Discussion
Saw the consultant yesterday after MRI last week - ACL is ruptured. Seeing the surgeon next week.
Anyone been through it, what am I in for? Am I going to be totally immobile for an amount of time? Unable to walk or drive at all? The consultant didn't say much really, other than likely 6 month recovery 6 month rehab.
Mrs UTH goes back to work next week after maternity leave and I'm meant to be on the nursery drop 5 days a week as I work from home a fair bit. I'm assuming for a while at least I'm not going to be able to do that?
Any other info from people who have been through this would be great, outlook feels fairly bleak right now.
Anyone been through it, what am I in for? Am I going to be totally immobile for an amount of time? Unable to walk or drive at all? The consultant didn't say much really, other than likely 6 month recovery 6 month rehab.
Mrs UTH goes back to work next week after maternity leave and I'm meant to be on the nursery drop 5 days a week as I work from home a fair bit. I'm assuming for a while at least I'm not going to be able to do that?
Any other info from people who have been through this would be great, outlook feels fairly bleak right now.
UTH said:
Saw the consultant yesterday after MRI last week - ACL is ruptured. Seeing the surgeon next week.
Anyone been through it, what am I in for? Am I going to be totally immobile for an amount of time? Unable to walk or drive at all? The consultant didn't say much really, other than likely 6 month recovery 6 month rehab.
Mrs UTH goes back to work next week after maternity leave and I'm meant to be on the nursery drop 5 days a week as I work from home a fair bit. I'm assuming for a while at least I'm not going to be able to do that?
Any other info from people who have been through this would be great, outlook feels fairly bleak right now.
I do 80-100 ACLs per yearAnyone been through it, what am I in for? Am I going to be totally immobile for an amount of time? Unable to walk or drive at all? The consultant didn't say much really, other than likely 6 month recovery 6 month rehab.
Mrs UTH goes back to work next week after maternity leave and I'm meant to be on the nursery drop 5 days a week as I work from home a fair bit. I'm assuming for a while at least I'm not going to be able to do that?
Any other info from people who have been through this would be great, outlook feels fairly bleak right now.
Have you spoken to the ACL surgeon? The chap who's doing the operation? He should be able to answer all of your questions in detail. Don't leave the room until you are satisfied. I won't put answers here ahead of his answers, not fair on her/him.
IN the interim, you could do a lot with this:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/knee-ligament-surger...
https://oneorth.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/P...
https://www.uknlr.co.uk/acl-surgery.php
The_Doc said:
UTH said:
Saw the consultant yesterday after MRI last week - ACL is ruptured. Seeing the surgeon next week.
Anyone been through it, what am I in for? Am I going to be totally immobile for an amount of time? Unable to walk or drive at all? The consultant didn't say much really, other than likely 6 month recovery 6 month rehab.
Mrs UTH goes back to work next week after maternity leave and I'm meant to be on the nursery drop 5 days a week as I work from home a fair bit. I'm assuming for a while at least I'm not going to be able to do that?
Any other info from people who have been through this would be great, outlook feels fairly bleak right now.
I do 80-100 ACLs per yearAnyone been through it, what am I in for? Am I going to be totally immobile for an amount of time? Unable to walk or drive at all? The consultant didn't say much really, other than likely 6 month recovery 6 month rehab.
Mrs UTH goes back to work next week after maternity leave and I'm meant to be on the nursery drop 5 days a week as I work from home a fair bit. I'm assuming for a while at least I'm not going to be able to do that?
Any other info from people who have been through this would be great, outlook feels fairly bleak right now.
Have you spoken to the ACL surgeon? The chap who's doing the operation? He should be able to answer all of your questions in detail. Don't leave the room until you are satisfied. I won't put answers here ahead of his answers, not fair on her/him.
IN the interim, you could do a lot with this:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/knee-ligament-surger...
https://oneorth.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/P...
https://www.uknlr.co.uk/acl-surgery.php
Sorry to hear UTH!
I did this back in 2015. It was a tough one for me mentally as my days of relative athletic ability were wearing thin anyway, and now I’d just lost a lot of time doing what I love.
I knew a good few people who had been through the same injury, sometimes several times, and they all said to avoid surgery if possible, which is what I did.
Once it started to feel stronger I began a steady rehab, building up the muscle to compensate.
Luckily I was up and down ladders at work which helped, whilst still earning, and also cut down the boozin and took supplements.
I can’t remember exact time frames of healing, but if you keep up the rehab and general health, you’ll be back to a useable knee quicker than you think.
All the best!
I did this back in 2015. It was a tough one for me mentally as my days of relative athletic ability were wearing thin anyway, and now I’d just lost a lot of time doing what I love.
