ACL Repair

[jodypress]

I'm booked in for an ACL repair on the 12th April. Anyone know when I can realistically expect to be back on the big riding again? The consultant has mentioned 2-3 months.

[RRS_Staffs]

Pretty tough to argue against what the quack says surely?

[jodypress]

agreed, but wanted to see if anyone had any experience of this and riding.

I had my other knee repaired almost 18 years ago, but wasn't serious about my cycling then. I also have a trip to the Alps booked in July and wanted to know if there was any chance of me being able to ride it.

[Pupp]

Well, footie players do often seem to get over this op pretty swiftly so I suspect it's possible with the right physio and healing conditions (maybe a hyperbaric chamber too). Good luck, bet that hurt like fook

[Mojooo]

I think the standard for footy is around 6-9 months depending on physio. professionals can come back within 6 months as they can train hardcore.

biking will prob be less as there is no twisting and stuff

this is a good forum to read about other peples experiences. but a lot of it is negative!

http://www.kneeguru.co.uk/

i believe there is a surgeon that roams these forums though.

[jodypress]

Thanks for the replies so far.

Generally twisting sports are 6 months post op and full contact sports are 12 months post op.

The main reason I ask is that part of post op rehab is static cycle. So if I can lightly cycle on my turbo trainer with no resistance and a high cadence I should be able to keep my fitness up.

Ironically I'm cycling fine a the moment, did 25-30 miles today no problem. Now walking and going up/down stairs that's another matter.

[Floor Tom]

I had ACL reconstruction at the start of November, was back on a road bike after about 5 weeks, Was told to stay off the MTB for 20 weeks but I started gently riding offroad after about 15, I am now just past the 20 week mark and feel good, I am back riding normal XC. I am going to leave DH riding for a few months yet though (not too diffuicult as I live in the southern hemisphere now so will get a dh bike for next summer, probably around September time).
There are a few different places to take the graft from though, I know Patella tendon grafts heal quicker than Hamstring ones do by around 6 weeks (I got Hamstring graft as patella tendon graft leaves you with a weakened kneecap, not something that is good for a mountain biker). The other option is a cadaver graft, I don't know the recovery times for these.

[jodypress]

Thanks Tom, just what I wanted to hear. I'm seeing the consultant on Friday to grill him on everything I can think of. He does specialize with athletes and knows I'm a keen cyclist.

Will update once I know more.

[tomirk]

There is also an option of synthetic ligaments, football players are back on the pitch after 3 months but this is a relatively new method and not very popular in England at the moment(Even though the company producing them is British).

[bleesh]

I had one of the early (apparently) hamstring grafts in 1997 and was back on a cycle trainer, as it as the middle of winter, after 2 months. This kept the knee nice and mobile and helped with the flexibility.

The OP didn't mention which knee.
Mine was my right, which is perfect as I always put my left foot down anyway when I was waiting at the lights, so the right was always on the pedal.
If you are having your "standing" leg done then you need to watch out how far your leg is extended when you plant the foot, or switch to using the other leg.
If your leg is pretty much straight when you put your foot down, it is possible/probable that you could hyper-extend the knee - which isn't what you or the surgeon would want.
And it would probably lead to an embarrassing tumble..............

[Floor Tom]

So, 6 days in, how are you feeling? Still on Codine or is the pain ok now? I think it was about a week before I got to take all the dressings off and have a proper look at the scars I will have for the rest of my life, I was plesently surprised by how small they were.

[jodypress]

Floor Tom said:

So, 6 days in, how are you feeling? Still on Codine or is the pain ok now? I think it was about a week before I got to take all the dressings off and have a proper look at the scars I will have for the rest of my life, I was plesently surprised by how small they were.

Not feeling too bad. Still taking pain killers but am reasonably mobile with crutches. Was able to move around the day after surgery, inc stairs. Should be off crutches after Easter and hopefully start static cycling as well. Could be back on a bike with flat pedals in about 4-6 weeks maybe sooner.

At the moment it's all about getting the swelling down and getting knee to fully extend.

[anonymous-user]

I had an ACL repair last March after a rugby injury, it was the hamstring graft variety.
I was back on a fixed bike doing SLOW rotations of the knee after about 3-4 weeks just to get some movement back in the knee. Literally 5 minutes of very slow rotations just to get some movement back. The main issue isn't your ability to pedal, its the risk of undoing all the hard work in the operation if you have a crash and come off and twist your knee. You'd probably be able to cycle after a couple of months, but it's just no worth the risk of coming off the bike and ripping out your new graft. It takes at least 6 months for the graft to settle and to re-establish blood flow down the new ligament. Don't risk it by trying to be brave and cycling outside, get on the fixed bike instead.

[jodypress]

Thanks Mac.

I had my left knee ACL repaired about 18 years ago and the recovering took a long time. I was in hospital for 3-4 days and on crutches for about 6 weeks I think. This time I was discharged next day and will be on crutches for 2 weeks.

My consultant has said I'll be able to cycle in 2-3 months (no clipped in pedals) and should be fine after that. I think the clipped in pedals is the issue for twisted knees etc.

Riding on flat pedals should be fine, as long as there are no hills. I will see what the physio says after I'm off crutches.

Luckily I have a turbo trainer so can pedal fixed with no resistance when I'm ready

A lot of it is seeing how your body feels and not over doing it.

Any other tips from your recovery?

[anonymous-user]

My other tip would be to really work on getting your leg straight. It hurts, it's uncomfortable and it feels totally alien as you think you're going to do some damage, but that is one of the most important things. The easiest way I found to do it was to lie on the bed face down with your knee just off the edge of the bed. Put a pillow under your thigh to elevate the leg slightly, and let your leg stretch under its own weight. At first this will be tough, your natural instinct will be to tighten your hamstring to protect your leg, but give it time and you will eventually be able to relax your leg and let if completely straighten under gravity.

Once you are able to bend and stretch straight, keep the movement up. I still get pains at the top of me kneecap as my quad isn't as strong as it should be, you'll get a lot of muscle wastage and it will take time to build it back up.

Oh, and co-codamol 30/500mg are pretty useful too, see if you can get a prescription from your GP if they haven't given you a load already! It is one of the most painful operations you can have as an adult, but you probably already knew that!