Anyone had their ACL repaired?
Discussion
I havent but 7 people at my old judo club had had it done. It was pretty brutal going by their pictures of their legs bruised from top to bottom. They were all very chuffed once theyd had it done though and were back on the mat 6 months later. It took a year for them to be back to 100% though.
ALawson said:
As per the title really.
Had a small fall skiing and have ruptured my ACL, am just starting physio and have another appointment in a few weeks to discuss the MRI scan results.
Just wanted to see if anyone else has had this injury and did you go for a repair or not?
Yep, ended my rugby playing days and have had key hole surgery on it 6 times. I've had no problems now for 4 years (touch wood) Had a small fall skiing and have ruptured my ACL, am just starting physio and have another appointment in a few weeks to discuss the MRI scan results.
Just wanted to see if anyone else has had this injury and did you go for a repair or not?
Start your re-hab straight away if your getting this done, build up the VMO as this is the first muscle to waste after the op.
Most of the New Zeland rugby team lack ACL's but have awesome hamstring,calf and quads to replace the job.
Type in a search engine or see a sports therapist for advice mate.
Most of the New Zeland rugby team lack ACL's but have awesome hamstring,calf and quads to replace the job.
Type in a search engine or see a sports therapist for advice mate.
I ruptured my ACL. Hurt like 
, but the good old NHS got me in to Physio quick smart. Was the best thing because it started to heal nicely and life got back to normal, albeit with less strength in the left knee.
Then 9 months after i had key hole, more to tidy up the area, and repair the cartilage which had torn. The ACL was ruptured so that means its gone forever, so surprised if they repair yours.
Well the surgey set me right back and i had to start physio all over again.
I started playing football again about 18 months after initial injury but its still not 100% and definitely notice the lack of strength and muscle definition on my left leg. That was just through inactivity with it.
My main advice is:
Get stuck into Physio asap and take it really seriously.
Do all the noddy exercises that are boring as hell but will really help. Especially the balance ones.
And excerise again.
Follow the docs advice to the letter and dont stray from it. Try hard to soon and you could screw up the rehab bit.
And key hole was great. Went to hospital. got put under. woke up ok. then promptly fainted when i tried to stand up. then ok. then a while at home recuperating.
Depending on what knee it is, seriously consider an automatic as i found it a killer for a while... sorry thats a bit drastic i know but shit it hurt.
, but the good old NHS got me in to Physio quick smart. Was the best thing because it started to heal nicely and life got back to normal, albeit with less strength in the left knee.Then 9 months after i had key hole, more to tidy up the area, and repair the cartilage which had torn. The ACL was ruptured so that means its gone forever, so surprised if they repair yours.
Well the surgey set me right back and i had to start physio all over again.
I started playing football again about 18 months after initial injury but its still not 100% and definitely notice the lack of strength and muscle definition on my left leg. That was just through inactivity with it.
My main advice is:
Get stuck into Physio asap and take it really seriously.
Do all the noddy exercises that are boring as hell but will really help. Especially the balance ones.
And excerise again.
Follow the docs advice to the letter and dont stray from it. Try hard to soon and you could screw up the rehab bit.
And key hole was great. Went to hospital. got put under. woke up ok. then promptly fainted when i tried to stand up. then ok. then a while at home recuperating.
Depending on what knee it is, seriously consider an automatic as i found it a killer for a while... sorry thats a bit drastic i know but shit it hurt.
I snapped my ACl playing rugby.
Thankfully the health insurance at work covered the cost of the subsequent ACL reconstruction, using a piece of my own hamstring
it sounds brutal, but it was all done by keyhole. search Droitwich knee Clinic
I was walking on crutches on the afternoon of the operation, out of hospital in 2 days, and back driving in less than 7 days (It was my left leg though, so none braking foot)
Physio and muscle building on left leg, esp quads, and back to as near 100% in 6 months
Thankfully the health insurance at work covered the cost of the subsequent ACL reconstruction, using a piece of my own hamstring
it sounds brutal, but it was all done by keyhole. search Droitwich knee Clinic
I was walking on crutches on the afternoon of the operation, out of hospital in 2 days, and back driving in less than 7 days (It was my left leg though, so none braking foot)
Physio and muscle building on left leg, esp quads, and back to as near 100% in 6 months
Short answer... If you want to ski or play sport, get it done.
Reasons for me saying that if you're interested...
I ruptured mine nearly 10 years ago playing football. After letting the injury settle (about 5 weeks if I remember correctly) I had keyhole surgery to tidy-up the damage and assess what else had happened. Mine was a clean break with no damage to cartilage, PCL or lateral ligaments.
After about six weeks post-op the surgeon reassessed me and basically left it to me if I went ahead with a reconstruction. His advice was that I could live a perfectly normal life (including gentle sport) without the ACL, but if I wanted to play sport seriously he recommended a reconstruction. At this point I was recovering quite nicely and I was more of a cricketer than footballer, so I declined further surgery.
