Anyone have experience with ACL reconstruction?

BladeRun · 10-25-2005, 04:37 PM

Found out for sure yesterday that my ACL is indeed severed.

My options are to leave it, do some physical therapy for about 2 months, then live with a knee that is very limited, or full ACL reconstruction. Obviously the former is not an option (if I were 60, perhaps, but I'm 26), so it looks like ACL reconstruction for the win.

Does anyone have any experience or knowledge regarding the recovery time for this? The surgeon said anywhere from 4 to 12 months for full recovery, but I didn't talk to him about the possiblity of lifting. Anyone have any idea how long it will be till I'm back to squating again?

Its rather depressing, but on the plus side, over the last 3 weeks I've perfected the art of lifting chest, arms, back, and shoulders on 1 leg, so I'll survive if I have to skip legs for awhile.

**DarkFalcon** · 10-25-2005, 07:54 PM

Wow that sucks. How did you do it? I have no experience with it but at least you can still keep doing upper body and work the one leg..lol.

Steve_W · 10-25-2005, 08:40 PM

hey mate,

I've completely raptured mine, been without it for 2-3 years. I have learnt to cope in the mean time, but the limitation sucks and I have had 2 relapses since. I would definitely recommend surgery, from a well known surgeon. This injury is becoming more and more common, and the success rate/knowledge behind reconstruction is very good. I, myself have not had surgery yet because when 18 I had not finished growing since my family has a genetic history of growing late, and all males don't really develop til around 21 or later so I will wait another year or so, but I would definitely recommend surgery to you.

BladeRun · 10-26-2005, 03:45 PM

The story behind it is unfortunately nothing cool. I tore it playing volley ball w/ some people at the pool. Jumped/twisted, heard a pop. Hobbled out & then made the real mistake. Thought it was fine, came back in, tried to pivot, and heard what my friend called a "juicy pop".

As far as the surgery goes, I waited 3 weeks to see a doctor who is supposedly the premier orthopedic surgeon in this part of the county. Awesome guy, tells me he can operate arthriscopically rather than open, so 3 small incisions rather than a 6 inch one down the center of my knee.

I've been supprisingly successful lifting on 1 leg. Hit a new high on decline bench yesterday at 415x5 reps. So it's not all bad

**DarkFalcon** · 10-27-2005, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BladeRun

The story behind it is unfortunately nothing cool. I tore it playing volley ball w/ some people at the pool. Jumped/twisted, heard a pop. Hobbled out & then made the real mistake. Thought it was fine, came back in, tried to pivot, and heard what my friend called a "juicy pop".

As far as the surgery goes, I waited 3 weeks to see a doctor who is supposedly the premier orthopedic surgeon in this part of the county. Awesome guy, tells me he can operate arthriscopically rather than open, so 3 small incisions rather than a 6 inch one down the center of my knee.

I've been supprisingly successful lifting on 1 leg. Hit a new high on decline bench yesterday at 415x5 reps. So it's not all bad

Wow strong bench.

No seriously that's pretty awesome. :bigthumbu

**BobThePotato** · 10-27-2005, 02:28 AM

Yes. Both knees. And now im 99% sure i RE-tore it. SO i have plenty of experience. If your active and pro recovery. you will be back to lifting ect within 2-3 months and hardcore again with 4. ( As long as all uve done is torn ur acl) i was walking 4-5 days after surgerey on my left knee. Just gota be optemistic about it. Oh and yeh do it ortho. Oh and get them to use your hamstring ligament NOT your patella. You will experience HUGE muscle loss after surgerey. I lost about 4 inches within a week, although it comes back pretty fast. On the plus side you can get a perscritption of percaset :yes:

Steve_W · 10-27-2005, 02:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobThePotato

Yes. Both knees. And now im 99% sure i RE-tore it. SO i have plenty of experience. If your active and pro recovery. you will be back to lifting ect within 2-3 months and hardcore again with 4. ( As long as all uve done is torn ur acl) i was walking 4-5 days after surgerey on my left knee. Just gota be optemistic about it. Oh and yeh do it ortho. Oh and get them to use your hamstring ligament NOT your patella. You will experience HUGE muscle loss after surgerey. I lost about 4 inches within a week, although it comes back pretty fast. On the plus side you can get a perscritption of percaset :yes:

Heh heh. I've completely raptured mine, so alot worse than a tear

. I'm looking forward to surgery in the sense of betting quality of life thereafter, however I'm not looking forward to the extensive rehab, loss of size! Hopefully I will be working out soon after just upper body.

I've been recommended the hamstring, the patella option does not sound too appealing to me from a few standpoints.

**BobThePotato** · 10-27-2005, 02:58 AM

No buddy, when i said tear i meant full rupture. LoL trust me i know where ur coming from. If i need surgerey again tho I will actually shoot myself in the face. Going without lifting for so long.. (4 months is an eternity to a 17yr old) i just cant do it for the 3rd time...

Steve_W · 10-27-2005, 03:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobThePotato

No buddy, when i said tear i meant full rupture. LoL trust me i know where ur coming from. If i need surgerey again tho I will actually shoot myself in the face. Going without lifting for so long.. (4 months is an eternity to a 17yr old) i just cant do it for the 3rd time...

Yep. Most painful experience of my life by a long way, and there's not many bodyparts I haven't broken/injured. Immediate, mind boggling pain, I basically could not move. It was a struggle to get into bed unaided for a couple of weeks. I have had two relapses with the knee giving way and twisting, and straining my medials since and each day it feels a little "hollow" inside if you get me. Like the feeling something is missing. I've had a couple of arthoscopies, but I still have around another year til my surgery though I have decided it's definitely going to happen to ensure a better quality of life for the future.

