Anyone else busted their ACL

[pabloB]

actually the surgery may never have been offered because well.... it's not actually proven to really work!! that's why I'm worried about it... I'm quite a good volleyball player and play(ed) competitvely but being only 6foot exactly I needed a big jump for spiking and blocking (which I had! I could soaarrr like an eagle lol) ... but not anymore with my knees being so bad... if i had the surgery then they told me, btw you will not be playing volleyball again mate no luck - i'd be just totally gutted...

but anyway next hospital is on 5th february so hopefully i'll start getting MRI scan to see the extent of the damage!

My surgeon asked for my expectations and whilst it may be foolhardy on his part to advise on that type of thing pre op I admire his confidence in my abilty to come back and play football and his faith in his own ability. One thing I might not be able to do is ski which is something I might have wanted to do in the future but we'll see how it goes! Get the MRI done asap - I couldn't believe the detail that show up on those MRI scans! You might get an arthroscopy after to double check what exactly damage is but see what you medical people tell you.

I guess that what you do in terms of jumping must take a massive toll on your knees - I wish you all the best mate.

 

[Docaroo]

...
I guess that what you do in terms of jumping must take a massive toll on your knees - I wish you all the best mate.

thanks dude, I'll keep y'all posted on my progress!!

I've had it for a long time now (i used to play competitive badminton all through my teens..) however the last 3 years I know exactly what made it worse....

3hrs of badminton training wednesday afternoon then 3 hours volleyball training wednesday night! with football and volleyball matches on weekends! arhggh....

definately didn't help matters! but yip we'll see how it goes from here :0

 

[pabloB]

Well 60 hours after my op i'm bored as hell!

Positves are I haven't had too much pain yet but movement is limited and the knee feels extremely stiff but i'm course I'm not expecting much at the moment! lol Started soem physio the afternoon after my op which I thought was a bit soon but who am I to argue with the experts.

Gotta sit on my Gym ball tomorrow - never thought I see such a thing as a big step forward lol.

Physio session on Tuesday Lords knows what's in store for then!!

Incision is also a fair bit longer than I thought it would be - A good 5" and about 25 staples - nice!! Still it was nice to be in and out in a day.

Knee is alo massive, I've been given an ice machine so using that for 1 hour on 1 hour off as advised! It's bloody good actually and feels bloody marvellous when it's on!

odoliam how's your rehab going?

 

[Deleted member 651465]

Ken Shamrock (Former WWE performer and UFC fighter) had the same issues with the ACL.

In fact, he had a rupture as you described.

Took him a good while to come back to a competitive level, but just wasn't the same fighter

 

[pabloB]

Rude not to post pictures...

odoliam Docaroo how's your progress

 

[odoliam]

holy...nuts!
that's one big hole in your leg - and the staples!! wow

Mine was nothing compared to that...I had a 2" incision and 3 small holes with simple plastic stitching in it. Mine was a lot more swollen than yours though!

I've started doing lots of strength work now - am doing hamstring and quad curls in the gym as well as presses. Still on low weights but it's a sudden change in training methods. I'm told after 4 months you can get stuck in - obviously taking care as you go and build up slowly.
After a gym session it's amazing how strong my leg feels - typical early big gains I guess as in any weight lifting! With the cold weather it's feeling very stiff though.
I'm not hurrying it though. I planned for the summer to be pretty much back to normal and the surgeon said that was a sensible target....mind you, have decided to do my motorbike test soon as I need some excitment as sport is out for a while yet! lol

He also asked me before the op (and everytime after that I meet him) what my goals are post-op. I said back to where I was before the tear, able for anything and he seems to think that is achieveable.

Liam

 

[pabloB]

holy...nuts!
that's one big hole in your leg - and the staples!! wow

Mine was nothing compared to that...I had a 2" incision and 3 small holes with simple plastic stitching in it. Mine was a lot more swollen than yours though!

