Recovery From ACL

[phatbstrd]

Hey everyone,

I love two sports: Motorcross and Skiing. The latter of the two bit me pretty hard 2 weeks ago with a blown out ACL and shredded miniscus. I am having surgery to replace the acl and the Dr. syas no bike time for 10-12 months. This is my first knee injury ever and am pretty worried how it will affect my enjoyment of riding. Has anyone delt with this? I know i will be buying a knee brace when i start riding again. Which ones are good? Any suggestions?

 

[James]

I had a hamstring graft in 2003. I did not have any injuries to meniscus or other ligaments. I was in pretty good shape at the time and rehabbed my knee for 6 months or so before surgery. Used an asterisk brace after my injury up to and after the surgery when riding. Was off the bike for 4 months. I also took advantage of physical therapy until I was released to ride. I quit using the brace about a year after I resumed riding.

Recovery time depends on many things including type of graft used, your fitness level (particularly in the leg muscles), and age/diet/habits. If the doc says 1 year, don't rush it.

From what I hear now, hamstring wasn't the best option but it seems to be ok so far.

 

[2-Strokes 4-ever]

Not to be a bummer but, my son had the hamstring procedure. He was only 13 at the time, and with intense therapy was fully recovered in 3 months. But... I wish we would have put a CTI on him right away because the ACL (hamstring) stretched and he tore it again by merely landing from a jump while practicing for a supercross... no crash at all. The second tear and dislocation did such damage that maniscus tears were involved plus a chunk of bone was broken right at the knee's "knuckle." I have heard that recovery is up to a year when older. Therapy is VERY important, and really uncomfortable (tears in my son's eyes.) He decided to switch to woods riding after all this and ALWAYS wears his brace when riding... actually two of them.

 

[phatbstrd]

Thanks for the info guys. I will follow rehab to the tee. Not looking forward to it though due to the anguish i am hearing about. This will probably cause me to quit racing but its not like i was very good anyway before. Prolly just stick to the woods and dunes with braces on both knees.

 

[James]

I think that has more to do with rushing back into too much too quick as opposed to being a bummer about the hamstring procedure. Even braced, I wasn't practicing for supercross.

What did they use for the revision?

Thanks for the info guys. I will follow rehab to the tee. Not looking forward to it though due to the anguish i am hearing about. This will probably cause me to quit racing but its not like i was very good anyway before. Prolly just stick to the woods and dunes with braces on both knees.

I had some of my best Vet D class racing after the surgery. Just find a doctor that can fix you for these sports, rehab, and definitely let it heal.

 

[High Lord Gomer]

I had some of my best Vet D class racing after the surgery.

That's a lie! You had your best racing when *I* was there. (Mostly to powerwash your bike for you)

 

[2-Strokes 4-ever]

My son is in medical books. He was one of the first to have this hamstring type procedure. Until you are about 18 years old a growth plate in the knee can not be drilled through and fused with the normal screw procedure. For this reason, his surgery was an experimental big hole thru the growth plate and a wrap-around of the hamstring to anchor at a different spot (allowing the growth plate to fuse as he grew). Perhaps recovery should have been longer, and the "wanting to be famous" Dr shouldn't have been so anxious to give him a back-to-sports ok. My blue collar thinking is that the extra long hamstring used was the cause of the stretch, although the Dr maintains "he must have crashed" which I understand for mal-practice issues... although we will sue no one. If the standard hamstring procedure is done (unlike my son's) it's most likely a proven solution IMO.
The recovery was no fun, and my son has no desire to re-do the ACL right now. It's not completely torn, but very stretched and loose. For him, the big issue was not the pain or the ACL, but losing a Team Green ride, clothing deals, oil co help, a dream. Perhaps the hardest words he has to remember are Gary Bailey himself saying "You're a gifted rider, you're going places." My son was heart broken by the injury and turned to making some bad choices.

I am NO doctor. I believe we have an ortho Dr that chimes in here sometimes...?

 

[James]

Those are the stories that will scare one away for sure..sorry to hear. I know I struggled with getting mine fixed at first because I found some other horror stories.

There is an ortho doctor on another board that is very opinionated on ACL repairs and other matters motocross. That is probably where I would go if I had to do again.

That's a lie! You had your best racing when *I* was there. (Mostly to powerwash your bike for you)

Unfortunately, our racing "careers" rarely crossed. You were out when I started, then I had a string of injuries when you came back, and then you had crashed yourself out again when I came back and then went into hiding somewhere near GA. I am pretty sure all of the great power washing incidents happened on trail rides. I haven't been knocked out yet so I am sure my memory is better than yours :nener:

 

[High Lord Gomer]

Wow...that all sounds familiar but I'm not sure...

