What to expect with a torn ACL & MCL

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What to expect with a torn ACL & MCL
Author Message
flag jskiff
Posted: Jul 16, 2015 at 12:32 Quote
Fingers crossed for all us kneeless wonders!

Got to call my specialist in the next few weeks to firm up D-Day!

Will keep you all posted and good luck Smile
flag inverted180
Posted: Jul 16, 2015 at 19:40 Quote
Broke my f'n collarbone a week ago....I'll be lucky if I get 2 weeks left of riding before my knee surgery now.

Shat is starting add up.... oh well still remaining positive.


As far as hamstrings. I had my other knee aclr 17years ago and that was the hardest thing to rehab. The havested from the hamstring as well and I dont know if that was the reason but its work to get your hamstring pain free.

Try eccentric hamstring excerses something like this https://youtu.be/vynsCfHZ69A

actually this video is pretty good for rehab https://youtu.be/136r3U-Pewk

FYI I still am prone to hamstring tendonitis in that leg. If I keep it stretched out and build it up Im fine though.
flag Justachillin2
FL
Posted: Jul 17, 2015 at 11:50 Quote
MilkweedSeed wrote:
That MCL scar looks FRIGGIN NASTY dude! Best of luck to you.
My knee is still not great, seems like I will take longer to heal than anticipated. Starting to get pains in the hamstring area, where they harvested the graft. Supposed to see doctor in October, but may need to call in a early visit. Therapist thinks I have tendinitis, may be pushing myself to much. The patella tendon has been on fire the last 3 weeks, since I went to a water park with my boys. I guess the inclined walking barefoot on the blacktop is the main culprit.

Hears to healing those knees!Beer
Thanks man walking good now and have little pain now. I opted for the cadaver to speed the healing process so they didn't have to dig into my hamstring. I think I'm 2 months out this week. Rode the bike around the back yard last weekend to see how it felt. Still a little iffy. Doc said I can ride it on the street for now and go hard if I want at 3 months but told me to stay of the trails for 6 months. That's not gonna happen. Good luck to all with this shitty injury.
flag jskiff
Posted: Jul 23, 2015 at 2:56 Quote
Message left with the hospital to make arrangements to finalise D-Day!
flag andrewbikeguide
O+
Posted: Jul 25, 2015 at 12:01 Quote
Thought I would add my 2 cents worth:

Skiing injury on steep fall line of piste (twisting fall) on 22 Dec 2014. 45 years old, 6'2" and 95 kgs, reasonably fit. But esentially long and heavy.

Left knee twisted, heard two pops and knew it was bad before I had finished sliding.
Evacuated to the clinic (thanks Patrol), saw Emergency Doctor within 45 minutes, off to x-ray (nothing conclusive) and referred to Ortho Surgeon for the following afternoon.
Knee already swelling like a balloon, impossible to weight bear.

Injury plus 28 hrs see the ortho surgeon: Diagnosis; probably broken the tibia, definitely severed ACL, probably damaged MCL, no idea about meniscus or cartilage. Referred for MRI.

Prescription for cryo-cuff and physio and post surgical knee brace.

Christmas Eve: Start physio 3-4 times per week to reduce swelling and regain flexion & extension. Donjoy post op knee brace fitted.

12 Jan 2015. MRI with dye (lovely).
Diagnosis: Grade 3 ACL, depressed fracture of lateral tibial plateau. Severe bone bruising (2" deep) of medial femoral condyle. Severe bruising of medial tibial plateau. Baker's cyst at the back of the knee (damage to knee capsule). MCL and Menicus looks okay and no apparent damage to articular cartilage.

Estimated time for healing of fracture: six weeks.
Estimated time for healing of bone bruising: 9-18 months.

Physio to continue at rate of 203 times per week. Flexion slow to return, extension really slow to return.

10 March 2015: Add Pool therapy to regime. Twice per week - 45-55 minutes walking, running etc in with pool floatation.
belt.
Adding spinning and reformer to regime at physio.

