Anyone had ACL tear before?

[Century Guy]

So, I'm curious...has anyone here ever tore their ACL before, or had surgery to repair it?

Remember how I mentioned this past weekend I was playing paintball, and sprained my knee? Seems the ER Dr. didn't have it quite right...it wasn't just a spraing. My regular doc (who is also a Sports Physician for the BGSU Football team), looked at my knee, and is 99% sure I tore my ACL. Wants an MRI done, and I'll probably need surgery.

I'm curious as to what normal recovery time is (I forgot to ask him). I'm going out of country November 1st (going to Egypt), and I want to be sure I'll be healed enough to go!

Thanks for any insight!

[Goin2thechapel]

Yep!!! It's the worst surgery I have EVER gone through!!!!

It took me a solid 8 weeks to return to work...Couldn't walk without crutches or a cane for almost 3 1/2 weeks...Physical therapy was tough...

My ACL was completely severed...I ripped it during an aerobics class :bbredface:

[Century Guy]

Argh. I'm starting to wonder why I asked now.

Well, I have a desk job (I sit in front of a computer all day...I LOVE it), so I'm thinking work won't be a major issue. My boss already knows about this, and I should be able to be moved to a desk downstairs (I currently work on the 2nd floor.)

So...if I have it soon, do you think I'd be able to go out of country by November 1st?

[mitch]

I had surgery on my knee back in 1992 and the Docs told me i'd be on Crutches for upto 6 months. I was getting Married in less than 4 months after the operation so i handed my crutches back in under Three Weeks :bbeek: Was tough going and not highly recommended. But each to their own.

I did find this online. It might give you some answers.

http://orthopedics.about.com/od/aclinjury/f/rehabtime.htm

BTW i'm dead jealous you are going to Egypt.
I've been wanting to go there since i was 5 Years Old and was hoping to go for my (Sshh, say it quietly, 40th) Birthday in January. But it doesn't look like its going to happen :bbcry:

Oh well, maybe in another Five Years for my next "Milestone"

Hey, any year without a Headstone is a Milestone right!! :rofl:

[Goin2thechapel]

Of course! My physical therapy helped TONS...PLus they put me on a CPM machine that streched and contracts your legs all day long...It helps too...

But I have to let you know, Having my knee surgery made me realize how much I needed to marry my husband. I couldn't walk without crutches for the first few days and the meds made me sick...So he helped me up to go to the bathroom and I started to get really sick so I sat back down and he came over with a cup to pee in and cleaned me up...LMAO...(i've told this story before) but that's when I knew that I Kneeded (pun intended) him :)

[mitch]

Of course! My physical therapy helped TONS...PLus they put me on a CPM machine that streched and contracts your legs all day long...It helps too...

But I have to let you know, Having my knee surgery made me realize how much I needed to marry my husband. I couldn't walk without crutches for the first few days and the meds made me sick...So he helped me up to go to the bathroom and I started to get really sick so I sat back down and he came over with a cup to pee in and cleaned me up...LMAO...(i've told this story before) but that's when I knew that I Kneeded (pun intended) him :)

Now THAT'S Love.

A cup to Pee in.
And a cup with Tea in.

Don't mix them up though :rofl:

[Goin2thechapel]

Now THAT'S Love.

A cup to Pee in.
And a cup with Tea in.

Don't mix them up though :rofl:
LOL!!! That's funny!!

[Century Guy]

Thanks so much all for the insight all. I'm going to check out that link as soon as I'm done posting.

Mitch, if you want to hear more about my Egypt trip, drop me a line. I'd love to share... :)

[mitch]

Thanks so much all for the insight all. I'm going to check out that link as soon as I'm done posting.

Mitch, if you want to hear more about my Egypt trip, drop me a line. I'd love to share... :)

Oh the pain as you rub salt into my wounds :rofl:

I'm surrounded by Egyptian artifacts at Home. I've got Four Foot Tall Anubis Figure in my lounge. I'll hug that and weep while you're having a brilliant time in Egypt.