I knew a good few people who had been through the same injury, sometimes several times, and they all said to avoid surgery if possible, which is what I did.
Once it started to feel stronger I began a steady rehab, building up the muscle to compensate.
Luckily I was up and down ladders at work which helped, whilst still earning, and also cut down the boozin and took supplements.
I can’t remember exact time frames of healing, but if you keep up the rehab and general health, you’ll be back to a useable knee quicker than you think.
All the best!
Dr.Hellno said:
Sorry to hear UTH!
I knew a good few people who had been through the same injury, sometimes several times, and they all said to avoid surgery if possible, which is what I did.
Whilst your friends' sentiments and comments are undoubtedly correctly quoted, and I have nothing to unseat them, they do not represent the groundswell of ACL surgery results. I knew a good few people who had been through the same injury, sometimes several times, and they all said to avoid surgery if possible, which is what I did.
We see success of 90-95% with the return to pivoting sports, including at club level being a realistic goal. Mean age for surgery in the UK is late twenties and patient selection is important.
It's an operation to get you back on the pitch, snow, court etc.
Edited by The_Doc on Friday 21st April 21:17
Did mine playing footie in 93. Knee very unstable after that, easily pushed over. Had surgery which took about 12 months to recover properly. Did get back to football again but the knee always gave me jip. Stopped 11 a side but played 5 a side for another 10 years. No footie now but I can run 5-10km with not many issues.
TX.
TX.
It’s been a while since I suffered an ACL rupture (1998), so not sure how things have moved on, but I was on crutches for about a month post-op and back to work in 6 weeks I think.
Interesting point about not having surgery. I initially underwent a keyhole procedure to ‘tidy-up’ and the surgeon suggested that I could recover without a reconstructive operation. This was the option I took and to a limited extent it worked. I was back to sport (cricket and football) within a year, but after a while I was suffering post-exertion pain and it never felt completely stable.
In 2005 I had a reconstruction (using a section of patella tendon - not sure what the current best practice is?). I’d already packed-in the football at this point, but returned to normal(ish) exercise after about 10 months. This knee still feels a bit different to the other one (I can’t completely straighten it), but I still run a bit (I’m 52 now) though I’m careful not to overdo it and “listen” to it if it hurts.
Good luck.
Interesting point about not having surgery. I initially underwent a keyhole procedure to ‘tidy-up’ and the surgeon suggested that I could recover without a reconstructive operation. This was the option I took and to a limited extent it worked. I was back to sport (cricket and football) within a year, but after a while I was suffering post-exertion pain and it never felt completely stable.
In 2005 I had a reconstruction (using a section of patella tendon - not sure what the current best practice is?). I’d already packed-in the football at this point, but returned to normal(ish) exercise after about 10 months. This knee still feels a bit different to the other one (I can’t completely straighten it), but I still run a bit (I’m 52 now) though I’m careful not to overdo it and “listen” to it if it hurts.
Good luck.
Slowboathome said:
The devil is in the detail there. Andy Price, who co-wrote it, said to me that half way through writing that paper they decided that the evidence was so poor that they wanted to abandon, but there was pressure to continue. It looks at only 141 patients (out of about 400,000 people per year who have an ACL recon.in the world) "many participants with an ACL rupture had unstable knees after structured rehabilitation and opted to have surgery later on."
A classic situation of not analysing the patients for long enough, or including cross over data, where someone is randomised to one group and actively swaps themselves.
Anyhow, an operation to make you stable, but only for pitch, court and piste. Pivoting activities.
Not for all other athleticism.
Did my left knee in 2014. Was off work for 3 months. Think I had the reconstruction done within around a month of the injury (BUPA, expect would been a longer wait on NHS).
Was advised not to drive during the rehab. I stuck to this until one day driving back from Devon to Reading the Mrs was really flaking out and needed a break. I took over and had no issue, but being a motorway drive there wasn't much clutch action. Was still on crutches then.
Was on crutches until near the 3 month point I think. Even when I went back to work I couldn't walk completely normally. Was fun commuting to London on the train/tube! I work on building sites so they kept me in the office for a few weeks, but wasn't long until I was back out.
I found cycling good for the rehab to strengthen and build quad muscles back. I wasn't a fan of running before and I'm even less now, but I did do some jogging after I recovered.
Was advised not to drive during the rehab. I stuck to this until one day driving back from Devon to Reading the Mrs was really flaking out and needed a break. I took over and had no issue, but being a motorway drive there wasn't much clutch action. Was still on crutches then.
