Torn ACL. Damn
Discussion
Further to a couple of moaning threads on here ( http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0... ) I went to the specialist last night who got me straight in for an MRI. He phoned me this afternoon to advise that I have torn my anterior cruciate ligament and need surgery!
Any ideas what to expect? Recovery/time in hospital etc?
Anyone done similar? s
tting it already at the thought of going under the knife!
Any ideas what to expect? Recovery/time in hospital etc?
Anyone done similar? s
tting it already at the thought of going under the knife!Edited by Maxf on Thursday 17th December 17:15
First off. I’m not a doctor/physio or witchdoctor. Just a Joe Public that’s been through what you’re about to go through.
I tore my ACL just over 4 years ago playing rugby. Didn't have the op until December last year. According to my physio it's entirely possible to continue playing sport with a torn ACL as long as the surrounding muscles are strong enough (I have strong quads/hammies from biking when I was younger!).
I injured the same leg on four separate occasions, although the first three times were in a 6 month period – too eager too return. I had a completely ‘normal’ 3.5 years of relatively high level rugby in-between injury 3 and injury 4. Rugby is a relatively low level twisty turny sport hence why I was able to carry on pretty normally. I’d take some specialist advice on the sport/s you do.
My physio worked for Sarries for a bit and said a first teamer there played a whole season with a broken ACL but, being an Islander, and having humongous legs it didn't affect his game at all. He had the op in the off season mind. Something to do with his insurance.
Anyhow, the point of all this is double check that you really need the surgery first. I had three ops – 1) sucked out all the damaged cartilage etc and fully assessed the extent of the damage (no MRI can fully show what’s happened in there); 2) the reconstruction op; 3) A manipulation due to some aggressive scar tissue formation that was impeding the joint movement.
I’m not a physio but as far as advice goes:
Pre-op do as much leg work as you can. Specifically quads and hammies. You will be aghast at how quickly leg muscle disappears when you don’t use it. Leg muscle is integral to supporting the graft in the early stages (0-12 weeks). Obviously wait for pain/swelling to subside before commencing any exercise. If pain/swelling occurs STOP immediately as you’ll be doing further damage. There was a period of about 2 months between the injury (fourth time) and my op where I hammered my legs in the gym.
After the op take your time and do EVERYTHING your physio says. I didn’t and it landed me on the slab again for op 3. The graft (either from your hammy or your patellar (at the front, bit attached to the bottom of your knee cap)) is very weak and apparently gets weaker before it gets stronger. No twisting at all. Only basic exercises. Your physio will run through everything you need to do rehab wise.
Feel free to PM me if you want anything more specific. I’ve been rehabing for more than a year now. It is a long old road. Best of luck.
I tore my ACL just over 4 years ago playing rugby. Didn't have the op until December last year. According to my physio it's entirely possible to continue playing sport with a torn ACL as long as the surrounding muscles are strong enough (I have strong quads/hammies from biking when I was younger!).
I injured the same leg on four separate occasions, although the first three times were in a 6 month period – too eager too return. I had a completely ‘normal’ 3.5 years of relatively high level rugby in-between injury 3 and injury 4. Rugby is a relatively low level twisty turny sport hence why I was able to carry on pretty normally. I’d take some specialist advice on the sport/s you do.
My physio worked for Sarries for a bit and said a first teamer there played a whole season with a broken ACL but, being an Islander, and having humongous legs it didn't affect his game at all. He had the op in the off season mind. Something to do with his insurance.
Anyhow, the point of all this is double check that you really need the surgery first. I had three ops – 1) sucked out all the damaged cartilage etc and fully assessed the extent of the damage (no MRI can fully show what’s happened in there); 2) the reconstruction op; 3) A manipulation due to some aggressive scar tissue formation that was impeding the joint movement.