One day i'll get there. :winktongue:

I hope you get your Knee sorted out and Good Luck.

[Whitewater]

If you get your repair surgery for your ACL done RIGHT NOW (as in, before the end of July) depending on how bad it is you *should* be ok. You might have to walk with a cane, or bring crutches with you, but you *should* be able to get about on your own.

Notice I say, *should*. You won't be climbing pyramids or running through the sand (in fact, you might not be able to walk in sand at all, because of the extra effort sand requires) but you'll probably be able to get about on your own two feet. Maybe. Depending on how badly you tore it. I'd bring your wheelchair with you. Oh, yeah, I was assuming a wheelchair -- 'cause you're going to need one, at least for a while, until they let you put weight on your foot.

A good friend of mine tore her ACL pretty badly in . . . early June, I think it was, the summer before she was supposed to get married in mid-October, and she walked down the aisle without aid, though she *did* still have her crutches and all with her, just in case. She danced at her reception etc too, though she did a lot of sitting down.

She spent almost three weeks in bed after her surgery, wearing one of those cold water pump things around her knee, and spent the first 10 days so doped up she couldn't even count to one without help. Her fiance was invaluable during that time.


Whitewater

[Thalia_themuse]

Century guy - sorry you hurt yourself! I popped my kneecap when I was 15 and any kind of leg injury makes me cringe! I'm afraid I have no advice but I just wanted to pass on best wishes and condolences!! I hope you get better soon so you can enjoy Egypt!!

I've got Four Foot Tall Anubis Figure in my lounge. I'll hug that and weep while you're having a brilliant time in Egypt.

Holy cr*p, you just became my idol! I'm hoping to get to Egypt one day too - my love for Egypt got me into archaeology in the first place! *wishes she had Anubis in her lounge room too!!*

[Century Guy]

Whitewater, I'm going to be working to recover much sooner than that. I can't afford that kind of downtime. 3 weeks in bed? Holy crimeny... No way. I'll go crazy. And I definitely can't get that kind of time off work and still go to Egypt.

Sheesh. I'm getting more annoyed with myself and this whole thing by the second...

[mitch]

Holy cr*p, you just became my idol! I'm hoping to get to Egypt one day too - my love for Egypt got me into archaeology in the first place! *wishes she had Anubis in her lounge room too!!*

Here he is by the Lounge door when we used to live in a 300 Year Old Cottage. Bear in mind the door is under Five Foot High. I had to bend to go through. Plus the floor sloped away from the door. We had to walk down a slope to get into bed too. :bbeek:

On the shelving in the right of the picture was my entire Egyptian collection. (Bordering on the obsessive lol)

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w229/mitchymoomoo/DSC03404.jpg

[Qtpie]

I damaged my ACL as well as tore my meniscus about three years ago. When i woke up from surgery I was on crutches for 6 weeks and then the rehab began. It was awful, painful. Anyways I was back on my feet about 3 months after surgery without cruthches or a cane. It took me about a full year to be completely pain free. But it was definatley worth the surgery.

[Thalia_themuse]

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w229/mitchymoomoo/DSC03404.jpg

That is so awesome.... :w00t:

[Century Guy]

Well, the MRI is tomorrow. Oddly enough, my knee isn't feeling too bad at all this morning, but I know something isn't right still with it. Just feels a bit..."rubbery."

Tomorrow morning is my MRI. We'll find out more than.

**Side note: Whenever I heard/see anything about Anubis, my mind immediately goes to SG-1. Sorry, couldn't resist. (Wonders how many sci-fi fans there are here than understand that.)

[Goin2thechapel]

Well, the MRI is tomorrow. Oddly enough, my knee isn't feeling too bad at all this morning, but I know something isn't right still with it. Just feels a bit..."rubbery."

Tomorrow morning is my MRI. We'll find out more than.

**Side note: Whenever I heard/see anything about Anubis, my mind immediately goes to SG-1. Sorry, couldn't resist. (Wonders how many sci-fi fans there are here than understand that.)
Good Luck! I'll be thinking about you!

