Anyone have an ACL injury?

[sundial]

I tore my ACL a number of years ago. I've had reconstructive surgeries to stabilize the joint and it has helped. The surgery to repair a torn ACL is much improved over the surgical techniques of even a decade ago. Knowing that, I would opt for ACL repair simply because I wouldn't want degenerative arthritis to set in from a loose goose joint.

With every knee surgery, my PT put me on a stationary bike. I don't know what the treatment protocol is for a MCL though.

[Kathi]

MCL protocol is pretty much the same as acl. I had PT for six weeks before surgery to let the mcl heal and to strengthen it and to improve my range of motion. My ortho said that they've found that the stronger the other ligaments are and having good rom helps the patient recover more quickly from surgery.

I was given a packet with the protocol for recovery. It really helped me with expectations and goals of where I should be after a given time. I was ahead of the timelines and I attribute that to already being in good shape and using the trainer during my recovery. Because I was riding the trainer 1 hr per day for 4-5 days a week I was allowed to ride outdoors much sooner than the protocol suggested.

I used crutches the first day and by the 3rd day was wallking without them. I kept leaving them in the bathroom so I figured I didn't need them. I can't take pain meds so I used ibuprofin and lots of icing and elevation for the 1st couple of days.

Faithfulness to your PT is a key element to a successful recovery.

[Trek420]

Knowing that, I would opt for ACL repair simply because I wouldn't want degenerative arthritis to set in from a loose goose joint.

Too late I tore my ACL in about '83, and probably would have arth torn joint or no. I saw an ortopedic surgion who said surgery would make the arth worse around the joint. He suggested any sports that keep the surrounding muscles strong, also stretching, range of motion.

So here I am

[uk elephant]

I also tore my acl skiing years ago, back in 1994. Went through a round of PT to get mobility back, but never got around to having surgery. And I was back on the ice figure skating just a couple of months after the accident. I have no problems cycling or hiking or running. Just get a bit achy in the knee if I do a lot of downhill skiing (which I rarely do anyway, I prefer xc) or a long steep downhill climb, but a few hours of rest and I'm good to go again.

[Lynn39]

Thanks for the info everyone...

I feel much better now that I know cycling is still in my future I also have a real good reason to get a trainer, which I was thinking about before I did this

I'm have some pain but it's not terrible, it just feels really weird and unstable. I'm sure I will need PT.

Wish me luck that I won't need surgery...

[nic840]

I tore my ACL coaching soccer...yeah figures after playing competatively for 20 years I would have to tear it coaching.

Anyways I rehabed pre-surgery to the point where I could run on it again with little pain but it would always give out on me with any lateral movement. Had surgery, re-weave of hamstring for replacement, and was skiing 4 months later. This was 10 years ago and it is as strong as ever.

A girlfriend of mine tore hers earlier this year playing soccer, she had ridden a century the day before. Her post-surgery rehab was all about the bike. She started on an excercycle, went to trainer and then to her bike. The hardest part she had was the clipping in/out part. She was really worried about putting her leg down in an emergency situation or having to get off the bike quickly. Performance wasn't an issue it was the stability if she had to do something quickly that she was worried about.

Just be careful and get stronger and hopefully you can avoid surgery. Good Luck!

[OakLeaf]

I had a knee sprain in '76 that I'm now almost certain was a partial ACL tear. It's loose on the pivot-shift test, anyway, and from where the pain was at the time, it was one of the cruciates for sure. Back then, orthos had NO idea, at least the ones I saw, and there definitely was no such thing as reconstructive surgery. I returned to running four months later, and playing soccer eight months post-injury, without a brace and without problems. It contributes to my patellofemoral issues, but I actually have those bilaterally. It's just worse on the side I sprained.

I talked to an ortho the last time it flared up, about six years ago. He told me that at my age (40+ at the time) and activity level, surgery probably wasn't a good option, just because of the extended rehab, and that I was just better off choosing sports that wouldn't irritate the knee, and bracing it when I put excessive stress on it.

On the bike, I have to make sure my crankarms are short enough and my seat is high enough that I'm not flexing my knees excessively at the top of the pedal stroke, and I have to make sure my cleats are properly aligned. Once the ergonomics are correct, I don't wear a brace, it doesn't bother me cycling at all. I wear patellofemoral straps for aerobics (lateral movement) but I'm learning to correct my body mechanics so that I don't need them for running.

Good luck with your rehab. Sending healing vibes your way.

[Kathi]

I also have friends who because of a certain age the orthos didn't recommend surgery. I was 57 at the time of my injury. If I had been the average woman my age my ortho would not have done the surgery. But I'm not average and I ski, not willing to give it up, so not having surgery was not an option for me.