it's just a load of crap that gives people pause.

[XXX-er]

an actual pt told me this and then someone i was talking to corroberated it happened

a surgeon and/or a PT will give you expected outcomes and timelines based on well accepted medical knowledge

if you do something else and it works out you are a hero if it backfires you are the dumbass not the pro who told you what to not do, pretty simple

and I don't care either way

[bodywhomper]

i went with a OAdjuster from Donjoy for sport brace. I dont wear it daily other than workouts, hiking and disc. I like it but had it fitted so it really fits well. +10 months post surgery and still scared I will do something stupid to screw it up.

Thanks for pointing to the donjoy braces

Anybody skied with no acl and wearing one of those high stability braces? How’d that go?

[XXX-er]

ski coach at the hill kacked her ACL same time as me, good skier long time skier/ racer/ ski shop owner, she chose not to get the ACL surgery but is just wearing a Donjoy so I asked how it is and she sez it works good and doesnt hurt, sez she doesnt like pain

[bodywhomper]

Thanks for the response. It’s very helpful. Did she change how and what she skied at the hill?

[Mofro261]

Thanks for the response. It’s very helpful. Did she change how and what she skied at the hill?

I've done it twice, donjoy and cti2. Well shit 3x but that third one I slapped a neoprene sleeve on and only missed 1 run during a euro trip.

Skiing wise I was at 90-95% of normal but no airs, and stayed ofd the icy bumps. I had the ACL fixed in May each time at the end of the season because simple walking felt like my gait was off. Tri-U is tele and he has both missing for many yrs and skis with braces.

No reason one can't be back skiing at 9mos and should be 100% by 12mos unless you slack on the rehab. Even after tearing 5 over 4 decades I'm still able to get 100 days/season, but no more running for me these days.

[XXX-er]

Thanks for the response. It’s very helpful. Did she change how and what she skied at the hill?

I see her running gates shepherding ski racers and coaching same as ever so I couldn't really tell, the only reason I know she blew the ACL was I asked her about the Don Joy on the outside of a race suit, apparently we have the same surgeon, he has her file so she could get it done but I think she is just pain adverse

but every skier, every knee every knee injury is different