Torn ACL

[NotJust64]

I was diagnosed today with a torn ACL as well as torn lateral meniscus.....

Was wondering if anyone else has been through this and how long their recovery took.

Thanks

[springparrot]

I was diagnosed today with a torn ACL as well as torn lateral meniscus.....

Was wondering if anyone else has been through this and how long their recovery took.

Thanks

No, but ((((NotJust64))))

[chippewa]

Had an ACL replacement about 5 years ago. Returned to work in about 10 days (would have been a week if I liked my job at the time ). Did physical therapy for around 10 weeks, if I remember. Back playing softball six months later. I waited too long to get the surgery, so I have some minor wear in the knee, but no real problems now.

[Elrod]

Ugh!

I had some torn cartilage removed, the back of my kneecap smoothed and a partial medial meniscectomy on the 27th. The ACL was about the only part of my knee that didn't need work.

I stayed inside (blizzard outside) and laid on the couch for a couple of days. The crutches were gone in a week and the doc said to resume exercise at my own pace.

Best of luck with your surgery and recovery!

[NotJust64]

Orthopedist stated that I would be in PT for about 6 wks. .....Going on cruise 2/10 so we decided wasn't best timing for surgery, so he stated cool to wait....hope I made the right decision !!!

This is all due to my darling dog deciding he was going to jump up into my truck before detangling the leash around my ankles !!!

[chippewa]

Orthopedist stated that I would be in PT for about 6 wks. .....Going on cruise 2/10 so we decided wasn't best timing for surgery, so he stated cool to wait....hope I made the right decision !!!

This is all due to my darling dog deciding he was going to jump up into my truck before detangling the leash around my ankles !!!

On the bright side, I didn't take any pain meds after the day of the surgery. It was even done as out-patient surgery, which surprised the admitting nurse. She didn't know that they ever did ACL surgery as out-patient. I think I could have had less PT time too, they gave me the option of coming to the office or doing exercises at home -- most everything was covered by insurance so I continued the office visits.

What I remember most -- for the first week after surgery, I had a machine at home that my leg was strapped into. It slowly bent then straightened out my knee joint. You needed to use it something like 18 or 20 hours a day to get flexibility back in the joint. It was pretty quiet, so after you got used to it you could actually sleep with it running.

[krusin1]

Orthopedist stated that I would be in PT for about 6 wks. .....Going on cruise 2/10 so we decided wasn't best timing for surgery, so he stated cool to wait....hope I made the right decision !!!

This is all due to my darling dog deciding he was going to jump up into my truck before detangling the leash around my ankles !!!

On the bright side, I didn't take any pain meds after the day of the surgery. It was even done as out-patient surgery, which surprised the admitting nurse. She didn't know that they ever did ACL surgery as out-patient. I think I could have had less PT time too, they gave me the option of coming to the office or doing exercises at home -- most everything was covered by insurance so I continued the office visits.

What I remember most -- for the first week after surgery, I had a machine at home that my leg was strapped into. It slowly bent then straightened out my knee joint. You needed to use it something like 18 or 20 hours a day to get flexibility back in the joint. It was pretty quiet, so after you got used to it you could actually sleep with it running.

Tore my ACL about 5 years ago and had it surgically repaired. Also had a little tear in the meniscus. I didn't have the machine that moved your leg, but kind of wish I had... the first few PT sessions were brutal, trying to get the flexibility back.

One thing I can advise... if you're 35 or under, they may give you the choice of using your own ligament or using a cadaver ligament. If you choose to use your own, they cut the middle part out of your quadricep tendon and use it. That's what I did and I think it made my recovery a lot slower and more painful. I'd go the other way if I had it to do over.

My knee is ok now, but I can still tell it's not "factory." I play full-court basketball and still wear the aluminum brace, etc. Don't need the brace for softball and such, though.

Whatever you do, don't try to be a hero and skimp on the pain meds, and don't try to short the PT. Get that knee as strong as possible.

I was back at work part-time in a week, and full time in 2-3 weeks.

Good luck.