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General Moto | Off-Topic Posts
ACL Recovery
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[QUOTE="firecracker22, post: 699369, member: 20316"] I'm working on rehabbing ACL number 2 right now. I tore my left ACL in a race 2.5 years ago, had recon surgery w/the hamstring graft on Halloween 2001. I was done with crutches in about 3-4 weeks or so, rode for the first time at 3 months, and went running for the first time at 8 months (VERY painful at first). The only thing that really hurt it was dancing when my friends and I go out to the clubs, or if I don't lift/ride/bicycle for a while, then it gets stiff. However both my new doc and my therapist noticed that my first ACL repair is really loose--not torn again, but there is more movement in what they call a "Lachmann shift" than is really acceptable, so I will probably be looking at another surgery down the road. Right now, ACL wise, my new knee is actually stronger than my "good" knee. Also there was a lot of cartilage damage so I have a lot of early arthritis in that knee. I have been wearing Asterisks since that first recovery--both for snowboarding and dirt riding. I tore my right ACL in September, not even riding (which I would have been wearing the braces anyway). I had my second surgery on 10/17/03, this time with the patellar graft. The post-op pain was MUCH better! Lots and lots less swelling too. I was done with crutches after about the same time, 4 weeks or so, and now I only wear a brace around if I'm out and about--just in case I slip on some ice, or get bumped into at the store. At home and work I don't worry. I've had a much easier time rehabbing it EXCEPT I've had a hell of a time getting it straightened out. I don't know why--the first time I had it all the way straight before I could bend it 120 degrees. Now, at about 6 weeks post op, I can bend it to 140 degrees (lacking about 10 degrees of full motion) but am still about 2 degrees away from being able to straighten it. It's really frustrating b/c it inhibits me from walking without a limp, and once you develop bad walking habits they are really hard to stop. However as far as strength and weight bearing go I am feeling REALLY good. As far as doing stuff, what all my doctors have told me is that while you may have the muscles back up to par at 3 months or less, your body still takes time to establish blood flow and accept the graft as new tissue. So you can walk etc and feel fine, but it wouldn't take much at all to pop that new ligament again. Basically you are asking a what was formerly a tendon to become a ligament, and there are differences in density and elasticity. So at 3 months I would definitely say riding is possible, but racing would be a bad idea. In fact my new doctor just chewed on his lip and said "hmm. We'll see." when I told him I plan on riding at Reno (4 months post op). He thinks it was a very bad idea that I started riding at 3 months last time. I don't know about actual bicycles but he might be riding a stationary in PT at on week post op--whenever he can complete a full rotation. You can start with the seat up high so he's not bending the knee as much, then lower the seat bit by bit as he regains mobility. Stationary bikes are one of the best forms of therapy as you work on range of motion, strength and endurance. He needs to practice normal walking as SOON as he starts weight bearing. Whenever he has the muscle control back in his quadricep, he should start putting his foot down and "walking" with the crutches--that way he can work on regaining a normal stride with the support of the brace and crutches. He might try going down to just one crutch (use it on the good side, it seems backwards but works the best) for a few days to a week before he ditches the crutches entirely. But no matter how slow he is, he needs to use a full stride as soon as he starts walking otherwise he will develop bad habits which can stress all of the tendons and ligaments. It's really hard--you have to think about each element of taking a step. Heel down first, leg straight, step through, push off with the toe. So those are just MY thoughts and experiences. Every doc and every therapist will tell you something different. I plan to start REALLY hitting the weights and bicycle to speed up this recovery and prevent the next one. I was just starting to ride my mountain bike more when I tore my right knee, so I'm a little disappointed at such a big setback but we've all been there so I have nothing to bitch about in this thread. A lot of you have had it worse than I. Good luck everyone, and let's all keep each other posted on our recoveries. I have to ask though--did anyone else have this much problem with straightening the knee? I didn't the first time so this is really unexpected. It hurts so bad, and not in the graft area either--it's underneath and on the outside of my leg where I really feel it pull when I lay with it propped up and weights and ice draped over it. [/QUOTE]
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MX, SX & Off-Road Discussions
General Moto | Off-Topic Posts
ACL Recovery
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