I've started doing lots of strength work now - am doing hamstring and quad curls in the gym as well as presses. Still on low weights but it's a sudden change in training methods. I'm told after 4 months you can get stuck in - obviously taking care as you go and build up slowly.
After a gym session it's amazing how strong my leg feels - typical early big gains I guess as in any weight lifting! With the cold weather it's feeling very stiff though.
I'm not hurrying it though. I planned for the summer to be pretty much back to normal and the surgeon said that was a sensible target....mind you, have decided to do my motorbike test soon as I need some excitment as sport is out for a while yet! lol

He also asked me before the op (and everytime after that I meet him) what my goals are post-op. I said back to where I was before the tear, able for anything and he seems to think that is achieveable.

Liam

Sounds like you're making good headway mate thats good to see.Scar is longer than I thought but I needed a graft taken from mt Patella tendon so guess that's why, was also expecting the scar to be higher up! This is just shy of a week after so the swelling has reduced I hope from what it was!

How long did it take to get full flexion back in your leg, i'm at 85degrees at the mo

Can't wait just to get on the excercise bike for now lol! Pushing this gym ball back and forth is getting a tad boring!

 

[odoliam]

lol...took me quite a bit to get the full 130+degrees back comfortably
I could almost do it after about 2 weeks but it wasn't comfortable

I was on the bike on my second physio session (week 2) just gently moving back and forward, no full rotations for a few weeks though!
once you get the full rotation, same as everything, you can start to do more by building up - I was recommended to get a bike for home...yeah, hang on and I'll pop down the gym and see if they have one spare for a few months!!

good luck with the recovery and don't get too bored!!

Liam

 

[BoomAM]

I have yes, years and years ago, when i was 18.

In the last training session before the new season.
Was wearing blades, turned a team mate on the ball, dragging the ball back with my right foot, my left foot didnt move, got stuck in the ground.
Cue v.intense pain and me collapsing in a heap on the ground.

Lots of physio and one Op later and its still not right.
In fact, if i kneel on my left leg too long, the knee actually pops out of its joint! Straitening it cracks it back into place. Literally(very sickly sounding).

I havnt kicked a ball since. Which really gets to me at times, as i loved playing football more than anything.

 

[oneilldo]

Well I found out today that I have completely torn my ACL. Similar story to you guys, the ball came in I went to lift and twist my left leg to turn and someone was standing on my foot - cue a popping sound and some serious pain. I think my consultant uses the hamstring tendons rather than the patella if possible. He has assured me that it won't impact the strength of my left hamstring in day to day use (theretically it may be a tad weaker but not noticable). Getting an MRI next week and then an op shortly afterwards.
I was playing squash once a week and footy 3 times and I fully intend to get back to that level (the surgeon/consultant didnt think I was silly when I mentioned this). I am supposed to be going to spain this week before the op (booked ages ago) and the surgeon has given me the go ahead - which should be fun as jet2 seats arent really the largest for my 6ft3 frame even when I could bend my leg >45degrees.

8 mths seems like an age - I'm getting a hinged leg brace tomorrow as this is supposed to aid full weight bearing.

Thanks,

 

[oneilldo]

odoliam and pabloB can you let me know how the recovery is going and any hints and tips as I need to prepare myself. I think the only footy I will be playing for a while is PES on the wii.

Thanks,
oneilldo

 

[pabloB]

Hello Mate!

My recovery seems to be going ok, I'm now alomst 3 months post op but still taking things reasonably easy. The Consultant is very happy with it (saw him just over a week ago) and the graft has taken and it's pretty much back to normal. I've got numbness to the left of my kneecap which I still haven't got used to but that's no biggie.

My one on one physio stopped about 3 weeks ago and I now go to knee club every week at the hospital where I had the op - it's basically where 10 of us do circuits around their gymm with 3 Physio's on hand to check us over. I'm hopefully going to be running within the next couple of weeks which will be a result and then I've got angled shuttle runs to see how the twisting motion is.

Still haven't tried squatting in the gym but I'm doing wallslides without issue (like squats but with a gymball behind your back and you slide up and down the wall). Gave lunges ago thismorning actually and that seems ok but that was with bodyweight only no dumbells.

