I tore my ACL and damaged another ligament in a ski fall. Once that other ligament heals, ACL surgery is a possibility. At my age (I’m 57) I know the surgery can mean a painful recovery and a case of diminishing returns. I also know it’s possible to live – and even be active – without an ACL, which makes me think I’d like to try to avoid it.
Thoughts? Experiences? I don’t want to be a gimp forever, but I don’t want the pain, hassle and expense of surgery, either!
Bumping up… because there HAS to be someone on this site who’s dealt with this… right?
I have had two ACL grafts and medial meniscus clean up trimming the tears.
The procedures and PT have improved immensely from my first graft. I tore my ACL playing basketball, I tried to continue to be active without surgery; I could not play tennis without my knee compromising my gait after games. I would go out of kilter and I ended up with my gimp giving me back issues.
I had the surgery after water skiing with a torn ACL led to tearing my meniscus again.
My 2nd surgery was when I tore out the ACL graft 7 years later moving furniture.After the 2nd surgery I was told my leg had a deficit. I do not have any issues, knocking on my wooden desk; I would do the surgery again because I still ski and I am 61.
I run, swim, play golf, play in a volleyball league, and windsurf with no issues and no bracing, swelling or pains.
Start exercises especially leg lifts and heel slides before the surgery. Get a Cryo cuff for icing.
I was back to work after a week. With the meniscus damage I stayed on crutches except at PT for the first 5 days.
It takes a commitment to exercise to complete our rehab. I recommend hydrotherapy because the water reduces the weight strain on your joint and you will gain full range of motion faster. It is a good 6 months to return to normal.
Thanks – others who PM’d me also recommend the surgery if I want to stay active. Which I do! I’ll start physical therapy shortly to strengthen the knee while some other internal damage heals. It’s comforting to hear that after all you’ve gone through with your knee, you can still ski and do other sports. Tell me, do you continue with strengthening exercises, or is your knee strong enough that you no longer need it?
My son had ACL repair surgery in 2008 (I think). He tore his about 5 years earlier, but at the time they didn’t want to do the surgery until the growth plates closed, which his had not. I agree with author that procedures have greatly improved. I would find a good sports orthopedist. My son’s procedure was successful (he also had meniscus repair) and he is a top amateur triathlete and was a competitive runner at the time of the surgery. I would do it.
DS had a skiing accident not this winter, but the prior one. The Ortho MD advised him to have ACL surgery because of his age. He had it and a lot of PT too. However even after about 4-5 months he had issues with stairs. Today he’s OK with all day-to-day activity, but says he has issues with things like racquetball, but he knows others whose repaired knee apparently is better than the original.
Some people (around 20%) have an “extra ligament” which makes it possible to have several damaged knee ligaments and do fine. My DH had a lot of knee damage from HS, and they basically knew nothing about ACL repair back when, and they just cleaned up the cartilage and ligament pieces.
He has no connection to his femur for two ligaments on one leg, and he still plays sports and is very active.
The general rule for any surgery is the outcome with and without it, and what the patient wants/needs. People who want to stay active usually opt for surgery because if they are active, it is more likely they will keep up with PT afterwards and strengthen the muscles. But sedentary folks can usually just heal and not be able to play sports or exercise past walking, and they are fine with that.
My DH lucked out I believe, he likely has that extra ligament which was not torn:
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/11/13/a-surprising-discovery-a-new-knee-ligament/?_r=0
(you can call me A.L.L.)
Thanks, everyone… rhandco, love that “extra ligament” your DH lucked out with. I begin physical therapy next week, for eight weeks, at which point I will see the ortho doc again to possibly discuss surgery. Ugh. But, I want the option, at least, of skiing again.