ACL reconstruction with meniscus repair

[PK99]

I have had 3 ACL revisions on my left knee since originally injuring it playing rugby many years ago. The rehab is absolute torture but the one key aspect is patience - listen to your body and work within the limits it's giving you. With this and a good physio it will come right.

Very best of luck with it - horrible injury.

That sound tough. How did you reinjure the knee?

 

[BigTam]

Well just back from Jubilee House and a full 6 days physio, pretty intense and damn hard work but well worth it, knee feels really good, full range of motion and extension, still a way to go but this week has made such a difference.
Time was split between gym and pool, massive emphasis on regaining muscles strength and balance, just got to keep up the exercises and reap the benefits.

 

[PK99]

Well just back from Jubilee House and a full 6 days physio, pretty intense and damn hard work but well worth it, knee feels really good, full range of motion and extension, still a way to go but this week has made such a difference.
Time was split between gym and pool, massive emphasis on regaining muscles strength and balance, just got to keep up the exercises and reap the benefits.

Good! You will get there. The benefits are definitely worth the graft. Ha! Unintentional pun!

 

[Paulq]

That sound tough. How did you reinjure the knee?

To be honest the first 2 repairs weren't done correctly so I reinjured through just assuming it was strong enough and finding out it wasn't doing stuff like circuits. It's never been great since but the last repair I had done was by a leading sports surgeon at a specialist orthopaedic unit which concentrated on that type of injury.

It's a horrible injury to suffer. A lot of the damage is psychological.

 

[PK99]

To be honest the first 2 repairs weren't done correctly so I reinjured through just assuming it was strong enough and finding out it wasn't doing stuff like circuits. It's never been great since but the last repair I had done was by a leading sports surgeon at a specialist orthopaedic unit which concentrated on that type of injury.

It's a horrible injury to suffer. A lot of the damage is psychological.

You remind me of a key pieces of advice:

With an ACL rupture do not simply rock up to ano NHS orthropod, search out who is the best in your area and get a referral to them - you want someone who does ACL's as a routine. Mine is Surgeon for a Premiership football club and on the day he did mine he was doing at least two others.

Looking at your location reminds me of the time my cousin's lad, one Dan Murphy had his ACL done at a private hospital on the Wirral. He had loads of people popping their head round his ward door seeing if it was Danny Murphy of Liverpool!

 

[rivers]

I had a complete tear of ACL, a torn meniscus, and some small fractures in my knee when I was 18 from a rugby tackle. That was back in October 2001. I had reconstructive surgery (hamstring) in January 2002. Rehab was about a year. It was a long slog, painful at times. But my knee is just as strong as it was when I was a kid, if not stronger now. Although nearly 17 years on, I am starting to experience symptoms of osteoarthritis on occasion. But I knew there was a strong possibility of it developing. I just keep putting off getting it look at because I don't want to know.

 

[PK99]

I had a complete tear of ACL, a torn meniscus, and some small fractures in my knee when I was 18 from a rugby tackle. That was back in October 2001. I had reconstructive surgery (hamstring) in January 2002. Rehab was about a year. It was a long slog, painful at times. But my knee is just as strong as it was when I was a kid, if not stronger now. Although nearly 17 years on, I am starting to experience symptoms of osteoarthritis on occasion. But I knew there was a strong possibility of it developing. I just keep putting off getting it look at because I don't want to know.

As my surgeon/physio said, the new ACL will never be as strong as the original, but the knee can be stronger if the proper rehab and strengthening of the supporting structures is done.

 

[rivers]

As my surgeon/physio said, the new ACL will never be as strong as the original, but the knee can be stronger if the proper rehab and strengthening of the supporting structures is done.

I did say knee and not ACL is my post. I know my ACL isn't as strong, but my knee as a whole is. A lot of my rehab focused on strengthening surrounding muscle, and I'm sure the amount of cycling I do also helps.

 

[bobinski]

Afternoon.
I am 2 weeks post meniscus repair operation having decided, at 56y old, that i couldn't cope with an ACL reconstruction too. In fact rather than just snip the frayed meniscus the consultant has repaired and i am now in a brace for 6 weeks anyway whilst it all heals. I am slowly going mad for lack of activity so i have NO idea how you guys and girls who had ACL reconstruction, coped with the enforced time in a brace. Respect. The brace comes off on December 19th so an early xmas present for me!

 

[PK99]

Afternoon.
I am 2 weeks post meniscus repair operation having decided, at 56y old, that i couldn't cope with an ACL reconstruction too. In fact rather than just snip the frayed meniscus the consultant has repaired and i am now in a brace for 6 weeks anyway whilst it all heals. I am slowly going mad for lack of activity so i have NO idea how you guys and girls who had ACL reconstruction, coped with the enforced time in a brace. Respect. The brace comes off on December 19th so an early xmas present for me!

Weight bearing without brace 1 day post op.!

 

[bobinski]

Weight bearing without brace 1 day post op.!

stitches in the meniscus? or did they just cut off the scraggy bits!

 

[PK99]

stitches in the meniscus? or did they just cut off the scraggy bits!

cut off the scraggy bits

 

[bobinski]

cut off the scraggy bits

Well at least you are good to go. Speedy recovery mate.

 

[PK99]

Afternoon.
I am 2 weeks post meniscus repair operation having decided, at 56y old, that i couldn't cope with an ACL reconstruction too. In fact rather than just snip the frayed meniscus the consultant has repaired and i am now in a brace for 6 weeks anyway whilst it all heals. I am slowly going mad for lack of activity so i have NO idea how you guys and girls who had ACL reconstruction, coped with the enforced time in a brace. Respect. The brace comes off on December 19th so an early xmas present for me!

I really am puzzled by this.

From day 1 I was doing mobility work at home - morning and evening
By day 14 walking was more or less normal with full extension
Day 17 I was in the gym
Day 22 on i was doing daily 2 hour sessions in the gym, plus home based mobility
Day 27, my log shows. AM mobility work at home, PM 90 mins gym based mobility, 20min static bike, 20 min water walking & squats

 

[vickster]

I really am puzzled by this.

From day 1 I was doing mobility work at home - morning and evening
By day 14 walking was more or less normal with full extension
Day 17 I was in the gym
Day 22 on i was doing daily 2 hour sessions in the gym, plus home based mobility
Day 27, my log shows. AM mobility work at home, PM 90 mins gym based mobility, 20min static bike, 20 min water walking & squats

Stitched meniscus needs to heal, minimal flexion hence brace and crutches typically
Lucky to be able to have it done after about the age of 30. Mine (lateral) was far too friable aged 37 and it’ll be trimmed again in January, potentially quite a lot