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Have You Ever Had ACL Troubles?

JewelFreak

Ideal_Rock
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Sep 3, 2009
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Were you able to avoid surgery? How long did recovery take, with or without an operation?

Would a sports-injury doctor be the best bet over a regular orthopedist?

I did my ACL in 2 days ago. I'm sure -- looked it up & exact symptoms & description of how it felt when it happened. Consumer Reports recently rated all the hospitals in this area as "not so hot" to "run away." :errrr: We're planning to move to another state in a year & a half & surgery is the last thing I anticipated before then.

I've been staying off it & wearing one of those ace bandage knee thingies. Hate the non-activity! Was there any way you kept from getting fat & lazy while it healed?

Any experiences welcome! Thanks!

--- Laurie
 

hippi_pixi

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Nov 25, 2010
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639
My new husband managed to completely tear his ACL just 4 weeks ago. Bad timing as we got married 2 weeks ago. He didn't have any pain at all the first week but it swelled up huge the first night. Doc couldn't be sure what was wrong but an MRI confirmed it. I would say that would be your first step, see your GP for a referral for an MRI. In the meantime compression with a brace and icing to bring down swelling if you are swollen, 20 mins on and an hour off. We saw an orthopaedic surgeon and booked in for surgery on december 20 just because that works well with hubbys work. I'm starting to wish it was sooner as now that the swelling has gone done he is getting more and more pain from we assume the loose ligament getting caught in the joint and the instability

Whether surgery is needed or not is determined by how bad the tear is and how active your lifestyle is. You need surgery if you want to maintain an active (sporty) lifestyle. Hubby also had bone bruising and a crush injury to his meniscus cartilage. The bone bruising needs time but the miniscus will have to be inspected during surgery. We're hoping it survives as removing part of the meniscus will cause very early arthritis.

We've decided to keep up his strict wedding diet now that hes not playing sport 4 days a week so he doesn't pack on the weight. It will be 1 year after the surgery until he can play sport.

Also surgery options for acl repair include a hamstring graft or patella graft. We're going for the hamstring and he plans to be back at work 2weeks after the surgery (although we've been warned it will probably be very painful still at that point. My partner (and i) is a dentist so he'll be sitting down. The surgeon warned of 6 weeks off for a standing retail job.

And hes started physio pre surgery to increase strength in the leg as it will weaken considerably post surgery

Start with your GP and get an MRI to confirm! Goodluck and ill update you on how he goes if you like
 

luv2sparkle

Ideal_Rock
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Feb 3, 2008
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Oh Laurie, I am so sorry! I am not a doctor but this is a injury that a lot of firefighters have, and they all seem to have surgery for it. One guy on my husbands crew tried to do therapy and let it heal but was told it won't heal on it's own. Good luck! Maybe your tear is small enough that you can avoid surgery for a while. I hope so!
 

JewelFreak

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Sep 3, 2009
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Thanks, luv2sparkle, and, ooohh, hippi. I'm sorry to hear about your husband. Hope his recovery goes well & quicker than you expect.

I called our GP & they said, well, we'll just send you to an ortho guy, so you might as well start there. Here's their number. But then I got to thinking about a sports dr. & wondered if they could help it heal faster?

I don't think it's as bad an injury as your DH's -- no swelling at all. Pain of course if I bend my knee or twist my leg, but when I sit with it straight, it's ok. I'll have to get to a doc, just a question of which kind. How not to get fat & sloppy while inactive is the trick! I'm no jock but I do daily yoga or chi gong & power walk my dog a mile every morning. Both she & I will miss the exercise. Yuck!

--- Laurie
 

princesss

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Mar 18, 2007
Messages
8,035
Ugggh, torn ACLs are the worst! Did you hear the pop? (I still shudder thinking about it.)

Honestly, surgery is miserable, I won't lie. Worst experience of my life.

I went to OC and had a great experience there, they were really focused on getting me up and active as soon as possible. Post surgery I was in PT twice a week starting 3 days after surgery and it was about 6 months before I was allowed to do yoga. I'm just over a year out from surgery and (mostly) can't tell anything ever happened to it!

