Torn ACL and MCL, any advise?

[Brandi]

My husband snapped (yes snapped) his ACL. Slight mcl fraying and had surgery to fix it. He would do it again in a snap! He said to tell you do the surgery and go through rehab. Do everything they say and then some and you will be good as new. They told him he would never get back his range of motion and they were wrong! He has and then some! all because we think he really stuck to the rehab. Never let up. at about 6 months he was great. Never stopped riding either. He rode every day up to the surgery to get his leg really strong then about 5 days after surgery he was on his trainer. I was so proud.
It seems all the people we talked to prior to his surgery who had had knee surgery all said the same thing. If I had only stuck with the rehab!
Good luck!

[featuretile]

I tore my ACL and injured my MCL in a skiing accident about 7 years ago. I was not a cyclist then. I had the ACL surgically repaired and the MCL did not need it. I did all the physical therapy, but it was a really hard and long recovery. A person in their 50's does not heal as fast as a person in their 20's. I still did not have full range of motion at either end.

Then I started cycling. The cycling gave me back the full range of motion. I don't think I would be comfortable without having repaired the tear because I would never know that if I just moved the wrong way, I could re-injure myself, and I don't want to go through this again. If I was you, I would take care of the knee and postpone the event till next year. The surgery is done arthroscopically. I know that's not what you want to do, but it might be better in the long run. And cycling can be part of your recovery! That's why I use half toe clips and am deathly afraid of clipless pedals....

[Rchan]

What a difference a few months make! I'm averaging 15-17 mph , did an 86 miler on Sat. Been practicing on the hills like crazy. I am ready for Cycle Oregon! Did not have surgery, do not need surgery. I wear an ultralite magnesium brace just for protection/insurance but don't need it. Had the brace made celeste green to match my bike so I could look cool.
No surgery may not work for all, but has worked out great for me.
I received so many supportive comments, I wanted to share my very proud update.