The only issue I've had was a fair amount of fluid around my kneecap which the consultant promply removed by sticking this outragoeus needle into it and sucked it out had it had this twice now - 1st time drew 50ml and the second 25ml and he's stuck some steroids in there which should stop any liquid coming back (it seems to have worked). Knee feels loads better for it.

Yes the long lay off is annoying especially as I run a team at work but wait until the physio satrts and you're doing very basic boring exercises - that's the bit that got me. I'm back in the gym now and progressively doing a bit more little by little.

Seeing the consultant next on June 6th where I'll hopefully get clearance to do something more exciting!!

The only thing I would say is get down the gym and work your legs as hard as possible too build up the muscles, so plenty of squats, lunges hammy curls etc etc. Trust me the muscle wastage following the op is staggering. Check that with your consultant first though as you injury maybe slightly different. Luckily my cartilage was all intact and no other ligaments were affected!


Any others questions shout.

 

[oneilldo]

Thats good news - good luck with the recovery.
I did mine last wednesday and the consultant says its a possible terrible triad but perhaps just a sprained MCL as well. I need an MRI pre-op to confirm the exact damage to the other ligaments/miniscus and this will be next week. I have only just managed to start to put some weight on it at the moment (still on crutches) so I'll check with him after the MRI to see what excercises he thinks I should do. I have got a hinged brace for my knee today (£220 - ouch) which is a lot better at the moment and allows me to bend the knee and put some weight on it - much better than the one from A&E which basically just kept my leg straight. He has given me some minor excersies todo (i.e. lie on the bed and lift leg-hold for five seconds and repeat).

I work in an office so I am hoping I won't need much time off following the op - did you have many days off post op?

 

[pabloB]

Thats good news - good luck with the recovery.
I did mine last wednesday and the consultant says its a possible terrible triad but perhaps just a sprained MCL as well. I need an MRI pre-op to confirm the exact damage to the other ligaments/miniscus and this will be next week. I have only just managed to start to put some weight on it at the moment (still on crutches) so I'll check with him after the MRI to see what excercises he thinks I should do. I have got a hinged brace for my knee today (£220 - ouch) which is a lot better at the moment and allows me to bend the knee and put some weight on it - much better than the one from A&E which basically just kept my leg straight. He has given me some minor excersies todo (i.e. lie on the bed and lift leg-hold for five seconds and repeat).

I work in an office so I am hoping I won't need much time off following the op - did you have many days off post op?

Initially I had an MRI which gave the most detailed pictures I've ever seen, amazing what goes on inside your knee. I also had an arthroscopy following the MRI which basically mean't the consultant stuck a camera in my knee (I've got a video of it lol) just to double check and to clean it out a bit. I'd be surprised if your chap didn't do this!!

Had a week off work following that (I'm also office based).

Following my actual graft op I had 3 weeks off work, and was on crutches for about 2.5 weeks of that. They'll get you doing exercises a few hours after the op but these are just basic leg raises and the like. Pain wise I have to say it was very good - didn't bother with the pain killers after about 3 days it ached more than actual pain but it was all very manageable.

I was in and out of hospital in a day and I think the op took about 90 mins but it might have been a bit longer.

Luckily I never needed cructches pre op or knee braces! Have you got private health cover?

Any other q's ?

 

[wedgie]

Mate of mine did his ligaments a few years ago, can't remember if it was anterior or posterior (I recall it was whichever is the worst of the two to do). Taking away the age he had to wait for the op, it was about 8 months after before he could even think about playing again.

 

[pabloB]

Mate of mine did his ligaments a few years ago, can't remember if it was anterior or posterior (I recall it was whichever is the worst of the two to do). Taking away the age he had to wait for the op, it was about 8 months after before he could even think about playing again.

yeah that sounds about right i'm hoping to be doing something football related in july time i.e. training and then play competitively in August - I guess only time will tell

 

[oneilldo]

I was in and out of hospital in a day and I think the op took about 90 mins but it might have been a bit longer.

Luckily I never needed cructches pre op or knee braces! Have you got private health cover?

Any other q's ?