**BobThePotato** · 10-27-2005, 03:19 AM

yeh man.. that REALY sucks. Although i didnt find the actually epxeriences of the surgerey that painfull. On my left knee where it was just ACL i was walking unasisted in 3-4 days after surgerey. In my right where i had ACL and miniscus damage it took about a week to walk unasisted. Its just being undable to do what i love most that makes me want to scream. It sucks to feel helpless.

Steve_W · 10-27-2005, 03:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobThePotato

yeh man.. that REALY sucks. Although i didnt find the actually epxeriences of the surgerey that painfull. On my left knee where it was just ACL i was walking unasisted in 3-4 days after surgerey. In my right where i had ACL and miniscus damage it took about a week to walk unasisted. Its just being undable to do what i love most that makes me want to scream. It sucks to feel helpless.

After the initial injury, it took well over a month to walk without the crutches. The muscles in my left leg went completely dead! Very unfortunate injury, that's for sure!

**BobThePotato** · 10-27-2005, 03:25 AM

damn dude! i guess ill count myself freaking lucky then.

10-25-2005, 04:37 PM	#1
BladeRun New Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 8 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 0	Anyone have experience with ACL reconstruction? Found out for sure yesterday that my ACL is indeed severed. My options are to leave it, do some physical therapy for about 2 months, then live with a knee that is very limited, or full ACL reconstruction. Obviously the former is not an option (if I were 60, perhaps, but I'm 26), so it looks like ACL reconstruction for the win. Does anyone have any experience or knowledge regarding the recovery time for this? The surgeon said anywhere from 4 to 12 months for full recovery, but I didn't talk to him about the possiblity of lifting. Anyone have any idea how long it will be till I'm back to squating again? Its rather depressing, but on the plus side, over the last 3 weeks I've perfected the art of lifting chest, arms, back, and shoulders on 1 leg, so I'll survive if I have to skip legs for awhile.

10-27-2005, 02:28 AM	#6
BobThePotato Nublarsaurusrex Join Date: May 2005 Location: Calgary//Alberta Posts: 513 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 21	Yes. Both knees. And now im 99% sure i RE-tore it. SO i have plenty of experience. If your active and pro recovery. you will be back to lifting ect within 2-3 months and hardcore again with 4. ( As long as all uve done is torn ur acl) i was walking 4-5 days after surgerey on my left knee. Just gota be optemistic about it. Oh and yeh do it ortho. Oh and get them to use your hamstring ligament NOT your patella. You will experience HUGE muscle loss after surgerey. I lost about 4 inches within a week, although it comes back pretty fast. On the plus side you can get a perscritption of percaset :yes: __________________ "Geadelt ist wer Schmerzen kennt vom Feuer das in Lust verbrennt."

10-27-2005, 02:58 AM	#8
BobThePotato Nublarsaurusrex Join Date: May 2005 Location: Calgary//Alberta Posts: 513 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 21	No buddy, when i said tear i meant full rupture. LoL trust me i know where ur coming from. If i need surgerey again tho I will actually shoot myself in the face. Going without lifting for so long.. (4 months is an eternity to a 17yr old) i just cant do it for the 3rd time... __________________ "Geadelt ist wer Schmerzen kennt vom Feuer das in Lust verbrennt."

10-27-2005, 03:19 AM	#10
BobThePotato Nublarsaurusrex Join Date: May 2005 Location: Calgary//Alberta Posts: 513 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 21	yeh man.. that REALY sucks. Although i didnt find the actually epxeriences of the surgerey that painfull. On my left knee where it was just ACL i was walking unasisted in 3-4 days after surgerey. In my right where i had ACL and miniscus damage it took about a week to walk unasisted. Its just being undable to do what i love most that makes me want to scream. It sucks to feel helpless. __________________ "Geadelt ist wer Schmerzen kennt vom Feuer das in Lust verbrennt."

10-27-2005, 03:25 AM	#12
BobThePotato Nublarsaurusrex Join Date: May 2005 Location: Calgary//Alberta Posts: 513 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 21	damn dude! i guess ill count myself freaking lucky then. __________________ "Geadelt ist wer Schmerzen kennt vom Feuer das in Lust verbrennt."

10-25-2005, 07:54 PM	#2
DarkFalcon I've got a RAGING clue! Join Date: May 2005 Location: dnyc99's cleaning staff Posts: 11,511 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 299	Wow that sucks. How did you do it? I have no experience with it but at least you can still keep doing upper body and work the one leg..lol.

10-25-2005, 08:40 PM	#3
Steve_W Pro Stature Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 105 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 5	hey mate, I've completely raptured mine, been without it for 2-3 years. I have learnt to cope in the mean time, but the limitation sucks and I have had 2 relapses since. I would definitely recommend surgery, from a well known surgeon. This injury is becoming more and more common, and the success rate/knowledge behind reconstruction is very good. I, myself have not had surgery yet because when 18 I had not finished growing since my family has a genetic history of growing late, and all males don't really develop til around 21 or later so I will wait another year or so, but I would definitely recommend surgery to you.

10-26-2005, 03:45 PM	#4
BladeRun New Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 8 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 0	The story behind it is unfortunately nothing cool. I tore it playing volley ball w/ some people at the pool. Jumped/twisted, heard a pop. Hobbled out & then made the real mistake. Thought it was fine, came back in, tried to pivot, and heard what my friend called a "juicy pop". As far as the surgery goes, I waited 3 weeks to see a doctor who is supposedly the premier orthopedic surgeon in this part of the county. Awesome guy, tells me he can operate arthriscopically rather than open, so 3 small incisions rather than a 6 inch one down the center of my knee. I've been supprisingly successful lifting on 1 leg. Hit a new high on decline bench yesterday at 415x5 reps. So it's not all bad

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