[Thalia_themuse]

Well, the MRI is tomorrow. Oddly enough, my knee isn't feeling too bad at all this morning, but I know something isn't right still with it. Just feels a bit..."rubbery."

Tomorrow morning is my MRI. We'll find out more than.

**Side note: Whenever I heard/see anything about Anubis, my mind immediately goes to SG-1. Sorry, couldn't resist. (Wonders how many sci-fi fans there are here than understand that.)

Good luck with it!! Luckily I was into Egyptian mythology before I started watching SG-1... But I know exactly which half-ascended dude you mean ;)

[Century Guy]

*chuckles* Glad SOMEBODY caught that.

Well, had my MRI this morning. They explained I had to lay perfectly still, otherwise it'd "blur." Offered me music/headphones, and my choice of: classical, classic rock, 80s, or country. I opted for the 80s, figuring it'd be a blast from the past.

1/2 hour later of staying perfectly still, I got up. The result?

The absolute WORST 80s music I've ever heard in my life! Honestly, it was terrible! I was hoping for a bit of Men at Work, or Air Supply, or whatever, but it was a bunch of no name 80s pop that all sounded the same. Bah!

Anyway, on a more serious note, I'll find out the results in a couple of days they said.

[kawinan]

What is ACL?Sorry...i really dont know about it.

[Whitewater]

Your ACL is your Anterior Cruxacious Ligament (I think that's spelled right!). It's the main ligament in your knee that holds your kneecap in place and allows your knee to function. Without it, you can't put any weight on your leg and you can't use your knee, so it's a pretty important ligament!!! Just think about all that your knee does for you :) That ligament is a large part of what makes your legs able to hold up your weight, too, so if you bust it, you're either on crutches or a wheelchair until it heals up.

Ligaments (and tendons, and so on) take longer to heal than muscle and bone, by quite a bit of time, because they're made of a totally different sort of material. They are also more difficult to control, pain-wise, because they're not muscle or bone. Most of the time, your options for pain management with a tendon/ligament injury are grinning and bearing it or being so doped up that you're unconscious, because that's the only way enough of the pain med will affect the ligament.

When I broke my collarbone and simultaneously did serious damage to my right shoulder ligaments, they didn't realize how much pain I was in until I called the doc's office and said 'Hey, I'm taking about 3000 mgs of ibuprophen twice a day -- do you guys have something stronger?' Naturally they freaked out (I was taking close to ten times the safe daily amount -- if you take more than that it can cause serious damage to your liver and kidneys) and I was put on stronger drugs, thank God. I got away with that with nothing more than the inability, now, to take ibuprophen and having to have liver function tests once a year.

Injuring your ligaments is not like injuring your muscles or getting a sprain. It's a very different injury, it takes longer to heal, and it hurts more.

That answer your question?


Whitewater

[Century Guy]

Um, thank you Whitewater, but I'll have to politely take issue with some of what you wrote.

1) My doctor confirmed via the MRI I had done that I have in fact torn my ACL.

2) I am walking on it, without the aid of crutches.

3) I am able to bear weight on it.

4) I honestly really have no pain to speak of, other than when I happen to step wrong and my knee buckles. Then...there is pain. Otherwise, none. I am taking no pain meds currently. (Though I'm sure I will after the surgery.)

(Maybe what you posted applies to people AFTER they have the surgery?)

I'll be speaking with the surgeon/specialist sometime next week (my doc's office is setting up the appointment today). I'll find out more then.

A friend of mine shared with me this week that he had the surgery also. His doctor had him on a passive motion machine the day after the surgery. 4-5 days later he was actually walking on it (albeit slowly and carefully) without crutches, but it took months of physical therapy for a decent recovery, and close to a year for "full healing."

I'll keep ya'll updated on how things go as they happen, and my own personal experience with the surgery/recovery/Physical Therapy/etc.

Thanks for all the replies everyone!