Yeah I have private health cover which is a god send. I wouldn't know that I had torn it until this tuesday otherwise (the NHS knee clinic app was booked in for 13 days after my A&E visit). I couldn't put any weight on it for about 3 days and am about 1/2 and 1/2 with crutches and left leg now. A&E gave me a leg brace that kept my leg straight but I needed to bend it so I got a hinged one on advice of the consultant.

It should also help as I need to travel to spain this weekend pre op for my oldmans birthday. It is going to be abit of a chore on jet2 as I can't get the extra leg room seats as I am not classed as able bodied (all their extra legroom seats are infront of emergency exists) and at 6ft3 its already a bit of a squeeze.

I think I'll hold off until the MRI before trying weights, if I speak with the consultant before I'll see what he reckons.

I've also got a trapped nerve in my left elbow that requires surgery so this will have to wait until I am off crutches following the ACL reconstruction see the injury thread..

The consultant I am seeing said he would most likely use hamstring tendons - research on the internet points to the patella being potentially more strong but tbh I don't think their is much in it. Would be interested to know odoliam's opinion on this as he had the HS graft.

 

[pabloB]

Basically it's one or the other and I don't think there's much if any difference between the two. I guess it keeps all the scarring local to the knee rather than having two sites one knee one in the hamstring area. Plus each Consultant is obviously settled in their own technique.

The only thing I have noticed is that my hamstring is bloody tight just through less activity so I would guess so make sure your careful when you're recovering - I'd bet money that'll be my next injury if I don't take the right procautions.

Anyway this is how my knee is looking as at 5 mins ago! Slightly better than at the end of January!!

You can see the difference in my quads although I'm slowly getting this back on the operated on knee - you can also see that there is still slight swelling and a little liquid around the kneecap but that will dissipate over the coming weeks! I've never got through so much ice in my life - you should get this natty little ice machine though that'll continually pump ice cold water around your knee to fight the swelling!

Yes Health Insurance is a God send I'd be in for around £7k by now

Good luck with your flying by the way! I can sympathise as I'm 6ft 4" Got a Ryanair jaunt in May - not looking forward to that at all! Still only 90 mins to Valencia I think!!

 

[oneilldo]

The flying went ok - I got fast tracked through. Managed to start putting some more weight on it over the weekend and can walk without crutches (albeit not very far). I might keep my crutches and brace and try and blag it on a long haul lol. Actually I am supposed to be going to mexico in June so I might still be on them depending when op is scheduled.

I had my MRI last Monday and am going in to see the ortho surgeon this Wednesday for a consultation and to go through MRI results. I will hopefully get it done soon. I can put weight on it now without crutches but haven't got full ROM back yet (can extend just flexion is not quite there). Did you get an ice machine? I am tempted to get one even if the insurance doesnt cover it (they are about £70 I think). Did you use one of those Continuos passive motion machines? I suppose it depends on the OS.

The kneeguru website is also quite useful.

How long after the op until you could use a stationary bike? I am a member of the gym and don't really want to cancel as if I am paying money each month it will give me more of an incentive to excercise and hopefully get back quicker.

 

[pabloB]

Hello Mate,

They gave me the ice machine FOC (presume Insurance Paid for it) and a Gym Ball but no passive motion machine. If they don't give you an ice machine then defo buy one - worth the money!

From having the op to getting on a static bike I think was about 5 weeks, but I didn't feel confident enough to go to my gym on my own until about 7 weeks in.

I had 1 2 1 Physio for about 8 weeks and now go to what's called knee club at the hospital every Wednesday where we circuits around the gym they have there with 2 Physios looking over you.Just do leg presses, trampoline work,bike work, treadmill, rower & various gym ball excercises stretches.

Hit the 3 months mark last week and was able to run which was a great result although I still need to take this slowly.

Can also lunge, wallslide (poor mans squat) but these are all straight movements. Physio has told me not to do anything that involves twisting yet. I want to introduce swimming soon as my CV stuff at the gym is really sufferring although with more running hopefully that'll get sorted as I hate swimming!!