 

[oldguy]

I had an ACL, and Lat replacement with the hamstring along with the miniscus repaired and femur pinned at 50 yrs. The ortho surgeon didn't push one way or the other but I could tell at my age he wasn't really expecting much as a result. In the end if it had been available I would have gone the cadaver route.
I am glad I did it as I can still do most anything I could before the surgery but lately have found more relief just loosing 20Lbs. I admit there are good days but also some horrible ones especially in the winter as weather makes drastic changes still I am happy to live with them and have a knee that functions

 

[phatbstrd]

I agree OldGuy... I will be happy just to ride like I used to. I am totally wanting to get this "waiting" period over to get things moving.

Living in Utah I am blessed with a great Ortho that is used to skiing injuries and dealing with athletes. I am sure we will be having a serious conversation about the surgery as soon as my knee "calms down".

 

[oldguy]

Yes you should have some excellent Orthos in Utah- I was lucky that my Chiropractor knew the ortho knee specialist that worked with the Brewers, Packers and a couple other pro teams in Wis. He got me into his office for the first appointment and I was surprised by the time I walked out he had already laid down an entire timeline for me to think about and talk over with my wife. I expected initially to have surgery right away but he insisted I do about 2 months of strength training on the knee prior to surgery. He said that the stronger I got the area the faster my rehab would go post surgery. The only kink in his timeline was a second surgery a few days after the first when we discovered I was allergic to the screws he had used. Luckily there was enough attachment started that he removed them and left the new ligaments in place without screws. Again luckily the pre surgical strength carried me over the next week before I could really start PT

 

[phatbstrd]

yeah thats great info. Thats what mine is doing. I am in a holding pattern until my other ligs tighten up (they are worried about my PCL as well). The wait sucks but by the sound of it, it is totally worth it. I hate sitting in the recliner! At least I have great benefits at work.

 

[Dan105]

OldGuy-- what were the symtoms from being allergic to the screws?
Phatbstd-- I am 32 in good shape and have never had any knee injuries. I tore my ACL in Nov of 08. After rest, ice, and aleve; I did 2 months of strength training on a stationary bicycle. I had my surgery on January 6th, so I am 15 days out now. I had a same side patella autograft done for the ACL reconstruction.It has been tough so far, really tough. I was and still am down right shocked at how much pain knee surgery causes. Maybe I under estimated the seriousness of an acl recon. So to better prepare you I will leave you with this info:
1-Get a Cryo cuff cooler device. This is a huge factor in recovery and works much better than ice bags. You should get one of these before surgery because you will need it ASAP. 2-Try to spend the night in the hospital. They cant make you go home, fight with them and demand that you spend the night. You will be more comfortable and they can give you shots of demerol with Phenegan which is a much better pain killer. I had issues at first but it was because they were giving me too much (100mg) 75mg was good for me. The 100 made me goofy. 3- Speaking of pain killers, I had serious side affects to the oxycodone that was prescribed. It worked good for a few days but then turned me into an insomniac and then gave me a hangover during the day. Hydrocodone ended up being the pain killer I used that worked good. I used Darvaset during the day and Hydrocodone at night. 4-pick up some compression socks (look like long stockings) they work great for swelling, promote blood flow, and prevent blood clots. You can get them at any drug store. Get ones that are washable.
5- other things that I would suggest are setting up shop on your couch. It is easier to hold your leg as you are putting it on the floor to get up. Oh and you wont be getting up much, until recently I was peeing in a homemade bed pan (glass jar with cap) and only getting up to poop. Your going to need alot of pillows to be comfy, and its a good idea to keep everything you need near the couch. You will also need a stand (dinner tray) and some boxes to elevate the cryo cuff above your knee while you are hanging out or while sleeping. I would also recommend you go with a nerve block on your leg along with the general anesthesia. The nerve block will help with the pain throughout the first night. All of this stuff may seem like really strange advice,but trust me it is for your own good. I am not a doctor, but I am recovering from acl surgery right now soo figured I would offer this info to you. Good luck!

 

[mx547]

i had the hamstring procedure last october. i'm doing the p.t. myself and everything seems to be going well. the doc said i could start riding again in july. he said it takes about a year for it to "cure." i never had any appreciable pain. i took one pain pill the evening of my surgery, none since. i missed two days of work. i'm 49 and it was my first knee injury.

 

[oldguy]

Dan the symptons to the reaction were the skin above each screw did not heal over and there was a constant ooze from each. Once the screws were gone all the openings sealed up and no more oozing. Not sure what element I was allergic to but I also have reactions to gold jewelry (both yellow and white). I try telling my wife I am so allergic to the jewelry that I can not even go into jewelry stores with her- Diamond jewelry has an even more severe reaction as I can not breath :boss:

Everyone has a different pain threshold and mine was much like 547s. I would advise the ice cuff pump- I still take it to races with me and have bought the shoulder cuff as well.
A friend that just had ACL surgery told me they do not use the motion machine anymore? I was surprised as often I fell asleep with it on and in the morning felt great. I was able to get up and walk around the house right away the day of the surgery (took a week before going up and down the stairs ) and was driving a car by the 3rd (mine was left knee) day to do errands. I took a full month off work because I was a patrol deputy at the time but really felt I could have gone in and done in station work if they would have let me.