07 April 2015: Get a Breg Custom LPR knee brace. Wonderful, so much more confortable than the post-op do everything model.

29 April 2015: cleared to ride with no load on the road, I can finally ride my bike to and from work and physio. Feels like Christmas (but better than the last one)! Move from crutches to walking cane!

25th May: First off road MTB ride, with wife and dog. On a jeep road but who cares it is off road!!

30th May: First single track ride, very short and very basic but again it is off road so as giddy as a five year old getting their first BMX bike!!!

June 2015: finally get full flexion and extension in knee. Cleared for surgery.

06 June 2015: Promised to support a buddy at a round of the BC Enduro Series (Penticton) and managed to pre-ride Stages 1-4 with him and then ride another 8 km back to my car. 26 km day, biggest since the injury, completely destroyed from an energy point of view but feel great. Knee feels great.

25 June 2015: SURGERY DAY: ACL surgery with hamspring graft. Excellent surgical team. Excellent result. Apparently have fantastic hamstrings, Surgeon very happy and postiive for strong outcome. I did not need any meniscus work or micro-frature so I was chuffed when I was told that. Don't feel too bad from anaesthetic.

Day 1 Post Op: Surgical anaethetic wears off. JUST SHOOT ME NOW levels of pain. Body shakes hard every time I stand up and move around. This lasts for two days. Taking the pain meds as recommended by the surgeon. Living in cryo-cuff with leg raised. Doing contraction, flexion and extension exercises as often as I can (at least once per hour).

Op plus one week: dressing change, all good, some funky blood blisters where the steri-strips are anchored. Must be the pressure pulling on the skin. Incisions are really clean and healing well. Still taking the pain meds.

8 days post op first physio session, flexion and extension better than expected, first spin but feel nauseous and faint.

Two weeks post op: Second dressing change, healing going well, steri-strips removed, apply Duo-derm hysro colloidal dressing to blister and incision areas to ensure that they heal as well as possible (I use these on crash grazes as they encourage new skin to grow underneath and seriously reduce scarring).

Physio twice per week, including spining and reformer work. Muscles especially lateral quad are wasting a bit but that is expected. Hamstring feeling really good which shows how important pre-surgical conditioning work is.

Three weeks post op: Change Duo-derm. Buy a spin bike. Adding 3-4 15 minute spin session per day to rehab work.
I am using a walking cane around the house but use my crutches in public to avoid being walked into or knocked.

No pain, a little bit of numbness in the fat pad, maybe a nerve got nicked during surgery?

Anticipated recovery: I will start aqua therapy again as soon as the incisions are completely healed (prob 28 days post op). Spinning will help flush out the knee so day is now filled with spinning and cryo cuff.

+ 2 months: riding on the road (hopefully), wearing LPR brace just in case.

30% grafts fail because patients push themselves too hard or try and do sports they were told not to do at the 12 week point.

Graft is particularly weak from 3-6 months as it transforms from hamstring to ACL tendon (apparently).

+ 6 months: single track.

+ 9 months: skiing (maybe; depending on conditions).

Photos here: https://www.pinkbike.com/u/amrskipro/album/2014-15-Left-Knee-ACL-Injury/

Best things for recovery:
Cryo-cuff.
Ice maker.
Good physiotherapist/s.
Bossu/ balance boards.
Pool therapy.
Good food and lots of sleep, including switching to non-alcoholic beer (Holstein is my favourite).
Wearing knee brace for all risk activities.
Avoiding all pivoting activities.
Following your surgeon and physio's orders/ advice!!!
flag jskiff
Posted: Jul 31, 2015 at 5:06 Quote
Cheers for sharing that fella and I'm glad all went well. I've got it all to come, so fingers crossed I will have an equally good experience!

Did you buy your own 'custome' knee brace or was that provided by the health service?
flag jskiff
Posted: Sep 1, 2015 at 1:55 Quote
Pre-Op set for the 23rd of September, I assume I'll get my date for the operation then.
flag inverted180
Posted: Sep 1, 2015 at 6:13 Quote
Good luck buddy.

