So I tore my ACL in my right knee last week. I tore the ACL in my other knee years ago and just wear a heavy-duty brace for sports, but this time I'm going to have the surgery - in about 2 weeks. : ( Any of you ever been through this? It hurts!
my sister-in-law tore it when she was 22 about 10 years ago...she's a 4x soccer mom now, so she can't take a few weeks of immobility. She said it generally works fine, though it locks up from time to time.
Ouch, don't get addicted to Vicodin after surgery! The surgery sucks, you literally have your knee sewn together from the inside out.....sorry about your lucky guy.
OUCH! While I have not had the SX, I can say this- fully follow the doctor's advice after SX. When it starts to feel better, continue to take it easy and let the knee heal. If you reinjure it, it creates major issues. Best of luck.
Good advice - thanks. I will definitely avoid coming back too early and esp because that would be my tendency.
I had ACL reconstruction on Jan 8th, Patella tendon graph and about 1/3rd of my meniscus removed. I waited a couple years to have the ACL repaired which caused the meniscus damage, so I wish I had done it right away. The most important thing is icing it and doing what your physical therapist says. I used a gameready machine which was priceless for the few days after surgery. Ice it as much as you can without developing frostbite. Usually 30 minutes on 30 off. The graph actually gives me more trouble then the new ACL, I kind of wished I had done a cadaver graph, that would have probably been a much easier rehab. Although you run a chance of rejection which would totally suck but if your body accepts the new tissue fine using the cadaver would be a much much easier surgery. I only had 3 tiny holes from the ACL reconstruction but a 2-3" scar from cutting a chunk out of my Patella tendon. I think I over-trained doing some squats and leg extensions after my rehab, If I had to do it over I'd primarily only do lunges to build strength, they have very low amount of stress on the knee and force you to not cheat or else you'd fall over. I'd do more biking and elliptical. The pain really wasn't too bad, I only took some narcotics the first day, not since I needed them but just because I thought I was supposed too. You can get very constipated from surgery/narcotics so watch out for that. I loaded up on Ibuprofen. You can take a good ~15 Ibuprofen a day, it's fine for the short term although after a few months I would try to get off it. Watch out for stomach issues I never had any but some people develop ulcers from Ibuprofen. Ice is the best anti-inflammatory, Ibuprofen is second best. Currently I've been working more on total body fitness, including stretching and Yoga. I was in bad shape trying to resume playing basketball when I tore my ACL, I had bad strength, flexibility, and form in my hips and ankles which put stress on my knee. I've found a lot of success in my current rehab working on those issues.
How awesome would that be to have a piece of a dead guy inside of you.................. nevermind..................... Flashbacks.............
Damn, Stevenson, sorry to hear about your injury (you too, Draco!). There's no doubt it sucks. I tore my ACL and MCL. I don't have much to add, but to emphasize DON'T DO TOO MUCH TOO SOON. Your body will send you false messages. Really work on holding back. It took me almost two years before I stopped thinking about it everytime I cut this direction or that, but today those ligaments are stronger and tighter than they were when I tore them. Best of luck.
Thanks kids. This thread taught me to take my time with this - as much as that is not my nature. Much appreciated. Yoga here I come!
Great advice. I think Carlton Williamson, retired defensive back for the old (great) 49ers teams, took a lot of ibuprofen on doctors' orders and ended up with kidney damage. I would stick to the doctors' advice and what they prescribe - the only thing I'd change about your advice.