 

[Dan105]

Mx547 are you superman? That is impressive!
Oldguy- I am a patrol officer in NH. I havent been able to work yet, they called the other day and asked if I was coming back soon. I was like " I am peeing in jars over here and I cant even bend my knee". I think they are just hurting for drug arrests cause i am the only one there that has skills.
I just found out that I go for my first PT appointment tomorrow. They can work on my muscles but Im not bending my knee yet, no way!!

 

[oldguy]

.
I just found out that I go for my first PT appointment tomorrow. They can work on my muscles but Im not bending my knee yet, no way!!

That is exactly why I loved that motion machine. I got a couple beers laid on the couch , strapped my leg in and laid back to watch TV for 3 or 4 hours. I never lost motion in my knee at any time and really think that sped up my rehab. :cool: Now I see my friends son in an immobilizer a month after surgery limping around and all I can think is the atrophied muscles and how stiff the knee is :(. That can only make rehab harder and longer
On top of it all the ICE cuff worked great to keep the beer cold all day long :nod:

 

[James]

I had roughly the same experience as oldguy and Jay.

Released on crutches about and hour or two after surgery, pain medicine day one only, no crutches after a few days (week at most).

I was in the motion machine with cryo cuff as soon as I got home and spent every spare minute in it. Pretty sure I had full ROM first PT visit 3 days after surgery.

Dan, I don't know the particulars of your surgery, but you need to let them bend that knee if it can be done. The longer it takes to get ROM back, the less you get back from what I hear (I am not a doctor either). My doctor said he moved mine through full ROM while I was knocked out and told me not to be scared to bend it...ask yours if in doubt.

Good luck with your PT and stick to it!!

 

[Dan105]

here are some pics of my knee after surgery. Lots of swelling but you can see that lots of ice brought the swelling down pretty quick. My knee was huge after surgery.
James-- My problems started with the hospital staff. I was in an imobilizer after surgery and right up until the next night when I went home. I was in soo much pain when I got home that I took pain meds, passed out, and didnt ice it on that second night. Because of these things, I had soo much swelling that the ROM was gone. I have a feeling I am in for a tough battle to get the motion back. But I will try to start moving it today.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dan1052002/

 

[mx547]

wow, they cut you up pretty good. my surgery didn't look nearly that invasive.

 

[phatbstrd]

Wow guys! Thanks soo much for the info. The ice cuff and motion machine is something i never thought of. The more info i have the better i feel going to the Docs. My doc said I would be walking on crutches in a week. I am hopeful my story is a less painful one than Dan's (sorry Dan).

 

[oldguy]

Wow guys! Thanks soo much for the info. The ice cuff and motion machine is something i never thought of. The more info i have the better i feel going to the Docs. My doc said I would be walking on crutches in a week. I am hopeful my story is a less painful one than Dan's (sorry Dan).

another very important recovery item-NEW BATTERIES for the TV remote. It will be your best friend at 3 AM when you have seen the girls gone wild commercial for the 10th time and your wife will not get come down to the livingroom to change the channel for you. Don't ask why I know (I even called her from my cell phone to ask) :yikes:

 

[gstaten24]

i recently tore my lcl during a football game. it took a few months to recover, nothing like an acl tear but still pretty serious. however it hasnt affected my riding at all:) i still ride the same with no pain at all. the biggest advice i can give, which many people have said, dont rush back into it. i tried to rush back in and i ended up having to wait another month or so because it wasnt completely healed. but dont worry it will feel awesome to get back on that bike:) just be patient! and as far as braces go... my friend tore his acl during the season also and he used a donjoy. he loved it but it was a very expensive brace, if you have insurance i would suggest something along those lines. i wore a different donjoy brace but it was also expensive. it all depends wether or not you have insurance.

 

[Dan105]

Well I went to my first PT yesterday, did some stuff at home last night and today. It wasnt too bad. The did some massaging, electric gizmo, and stretch exercises that were not too painful. I would not let them try to bend my knee although I agreed to try and straighten it. All in all it wasnt bad. I actually feel better today. Didnt take any pain meds at all, just my anti-inflamitory stuff and I am down to one crutch. Not only am I down to one crutch but I can walk small distances at a snails pace. Although I know damn well that PT is going to be tough, things may be looking up for me. Oh and as far as braces go, when I get back on the bike in May, I wont do it unless I have a set of braces on. I am going through my insurance for CTI's