I’m not a physio but as far as advice goes:
Pre-op do as much leg work as you can. Specifically quads and hammies. You will be aghast at how quickly leg muscle disappears when you don’t use it. Leg muscle is integral to supporting the graft in the early stages (0-12 weeks). Obviously wait for pain/swelling to subside before commencing any exercise. If pain/swelling occurs STOP immediately as you’ll be doing further damage. There was a period of about 2 months between the injury (fourth time) and my op where I hammered my legs in the gym.
After the op take your time and do EVERYTHING your physio says. I didn’t and it landed me on the slab again for op 3. The graft (either from your hammy or your patellar (at the front, bit attached to the bottom of your knee cap)) is very weak and apparently gets weaker before it gets stronger. No twisting at all. Only basic exercises. Your physio will run through everything you need to do rehab wise.
Feel free to PM me if you want anything more specific. I’ve been rehabing for more than a year now. It is a long old road. Best of luck.
Ginger goblin said:
First off. I’m not a doctor/physio or witchdoctor. Just a Joe Public that’s been through what you’re about to go through.
I tore my ACL just over 4 years ago playing rugby. Didn't have the op until December last year. According to my physio it's entirely possible to continue playing sport with a torn ACL as long as the surrounding muscles are strong enough (I have strong quads/hammies from biking when I was younger!).
I injured the same leg on four separate occasions, although the first three times were in a 6 month period – too eager too return. I had a completely ‘normal’ 3.5 years of relatively high level rugby in-between injury 3 and injury 4. Rugby is a relatively low level twisty turny sport hence why I was able to carry on pretty normally. I’d take some specialist advice on the sport/s you do.
My physio worked for Sarries for a bit and said a first teamer there played a whole season with a broken ACL but, being an Islander, and having humongous legs it didn't affect his game at all. He had the op in the off season mind. Something to do with his insurance.
Anyhow, the point of all this is double check that you really need the surgery first. I had three ops – 1) sucked out all the damaged cartilage etc and fully assessed the extent of the damage (no MRI can fully show what’s happened in there); 2) the reconstruction op; 3) A manipulation due to some aggressive scar tissue formation that was impeding the joint movement.
I’m not a physio but as far as advice goes:
Pre-op do as much leg work as you can. Specifically quads and hammies. You will be aghast at how quickly leg muscle disappears when you don’t use it. Leg muscle is integral to supporting the graft in the early stages (0-12 weeks). Obviously wait for pain/swelling to subside before commencing any exercise. If pain/swelling occurs STOP immediately as you’ll be doing further damage. There was a period of about 2 months between the injury (fourth time) and my op where I hammered my legs in the gym.
After the op take your time and do EVERYTHING your physio says. I didn’t and it landed me on the slab again for op 3. The graft (either from your hammy or your patellar (at the front, bit attached to the bottom of your knee cap)) is very weak and apparently gets weaker before it gets stronger. No twisting at all. Only basic exercises. Your physio will run through everything you need to do rehab wise.
Feel free to PM me if you want anything more specific. I’ve been rehabing for more than a year now. It is a long old road. Best of luck.
Really good advice that. The entire winning All Black side where ACL deficient in 87 as far as my memory recalls. I work alongside a physio and sports medicine doctor and we always offer rehab before surgery, if they decide on surgery the its still loads of closed chain exercises again for quad and hamstring strength.I tore my ACL just over 4 years ago playing rugby. Didn't have the op until December last year. According to my physio it's entirely possible to continue playing sport with a torn ACL as long as the surrounding muscles are strong enough (I have strong quads/hammies from biking when I was younger!).
I injured the same leg on four separate occasions, although the first three times were in a 6 month period – too eager too return. I had a completely ‘normal’ 3.5 years of relatively high level rugby in-between injury 3 and injury 4. Rugby is a relatively low level twisty turny sport hence why I was able to carry on pretty normally. I’d take some specialist advice on the sport/s you do.
My physio worked for Sarries for a bit and said a first teamer there played a whole season with a broken ACL but, being an Islander, and having humongous legs it didn't affect his game at all. He had the op in the off season mind. Something to do with his insurance.