[Whitewater]

Century Guy, you are very, very lucky. Very lucky! I am pleased for you that your tear appears to be so minor. And I appreciate hearing that at least one person's experience with this is so minor.

I have a LOT of experience with people blowing their ACL's and have seen it happen right in front of me before to yet another friend of mine (THAT was truly nasty and sickening, I will spare you the details) . . . being in stuntwork and martial arts for so long, it was kind of a job hazard! I myself snapped my Achilles tendon and couldn't use my leg when it happened, so there's my own experience, but I guess it doesn't count for this discussion because it was my ankle and not my knee.

Virtually none of the ACL experiences that I have watched have been so minor as you describe, CG, and I will continue to hope and pray for you that your surgery continues on the 'minor annoyance' theme and that all goes well!!!

I guess it just goes to show that people's personal experiences can be drastically different, but they're none the less valid for all that. I've never heard of somebody tearing their ACL and yet being able to still walk on it, but there's a first time for everything!

Whitewater (now suspecting I lead a harder life, in some respects, than I thought!)

[mitch]

1/2 hour later of staying perfectly still, I got up. The result?

The absolute WORST 80s music I've ever heard in my life! Honestly, it was terrible! I was hoping for a bit of Men at Work, or Air Supply, or whatever, but it was a bunch of no name 80s pop that all sounded the same. Bah!

Anyway, on a more serious note, I'll find out the results in a couple of days they said.

LMAO. At least you got a Choice. When i had my scan (Forklift Truck Accident back in 2000) I had no choice but to listen to everything from Bach to Vera Lynn. :bbeek:

Good Luck with the Results. I really feel for you Americans because Health Care isn't Free like the NHS. And double fortunate in My case because the Insurance Company who sued the Forklift Driver who crashed into Me was footing the Bill. Or else i would have had to pay £5,000 ($10,000) for my Scan in Harley Street. Where all the Posh People go!

[mitch]

**Side note: Whenever I heard/see anything about Anubis, my mind immediately goes to SG-1. Sorry, couldn't resist. (Wonders how many sci-fi fans there are here than understand that.)

BTW i understood that. :D

But even though i think Michael Shanks who plays Daniel Jackson in the series is a "Bit of Alright" :winktongue:
I did get my Anubis long before then :rofl:

[Goin2thechapel]

Your ACL is your Anterior Cruxacious Ligament (I think that's spelled right!). It's the main ligament in your knee that holds your kneecap in place and allows your knee to function. Without it, you can't put any weight on your leg and you can't use your knee, so it's a pretty important ligament!!! Just think about all that your knee does for you :) That ligament is a large part of what makes your legs able to hold up your weight, too, so if you bust it, you're either on crutches or a wheelchair until it heals up.

Ligaments (and tendons, and so on) take longer to heal than muscle and bone, by quite a bit of time, because they're made of a totally different sort of material. They are also more difficult to control, pain-wise, because they're not muscle or bone. Most of the time, your options for pain management with a tendon/ligament injury are grinning and bearing it or being so doped up that you're unconscious, because that's the only way enough of the pain med will affect the ligament.

When I broke my collarbone and simultaneously did serious damage to my right shoulder ligaments, they didn't realize how much pain I was in until I called the doc's office and said 'Hey, I'm taking about 3000 mgs of ibuprophen twice a day -- do you guys have something stronger?' Naturally they freaked out (I was taking close to ten times the safe daily amount -- if you take more than that it can cause serious damage to your liver and kidneys) and I was put on stronger drugs, thank God. I got away with that with nothing more than the inability, now, to take ibuprophen and having to have liver function tests once a year.

Injuring your ligaments is not like injuring your muscles or getting a sprain. It's a very different injury, it takes longer to heal, and it hurts more.

That answer your question?


Whitewater
I completely severed my ACL and continued to walk on it for a month before I even got an MRI scheduled...I worked all along and even walked into the pre op room without wheelchairs, crutches, etc...

Also, The pain before the surgery wasn't bad at all...My knee just happened to "give out" on me alot. Almost like rubber knees :) The pain AFTER the surgery is a totally different thing though....I could have died!!!