Let me know if you want the name of the doctor I had. They all specialize in different kinds of surgeries, I had a hamstring graft, but there are a few kinds of surgeries they can do.
 

princesss

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hippi_pixi|1383141556|3547423 said:
My new husband managed to completely tear his ACL just 4 weeks ago. Bad timing as we got married 2 weeks ago. He didn't have any pain at all the first week but it swelled up huge the first night. Doc couldn't be sure what was wrong but an MRI confirmed it. I would say that would be your first step, see your GP for a referral for an MRI. In the meantime compression with a brace and icing to bring down swelling if you are swollen, 20 mins on and an hour off. We saw an orthopaedic surgeon and booked in for surgery on december 20 just because that works well with hubbys work. I'm starting to wish it was sooner as now that the swelling has gone done he is getting more and more pain from we assume the loose ligament getting caught in the joint and the instability

Whether surgery is needed or not is determined by how bad the tear is and how active your lifestyle is. You need surgery if you want to maintain an active (sporty) lifestyle. Hubby also had bone bruising and a crush injury to his meniscus cartilage. The bone bruising needs time but the miniscus will have to be inspected during surgery. We're hoping it survives as removing part of the meniscus will cause very early arthritis.

We've decided to keep up his strict wedding diet now that hes not playing sport 4 days a week so he doesn't pack on the weight. It will be 1 year after the surgery until he can play sport.

Also surgery options for acl repair include a hamstring graft or patella graft. We're going for the hamstring and he plans to be back at work 2weeks after the surgery (although we've been warned it will probably be very painful still at that point. My partner (and i) is a dentist so he'll be sitting down. The surgeon warned of 6 weeks off for a standing retail job.

And hes started physio pre surgery to increase strength in the leg as it will weaken considerably post surgery

Start with your GP and get an MRI to confirm! Goodluck and ill update you on how he goes if you like

Just as a heads up - I went back a week and a half after surgery and basically had to keep my leg straight and elevated at all times. Have him honestly try to to the movements associated with his job with his leg elevated before making a final decision. I thought I'd be fine because I just sat at a desk all day, but I kind of wish I'd taken a little more time off. Keeping it elevated was hard, but just dealing with the pain was the worst. The pressure from the edge of the chair on his hamstrings is going to be intense.

Pre-surgery physio is a GREAT idea. I did a few months of it (long story, but I couldn't get surgery for almost 7 months after my injury) and the physical therapists all commented on how big a difference it made between my recovery and the recovery of other people around my age.
 

Dee*Jay

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Mar 26, 2006
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15,104
JewelFreak, did you have an MRI to determine EXACTLY what's going on in there or did they just do the Lachman Test? There are A LOT of things that can happen to your knee and I would really really go to an expert. You say you're moving in a year and a half... IMHO that's WAY too long to get this (whatever "this" is) taken care of). Everything's connected; set aside your knee for a moment, you don't know what impact this can have on the rest of your body. I had a knee injury several years ago (the other knee, not the one I destroyed in the ski accident) and it threw my gait off enough that now one of my hips is higher than the other and I have a permanent curvature to my spine. The herniated disc due to my adult-onset scoliosis is much more painful that the ACL tear. I'm not trying to scare you at all but I am very much encouraging you to get this taken care of, or at least looked at by a true expert, ASAP. From one lame duck to another, big hugs to you on this!
 

JewelFreak

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Princesss, I may take you up on your offer of a doc if the one a friend gave me doesn't work out. Hobbled to lunch w/her yesterday; turns out her husband had the same thing & had success with a sports doctor. He did not need surgery -- they sent him for muscle-strengthening PT; he wore a brace, and in 6 or 8 months it was all better. I like that the dr. doesn't sound surgery-happy, though if it's necessary, it's necessary.

OC is so huge -- called yesterday & gave up, couldn't get through the phone tree! :confused: If I end up w/them, a name to ask for would be a huge help. Will let you know.

I have not yet had an MRI -- this guy will send me for one if he'll see me (you never know these days). I know it's got to be dealt with, Dee Jay, sob. I'm really sure it's ACL -- fits the medical website description perfectly. I didn't hear the pop, but felt it, & for the next couple seconds my knee felt squishy inside. Hurt so much, I lost my breath. Pain is just where they describe now. I've been keeping it straight & supported & staying off it. Could always be something else; this dr. still seems the type to diagnose whatever it is. I hope he agrees!

I'm so sorry you've had such a crummy time, DJ -- here's hugs back, hoping time improves your comfort! No fun at all. I'll send you happy dust. Thanks again, Princesss, I'll be in touch & glad you're doing fine!

--- Laurie
 

Dee*Jay

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JF, I hope my post didn't come off as complaining. I have two legs, which is more than some people can say, and I can get up out of bed every morning and live my life, so I am grateful for all of that!!! I do hope you're able to get in to see the doc though and that there are good and easy (in a relative sense) options for you. Knees are important!
 