I cancelled my surgery for Sept.14th. Like I wrote I broke my collarbone 2 months ago, just getting back on the bike again from that and really wasmt looking forward to this surgery.

Biggest factor has been that the knee has been really stable. I havent noticed anything since the initial injury healed. This included some dh riding; light soccer and extensive rehab with stability and agility training. Only symptom I have left is some pain in the hamstring.

Basically I plan to have a light and careful ski season this winter, biking in the summer again and get the sugery next fall. Im pretty sure im at a greater risk for re injury but hopefully I can avoid that and make it through till next year.
flag Justachillin2
FL
Posted: Sep 1, 2015 at 8:49 Quote
jskiff wrote:
Pre-Op set for the 23rd of September, I assume I'll get my date for the operation then.

Nice! Good luck. I'm almost 4 months out. In Austria right now riding down the alps. I'm still in one piece....so far!
flag inverted180
Posted: Sep 1, 2015 at 11:01 Quote
4 months post or pre op? If your post op you are risking your new acl as its not fully healed, even if your knee feels up to it.
flag Justachillin2
FL
Posted: Sep 1, 2015 at 11:54 Quote
inverted180 wrote:
4 months post or pre op? If your post op you are risking your new acl as its not fully healed, even if your knee feels up to it.

Yeah post op. Doc cleared me to do light trails. But come on, I'm in Austria! I survived, I'm good. It's my second knee, healthcare is free. You only live once. It was all down hill. Blah blah blah. I wouldn't recommend it though. Was having some flashbacks for sure. Had to get it outta my system though.
flag jskiff
Posted: Sep 2, 2015 at 8:18 Quote
Justachillin2 wrote:
inverted180 wrote:
4 months post or pre op? If your post op you are risking your new acl as its not fully healed, even if your knee feels up to it.

Yeah post op. Doc cleared me to do light trails. But come on, I'm in Austria! I survived, I'm good. It's my second knee, healthcare is free. You only live once. It was all down hill. Blah blah blah. I wouldn't recommend it though. Was having some flashbacks for sure. Had to get it outta my system though.

Both right and wrong in a single statement haha :-)

Fingers crossed I'm 'feeling' up to that sort of thing following the operation!
flag inverted180
Posted: Sep 2, 2015 at 9:12 Quote
From everything I read any risky sports before 9 months is really not a good idea as the new grafted acl is not fully healed not matter how good your knee feels. Pushing it with 8 months or even 7 I could see but 4 is a risk I wouldnt want to take.

Me thinks your doc doesnt know what mountian biking for people like us really is....
flag Justachillin2
FL
Posted: Sep 2, 2015 at 10:02 Quote
inverted180 wrote:
From everything I read any risky sports before 9 months is really not a good idea as the new grafted acl is not fully healed not matter how good your knee feels. Pushing it with 8 months or even 7 I could see but 4 is a risk I wouldnt want to take.

Me thinks your doc doesnt know what mountian biking for people like us really is....

Yeah I just asked if I could do some easy trails aka not pavement. Pretty sure he wouldn't approve of what I did. It wasn't smart on my part. But it was 10km of the best downhill single track I have ever rode!
flag MilkweedSeed
Posted: Sep 15, 2015 at 17:10 Quote
Well September 12th was a year since I tore my ACL and MCL, Still stiff, have some swelling, and a fair amount of pain, more stiff than pain most of the time. Down to 2 PT sessions a week now. Ridding the bike on light trails, and running at 85% body weight on the Alter-G treadmill at PT.

Turning 40 in a few weeks and don't think I will be skiing like I used to, or ever be 100%. Still have a great deal of atrophy in my quads. Have read a great deal is mental, so hoping that's the case and I get back up to shreddin and rippin better than before!

Good luck and healing to everyone!!!

 


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