[NOTKT]

I hope you can still go to Egypt! I'm sorry to hear about your knee!

[Century Guy]

Goin2theChapel, that's exactly how I would describe it. Really no pain, but it does give out from time to time if I"m not careful (and that's when it hurts.) Otherwise, "rubber knee" exactly like you described. And from what the doc implied, it IS a complete tear.

Anyway, I meet with the surgeon Wednesday.

Mitch: I'm not too worried about our Health System. We could certainly discuss that one, but in another thread. ;)

Whitewater: I'm thankful I've been able to get around, that's for sure. Thanks for contributing to this! We'll see how things go after the surgery!

[Thalia_themuse]

But even though i think Michael Shanks who plays Daniel Jackson in the series is a "Bit of Alright" :winktongue:
I did get my Anubis long before then :rofl:

Only "a bit"? :winktongue: That was one of my favourite parts of the show... especially when it was Daniel combined with Egyptian mythology - oh yeah! :D

[Thalia_themuse]

Goin2theChapel, that's exactly how I would describe it. Really no pain, but it does give out from time to time if I"m not careful (and that's when it hurts.) Otherwise, "rubber knee" exactly like you described. And from what the doc implied, it IS a complete tear.


When I popped my kneecap and damaged the 'sac' around it, I got "rubber leg" too. Almost fell flat on my face. *shudders* wasn't so pleasant, and was fairly painful. Obviously not at serious as what you've done to yourself though!!

Good luck with everything!! :goodluck:

[Thoothnail]

Century Guy,

I found this thread in a search and have to chime in. I had ACL surgery on Jund 24 and I'm glad I did. I'm semi-active in sports and it was either give up most of the sports or get the surgery. I had a great doctor and was off crutches within the first week. The main issue I'm fighting at this stage is it is difficult to walk down stairs. I still have to do it one step at a time. Upstairs is less of an issue and can walk a slow, but normal stride.

I kept a blog about my experiences, however since I'm not a trusted member yet I can't post the URL to it. So I'll spell it out:
http :// blog . gibby . com

I haven't updated it in a few weeks, but there's lots of links, pics and notes about my procedure and other stuff.

[Thoothnail]

If you decide to get the surgery or if the doctor prescribes just therapy, the most important advice I can give you is listen to your doctor and therapist. Stay on your exercises. They are key to giving your range of motion back quickly and getting your strength up.

[Century Guy]

Thanks so much for that, I'll be sure to check out your blog!

[Century Guy]

Surgery is next Thursday, 8/7 at 9:30am EST. Prayers are appreciated (if you're the praying type. Not trying to shove anything down anyone's throat or anything.)

Surgeon said he doesn't like "the gold option" repair which is the patella tendon. There's a new procedure that Dr. James Andrews uses (famous knee doc that works on pro athletes) that uses the hamstring. When I asked him about the hamstring stretching out over time, he said that was an issue in the past, but the new procedure uses a bundle of 4 grafts (or something to that effect), and my knee should actually be STRONGER than it was before.

Also, he will not be putting me on the constant passive motion machine. Studies have shown there's little difference between patients that have used it, and those that haven't...with the advantage actually going to the patients that have NOT used it and work their PT properly/consistently...they actually come out a hair stronger. (This is what he told me.)

He expects I'll be on 2 crutches for 4-5 days, then go down to one for about 4 days or so, and then I should be able to hobble around without them. No driving for probably 6 weeks, maybe less if I feel safe/comfortable being able to move my foot from the gas to brake suddenly if I have to.

They want to keep me overnight for pain management, but I may opt to go home same day if I think I'm ok enough.

It will be arthoscopic, and he'll only be making 3 cuts in my knee/leg.

I'm fairly encouraged, and my mindset is good. I plan on working my PT hard so I can bounce back quickly and have a good recovery.

Thanks for all the help everyone!

[Goin2thechapel]

They used my hamstrign to repair mine too...I do think it's much stronger!