Anyhow, the point of all this is double check that you really need the surgery first. I had three ops – 1) sucked out all the damaged cartilage etc and fully assessed the extent of the damage (no MRI can fully show what’s happened in there); 2) the reconstruction op; 3) A manipulation due to some aggressive scar tissue formation that was impeding the joint movement.
I’m not a physio but as far as advice goes:
Pre-op do as much leg work as you can. Specifically quads and hammies. You will be aghast at how quickly leg muscle disappears when you don’t use it. Leg muscle is integral to supporting the graft in the early stages (0-12 weeks). Obviously wait for pain/swelling to subside before commencing any exercise. If pain/swelling occurs STOP immediately as you’ll be doing further damage. There was a period of about 2 months between the injury (fourth time) and my op where I hammered my legs in the gym.
After the op take your time and do EVERYTHING your physio says. I didn’t and it landed me on the slab again for op 3. The graft (either from your hammy or your patellar (at the front, bit attached to the bottom of your knee cap)) is very weak and apparently gets weaker before it gets stronger. No twisting at all. Only basic exercises. Your physio will run through everything you need to do rehab wise.
Feel free to PM me if you want anything more specific. I’ve been rehabing for more than a year now. It is a long old road. Best of luck.
Agree on the advice about not rushing into reconstructive surgery. I have worked with 5 or 6 sportsmen with ruptured ACLs. One currently plays Scottish Premier League professional football / International football after 2 failed ACL reconstruction ops undertaken in America by one of the most recognised specialists in the business. Take from that what you will ... not all ops are the same... not all are successful... high level activity can be performed without an ACL. I can think of a couple of folk who continued to perform high level sport having positively decided to go down the muscle rehab / strenghening route as opposed to surgery and a couple of others who have had sucessful surgery and returned to high level sport. Obviously you should be guided by your specialists as to what should give you the best outcome but don't neccessarily take the view that not having surgery is somehow a lesser choice.
The above posts are spot on. I snapped mine a year and a half back, playing footy.
Went to see a highly recommended orthopaedic surgeon in work, he gave my leg a quick wiggle and told me there then it was shot. We had a little chat, and decided it was best to get the surgery asap (rightly or wrongly).
Personally I work long hard hours, and I would struggle to maintain motivation for physio at home to try and strengthen the muscles.
Once the original swelling went down, I was cut open and fixed back together with a hamstring graft. I was recovering great, till I pushed myself too hard (2 months post op) on my honeymoon while snorkeling wearing flippers.
It's a long road, I'm made up with the job the surgeon did, he is very well regarded in this aspect.
I'm happy I dived straight in and got the op. I was 26, very light, so had everything going for me.
I still have little niggles concerning my hamstring, but that's just due to my lack of disipline with continuing the physio.
I was genuinley gutted when he told me (no football for at least 9 months) that it had snapped, I was convinced I had twisted it. It seems crap now, but it wil get better.
If you do go for surgery, choose your surgeon! Do your research, I had to travel out of my county to get the surgeon I wanted. However, it's your knee, and you want it done right 1st time.
Went to see a highly recommended orthopaedic surgeon in work, he gave my leg a quick wiggle and told me there then it was shot. We had a little chat, and decided it was best to get the surgery asap (rightly or wrongly).
Personally I work long hard hours, and I would struggle to maintain motivation for physio at home to try and strengthen the muscles.
Once the original swelling went down, I was cut open and fixed back together with a hamstring graft. I was recovering great, till I pushed myself too hard (2 months post op) on my honeymoon while snorkeling wearing flippers.
It's a long road, I'm made up with the job the surgeon did, he is very well regarded in this aspect.
I'm happy I dived straight in and got the op. I was 26, very light, so had everything going for me.
I still have little niggles concerning my hamstring, but that's just due to my lack of disipline with continuing the physio.
I was genuinley gutted when he told me (no football for at least 9 months) that it had snapped, I was convinced I had twisted it. It seems crap now, but it wil get better.
If you do go for surgery, choose your surgeon! Do your research, I had to travel out of my county to get the surgeon I wanted. However, it's your knee, and you want it done right 1st time.
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