Was on crutches until near the 3 month point I think. Even when I went back to work I couldn't walk completely normally. Was fun commuting to London on the train/tube! I work on building sites so they kept me in the office for a few weeks, but wasn't long until I was back out.
I found cycling good for the rehab to strengthen and build quad muscles back. I wasn't a fan of running before and I'm even less now, but I did do some jogging after I recovered.
craig1912 said:
Ruptured mine 32 years ago. It was never repaired and whilst I gave up football its never had any effect on doing stuff (skied virtually every year for last 25 ish years).
Thanks for the replies guys, and especially this one as skiing is pretty much my only concern, so I'm pleased to hear this! Yep had the op in May. Have been seeing the physio every 2-3 weeks ever since. Never ending list of exercises so strengthen the leg etc
I thought it was all going perfectly until a few weeks ago but now I’m getting a bit of pain below the knee. Physio thinks it’s strange as I can do all my ACL related exercises with no pain.
I might see the surgeon again soon to see what he thinks. Overall I’m walking like you wouldn’t know I had an issue, but I can feel things not right in there.
Summary is that I’m a bit deflated right now that I don’t feel I’m on the fast track to being perfect again, but it’s only 7 months since surgery and it’s not like I’ve been doing rehab like a pro footballer would be.
I thought it was all going perfectly until a few weeks ago but now I’m getting a bit of pain below the knee. Physio thinks it’s strange as I can do all my ACL related exercises with no pain.
I might see the surgeon again soon to see what he thinks. Overall I’m walking like you wouldn’t know I had an issue, but I can feel things not right in there.
Summary is that I’m a bit deflated right now that I don’t feel I’m on the fast track to being perfect again, but it’s only 7 months since surgery and it’s not like I’ve been doing rehab like a pro footballer would be.
Thanks for responding.
Sorry to hear you have had a wee bump in the road on your recovery. Hope it’s nothing too serious and you get through the discomfort and continue your rehab and recovery.
I had my miniscus trimmed back in 2021 (left knee) so saw the same surgeon again as I had assumed similar injury and got the scan. He has referred me onto another specialist as it’s the ACL that’s gone and I see him in January.
Can I ask how long you were off your feet for and were you out of commission for work for a while? I do have a role covering a large patch but would be able to work from home on TEAMS if needed.
I’m frustrated that the knee is so weak and I just want to consider all options so appreciate your comments.
Sorry to hear you have had a wee bump in the road on your recovery. Hope it’s nothing too serious and you get through the discomfort and continue your rehab and recovery.
I had my miniscus trimmed back in 2021 (left knee) so saw the same surgeon again as I had assumed similar injury and got the scan. He has referred me onto another specialist as it’s the ACL that’s gone and I see him in January.
Can I ask how long you were off your feet for and were you out of commission for work for a while? I do have a role covering a large patch but would be able to work from home on TEAMS if needed.
I’m frustrated that the knee is so weak and I just want to consider all options so appreciate your comments.
Beato said:
Thanks for responding.
Sorry to hear you have had a wee bump in the road on your recovery. Hope it’s nothing too serious and you get through the discomfort and continue your rehab and recovery.
I had my miniscus trimmed back in 2021 (left knee) so saw the same surgeon again as I had assumed similar injury and got the scan. He has referred me onto another specialist as it’s the ACL that’s gone and I see him in January.
Can I ask how long you were off your feet for and were you out of commission for work for a while? I do have a role covering a large patch but would be able to work from home on TEAMS if needed.
I’m frustrated that the knee is so weak and I just want to consider all options so appreciate your comments.
I was 'signed off' work for 2 weeks - TBH working from home mostly I could have logged on, but as the surgeon suggests it I thought why not take it as I might be in pain, on pain killers etcSorry to hear you have had a wee bump in the road on your recovery. Hope it’s nothing too serious and you get through the discomfort and continue your rehab and recovery.
I had my miniscus trimmed back in 2021 (left knee) so saw the same surgeon again as I had assumed similar injury and got the scan. He has referred me onto another specialist as it’s the ACL that’s gone and I see him in January.
Can I ask how long you were off your feet for and were you out of commission for work for a while? I do have a role covering a large patch but would be able to work from home on TEAMS if needed.
I’m frustrated that the knee is so weak and I just want to consider all options so appreciate your comments.
Mobility wasn't too bad. I hobbled around for a couple of weeks, but it actually wasn't long until I was getting out and about, albeit with one crutch. I didn't use two crutches beyond those first two weeks I think.
I did leave it quite a long time before heading into London/the office etc though, as all it would take is a slip to do damage/undo the good work, so I'd say get moving around as soon as you can, but also hold off putting yourself in a 'risky' situation as long as you can.
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