I had the CPM machine and was sooo glad that I had it.It stretched me alot and took some of the stiffness away, But You're doctor knows better than I do...

Best of luck with everything! I'll be thinking about you!

[Thoothnail]

I do have to say that I would never doubt a doctor on his/her specialty, but I will add that I think a doctor, as with anyone's trade, will focus on what they have the most experience with or have had the most success with.

With that said, my doctor clearly steered me in the direction of the Patella option and today I'm five weeks out and life is good.

I do agree with Goin2thechapel about the CPM device, however I will never know how my recovery would have gone without it, but it sure was nice to have.

Century Guy I wish you good luck with your surgery. I have teams of people with prayers working for you so it will be as He desired.

[snowflakebride]

Good luck with your surgery! I hope you have a good recovery.

[Century Guy]

Hello all!

Well, just wanted to check in and let you know how things went.

I had my surgery this past Thursday, and the doctor said it went really well...other than one of the nurses dropping one of my grafts. Then they had to get a replacement from Toledo (which is about 1/2 hour north of where I live.) So the surgery took longer than it was supposed to. But the repair itself went great the doc said.

They were a bit concerned and kept me overnight due to the fact that they had trouble getting me back awake from the anaesthesia. It seems that I had low "saturation" (oxygen levels in my blood), and so they wanted to keep an eye on me. They had even put me on oxygen, and it wasn't helping a ton. One of the nurses thinks I might have a bit of sleep apnea. Great...just what I need.

The pain wasn't too bad on Thursday to be totally honest. They've given me Perocet though to manage it. Friday's pain was definitely more noticable, as it was on Saturday. Yesterday however, I only took 2 painkillers, and that was only after I had been up and moving around more. Today so far, no painkillers. (I'm working from home, and pretty much just staying in my chair with my leg elevated.)

Physical Therpay starts Wednesday (soonest they could get me in.) Right now my leg is in a full brace, and it's locked at 0 to 30 degrees. (However, I think they made a mistake...it appears to actually be at 40 degrees.) I'm able to move it around a bit, and can bend it within that 40 degrees. I'm not allowed to bear any weight on it though.

So, so far, so good. Other than having a crappy night's sleep Thursday night at the hospital, it hasn't been that been that bad. I even was able to not be sick after waking up after anaestesia! (They have me two types of anti-nausea medicine, and it worked!)

Thanks for all the thoughts, prayers, and input all. So far, so good.

[Nekochanpurr]

Good stuff!! I'm glad everything worked out! *^^*

[Goin2thechapel]

I was thinking about you and hoping that everything was going well! Thanks for updating us and get well soon!!!!

[Century Guy]

Thanks all!

Physical Therapy started yesterday, and wasn't TOO bad, but I could tell last night before going to bed that I had worked the knee/leg. They even hooked up a couple of electrodes to my quad to get it moving again. That...I did not like.

I'm allowed to bear weight on it now, but still have to walk with the brace on. Doc also does not want me bending it (doing my heel slides) quite yet...that comes next week.

It's comin' along. Meanwhile, I'm working from home, and have found that I'm actually MORE productive here I think. My internet connection is faster than at work, and there are relatively few distractions (other than my 3 year old, which Mommy takes care of most of the time. That, and an iPod/headphones on does wonders for helping me concentrate.)

I keep in contact with my coworkers at the office via IM and if we have to, cell phones. I plan on getting back into the office next Monday, and they're going to have me sit downstairs until I can do the stair thing again. My boss has been really accomodating, and I'm very appreciative of that.

[BlueFlower]

Hey Century Guy,

My brother tore his ACL last year and had to have surgery. The PT was extremely intensive- but he was in there 5 days a week. Within the first week of surgery they bent the whole entire knee back.

Its good you have a doctor who specializes in these things- that will probably help.

Make sure and go to therapy- you will be able to go on vacation- but most likely you will not be able to walk very long distances. Make sure you incorporate a lot of rest time in between your sight seeing.