JewelFreak

Ideal_Rock
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Sep 3, 2009
Messages
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DJ, no, you didn't sound complaining at all! You've had a horrid time, is all. In fact, you're a darn good sport about it. I'm glad you're doing ok & hope you do even better! :wavey:

Btw -- called the doctor recommended by my friend this a.m. Receptionist said he's scheduling now for a month or 6 wks out. As I sighed & wondered if I can wait, she looked in the computer & found a cancellation. So I see him next Tues. Relief that 1) he's that much in demand, and 2) I can get this show on the road.

Thanks so much for the advice & support!

--- Laurie
 

MishB

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Aug 16, 2008
Messages
656
My husband and I have both torn our ACL skiing.

I was first (in Vail a few years ago) I opted for surgery, on the advice of the surgeon (one of Australia's top knee doctors) I chose a LARS graft, which is an artificial graft. The recovery time is a lot shorter, and doesn't involving healing of the hamstring donation site. The surgery went well and after extensive rehab everything seemed good. Although it's not the same, I still do suffer stiffness and soreness and some loss of movement during sports and normal activity - eg walking down stairs in heels.

My husband tore his ACL last year, again, skiing. He consulted a number of different specialists, including an orthopedic surgeon (who of course recommended the surgery) and a sports medicine doctor. The sports medicine doctor, and his regular physiotherapist told him a lot of people opt not to have the surgery and manage to participate in sports and activity quite effectively without it.

He has not had the surgery so far, but he did do a lot of rehab with a physiotherapist, cycles at lot (100's of kms a week) so his muscles are very strong. He has skied on it quite well, and was back to golf quite quickly - that was his other concern - how his golf swing would be affected.

If I could do it again, I would probably opt not to have the surgery, it was months and months of pain and rehab and even here in Australia with our excellent medical system left me many thousands of dollars out of pocket.
 

JewelFreak

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Sep 3, 2009
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Mish, thank you for the info. Your husband's experience sounds much like my neighbor's -- he is almost back to normal after 6 to 8 mo. of PT & wearing a brace, no surgery.

My sister lives in Colo., where sports docs fix ACLs all the time & says if they operate, it's always with a local & as an outpatient. I like that much better -- but will definitely go the no-surgery route if at all possible. Tuesday I see the same sports dr. who treated my neighbor so at least I know he's not operation-happy. Yucky thing altogether, isn't it? Glad you're doing ok & your husband too!

--- Laurie
 

missy

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Jun 8, 2008
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Laurie-I have no advice to offer besides what has already been suggested and I am posting to wish you much luck on Tuesday and send you lots of dust for a speedy recovery whatever you are dealing with here...big hugs and much dust being sent your way!
 

blondie~

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jan 26, 2011
Messages
65
I'm sorry for your troubles and worries. :(
I've nothing of personal experience to share, yet I know my dentist is going through the same thing now, is weighing his options, is real confused, concerned. He's a pretty empirical, no nonsense guy, so seeing, hearing his experience, I've empathy for you.
Good luck :)
 

MishB

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Joined
Aug 16, 2008
Messages
656
JF, just remember you have nothing to lose by waiting and weighing all the options.

That's what they told my husband - just because you decide not to rush into surgery, it doesn't mean you can't have it down the track if you don't recover sufficient function.

One thing you do need to do is getting into physiotherapy - it's really scary how quick the muscle wastage is. I had some treatment at the clinic in Vail while I was still there, and went straight into rehab when I got back here and did a lot of prep work before the surgery.

Research, research, research. There are a lot of world class athletes still competing without ACL's.
 

JewelFreak

Ideal_Rock
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Sep 3, 2009
Messages
7,768
Thank you for the moral support, Blondie, Mish, & Missy. Much, much appreciated.

MishB said:
you have nothing to lose by waiting and weighing all the options.
Great advice! I will do that. I've been thinking I won't do surgery without a 2nd opinion. A friend mentioned yesterday the dr. who treats injuries on our major league football team members. Probably takes a decade to get an appt., but I'm keeping him in mind too.

Couldn't sleep till 3 a.m. the other night for worrying -- had myself buying the farm in surgery, for heaven's sake! :lol: :roll: Everything is so much more dire in the middle of the night, plain ridiculous! Called my sister, who has had the same op, & she laughed me off the phone, felt better. PT no doubt -- from years of daily yoga & power-marching a Siberian 5 to 7 miles/wk, I already have pretty good muscle tone, though haven't been able to do much of it in the last couple months.

It will sort itself out. I'm a wuss about operations, so possibility of fixing it up without one is a happy one!

--- Laurie
 
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