ACL Surgery today

[greenghost]

I have had a torn ACL for a number of years and I reinjured it out shed hunting with the kids the other day. We finally decided that I better get it fixed before I really mess up my knee. So I am going in to get a hamstring graft in a couple of hours.

Not a "serious" problem (compartively speaking around here), but I am worried that I won't be able to make it back well enough to be able to hunt this september. That would SUCK!

Anybody else have this surgery done? Any thoughts on the possibility of getting back enough to make it out this year?

[jgbennett6]

good luck to you, you should def. be able to hunt come this sept. I Completely severed my ACL tor my meniscus and had a Impact fracture of my medial femoral chondyle. Surgery took 3 hrs, and 2 stainless steel screws.........i had the surgery friday sept 13th...shot my buck on a spot and stalk october 27th..............you should be able to walk without crutches in roughly 2-3 weeks.i went for a jog around a basketball court 1 month to the day after the surgery.......the total rehab time was 4 months.....it was slightly excelerated due to what i was doing.....however normal recovery rate with full range of motion should be 6 months.............but you should eb able to hunt 1-2 months after surgury. just wear your brace and take it easy.

[Scooter]

I think attitude has a lot to do with recovery time. Having a goal (hunting season) is good as it should keep you in a positive state of mind through the rehab. Good luck to you.

[greenghost]

jg, man that is a quick recovery from some serious reconstruction.

Things are going well for me. I have had a bum knee for the better part of 25 years and expected them to find all sort of cartilage and meniscus damage when they got in there. But no. The surgeon said that he hoped his cartilage looked as good as mine. And, while I had a few scuffs and a small "flapper" on the meniscus (which he sewed down), the meniscus was in good shape over all.

I haven't been on pain meds since the day of the surgery, though I have been taking Ibuprofen for inflammation (800 mg three times a day for two days, 600 mg. three times a day for two days, 200 mg three times a day for two days). TONS of ice. Range of motion is good and swelling is pretty minimal as far as I can tell. I get the dressings off today and will be evaluated by the PT then.

[jgbennett6]

That is great news gg. .. Yes my recovery was fast, i was put on a fast pt protocal. The guy who did my surgery was teh ortho. Surg for teh US ski and snowboard Team and i had a deadline :).. that is great about the meniscus. i think you should be fine for hunting season. Once you get past the bone pain from the screws its all down hill. you will be suprised how fast it goes. Glad to see you make it through so well.

[greenghost]

One week out from surgery and things continue to go well for the knee. I have complete ROM lengething it (straigyt out. 0 degrees) and 111 degrees ROM flexing. I have got to spend some time on the stationary bike today at PT! Man, I happy. Got too much going on in my life to be laid up with a bum knee.

Incidentally, I am taking 1500mg per day of Glucosamine as an arthritis prevention. Not a well-established protocol, but some good scientific evidence to back it up.

[robk]

if you had it this long bro your lucky most people can't live with that kind of tear the pain when your moving around and if you tunr or spin on your leg wrong your in line for pain. i think i tore the mcl of left knee and i also fractured the knee cap and have a large chip just above the knee cap. oh i have had a total knee replacement on both knees and they are titainium lol. that is what happens when you try to tough it out. you have had some serious sloughing of your muscles around the knee due to the injury and now that your getting it fixed you should be able to have a complete recovery and i promise the pain is only going to last for the next year and it will be worth the surgery
up until the time i had to have both knee totally replaced i had had 6 knee surgeries. i may end up with another one before too long lol
take care and remember do what the doc says and know when they start therapy it hurts a lot lol
good luck to you and your family
rob k

[kykiller]

Wish you a speedy recovery, sounds like your well on your way.