ACL

pdxmonkeyboy · Mon Apr 28, 08 8:03 am

Yeah Phill, WTF man. Nut up, grab a roll of duct tape and go hit it!!!

who cares if you won't be able to walk when your 50. Live for the now!!!

mojo1time · Since 28 Jul 2005 186 Posts Stoked

Sorry to hear, get well soon and you get to have a brace on like Jeff Tobias.....

Optimus Prime · Since 23 Jul 2007 49 Posts

Blood... big up yourself for holding down the sidelines for a bit...

PS its still @&$^@*&%# COLD so no worries

rich · Since 30 Nov 2005 306 Posts portland Obsessed

I've had a couple of ACL ops. They heal up sweet and don't give any problems if you do the PT. That said, I would think you could get through the season w/ a brace. Of course, I mow the grass on the water and am not pulling powered loops and all of that. Just my 2 cents. Hope you get better dude. At least you did it doing what you love and not falling off a balcony drunk (ya, that happened to me).

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Thanks Rich, that's encouraging!

I just found out today that it will be 2 weeks before I even get to meet with the surgeon. My knee is feeling stronger so I might be mowing it up pre-surgery in the coming weeks.

Someone was also nice to lend me a trainer for my road bike so I'm going to use that in pre-op and rehab. Been reading quite a bit and I heard strong quads help recovery.

Scribble · Since 18 Nov 2005 636 Posts NoPo Addicted

I kited from September to January with a total ACL tear in 06. I didn't even know it was torn until November. I kited with a neoprene brace. I never had any problems, just kept my knee strong. I had surgery on January 24th and was kiting memorial day weekend in 07. In the last year my knee hurt once after tweaking it playing basketball, but other than that I can't even tell I had surgery.

Have fun with the Percocets...BUT BEWARE of the constipation. I learned the hard way.

Andy

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB

So how'd you figure out it was torn? My injury's taking a lot longer to heal than I thought so I'm wondering if I need to get it checked out or not.

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Good stuff Scribble, that's encouraging! Depending on what the surgeon says when I see him, maybe I can put it off until after summer. I really feel better everyday and I rode a stationary bike last night for an hour with no pain. I'm definitely getting it fixed but if I can put it off until fall/winter that'd be awesome! (Sorry snowboarding, but kiteboarding rules!)

Gene - gotta get an MRI to diagnose it.

kss · Since 24 Apr 2006 614 Posts pdx Addicted

phil,

I had a good friend wait it out until Oct/Nov, end of season, as well. Might be a good option depending on what the doc says. just keep that thing strong, wear the brace and don't tweak it again prior to surgery.

Because "mowing the lawn and taking pics" is better than "only taking pics"... Wink

wjb · Since 14 Aug 2007 223 Posts Nor Cal Stoked

stringy · Since 23 Jun 2006 1738 Posts vancouver XTreme Poster

phil
just read about your injury.
really sorry to hear about it.
if you get a camera, that would be great.
slow mo looks cool, but not sure how well it works with fast action, probably good on a tripod or on the beach.
let me know if you need a custom housing I might be able to help you out.
I used it just yesterday in hatteras and it seems to perform well.

stringy

scottm · Since 12 Jun 2006 108 Posts Stoked

Phil,

I completely tore my left ACL in high school, wore a custom brace for 2 years of competitive sports, and had reconstruction. I partially tore the right ACL a few years ago in the spring, wore a custom brace all summer for wakeboarding, kiteboarding, and downhill mountain biking. Had surgery scheduled in the fall, went in for the pre-op and the doc said my knee felt way too good to cut open.

I would recommend getting your doc to write a prescription for a custom brace (be sure to tell them it's for water sports - uses different straps that work when wet), wear it all summer, and get your knee cut in the fall *if necessary*. You said it's already feeling better - there is a reasonable chance that a partial tear will heal itself - my fully torn knee never felt like it was getting better, but the partial tear did heal.

wjb · Since 14 Aug 2007 223 Posts Nor Cal Stoked

If it is completely torn that could allow the the joint to become unstable. This could lead to meniscus damage if that hasn't happened already. Once the meniscus is damaged (depending on how it is torn) you end up on the same path I am on which is multiple operations to clean up the torn meniscus, arthritis and probably eventually knee replacement.

pacifichigh · Since 11 May 2005 1004 Posts ATX Texan

I went under the knife for an ACL many years ago. My understanding is that an ACL, unlike an MCL, has very poor blood flow and a partial tear cannot heal over time.

LP · Since 05 Apr 2007 115 Posts HR Stoked

Reaper356 · Since 10 Dec 2006 781 Posts Salem / LC Oregon Opinionated

I usually try to stretch out the quads and get warmed up (mainly by pumping up) before heading out... are there knee warm up exercises or stretches that are good to do b4 hand to reduce risk of injury?

rich · Since 30 Nov 2005 306 Posts portland Obsessed

most of the knee stuff on this thread are tendon and ligament related. This type of tissue is non vascular and not really effected by stretching. However, your supporting/surrounding muscles being strong and warmed up will certainly help you.

An ACL is a design flaw for people that walk upright.