I did the physio, including joining a gym for the only time in my life to try and strengthen the muscles around the joint, but they never recovered fully.
After a year I started playing sport again (with a knee support) and it was OK, but not the same. I tried playing football again, but after tweaking it a few times I packed it in. I carried on playing cricket without too much of a problem though.
By 2004 though, I was experiencing pain in the knee more frequently and always after playing cricket. It was also becoming unstable, so I went back to the specialist.
I had the reconstruction done in January 2005. My surgeon used a section of the patella tendon to replace the ligament and this is fixed with non-metal screws at either end. He preferred not to use the hamstring, but I think opinion on this is divided among surgeons and changes all the time. This was done by opening up the knee (ie not keyhole) and I now have a scar from the middle of the knee cap to the top of the shin bone. Post-op I was not allowed to place any weight on the leg for 2 weeks and I had to wear a brace that went from ankle to groin. I was off work for 7 weeks, and didn't drive for 6 weeks. It didn't give me as much pain as I thought it would though. The physio is obviously important in getting movement back to the knee - I would recommend seeing your surgeon and physiotherapist at the same time at least once - mine seemed to be forever contradicting each other with what I should be doing, and as someone else mentioned the balance exercises are key.
Three years on, I can play sport OK, but it's certainly not 100% right. The most important thing though is that it is stable and without an ACL you need some very good surrounding muscles to achieve this.
Good luck.
PS - I was lucky enough to have private health insurance... the NHS will obviously make the whole thing much more testing.
Reasons for me saying that if you're interested...
I ruptured mine nearly 10 years ago playing football. After letting the injury settle (about 5 weeks if I remember correctly) I had keyhole surgery to tidy-up the damage and assess what else had happened. Mine was a clean break with no damage to cartilage, PCL or lateral ligaments.
After about six weeks post-op the surgeon reassessed me and basically left it to me if I went ahead with a reconstruction. His advice was that I could live a perfectly normal life (including gentle sport) without the ACL, but if I wanted to play sport seriously he recommended a reconstruction. At this point I was recovering quite nicely and I was more of a cricketer than footballer, so I declined further surgery.
I did the physio, including joining a gym for the only time in my life to try and strengthen the muscles around the joint, but they never recovered fully.
After a year I started playing sport again (with a knee support) and it was OK, but not the same. I tried playing football again, but after tweaking it a few times I packed it in. I carried on playing cricket without too much of a problem though.
By 2004 though, I was experiencing pain in the knee more frequently and always after playing cricket. It was also becoming unstable, so I went back to the specialist.
I had the reconstruction done in January 2005. My surgeon used a section of the patella tendon to replace the ligament and this is fixed with non-metal screws at either end. He preferred not to use the hamstring, but I think opinion on this is divided among surgeons and changes all the time. This was done by opening up the knee (ie not keyhole) and I now have a scar from the middle of the knee cap to the top of the shin bone. Post-op I was not allowed to place any weight on the leg for 2 weeks and I had to wear a brace that went from ankle to groin. I was off work for 7 weeks, and didn't drive for 6 weeks. It didn't give me as much pain as I thought it would though. The physio is obviously important in getting movement back to the knee - I would recommend seeing your surgeon and physiotherapist at the same time at least once - mine seemed to be forever contradicting each other with what I should be doing, and as someone else mentioned the balance exercises are key.
Three years on, I can play sport OK, but it's certainly not 100% right. The most important thing though is that it is stable and without an ACL you need some very good surrounding muscles to achieve this.
Good luck.
PS - I was lucky enough to have private health insurance... the NHS will obviously make the whole thing much more testing.
I’ve had a similar experience to 5pen, although I don’t actually have either ACL (yeah, both knees screwed).
Had my first keyhole knee op, aged 12 and since then I think it’s well into the 20’s across both knees, although the last one was back around 2001 (6 months on crutches). I know have pins, bits of metal, plastic, all sorts – synthetic cartilage, patellae and bits to replace ligaments.
As stated by someone else, do exactly what you are told by the quack I made my problems worse by going back too early after injury, because as a teenager with a promising sporting career I knew better.
These days the knees do groan a bit under strain, can be really painful after running, kneeling or sat still for too long, and I certainly don’t have the degree of movement they should have, although I do still do the exercises and they help. Strangely the cold weather makes them worse, and although it has limited what I can do (can’t ski – I just fold) in day-to-day things you just get on with it, and there is no pain. Personally I’d avoid playing sport with any sort of support as it can mask the problems (as I found out to my cost), and don’t play through the pain or take painkillers – it hurts for a reason.
Obviously techniques have improved, but just listen to the advice and follow it. It’s been over a decade since I played (having played at county level in the past), and am only just in a position where I can consider playing at Sunday club level.
The knee may be one of the largest joints in the body, but it's also one of the weakest - look after them. Once one of mine had gone, the other went pretty soon after.
In short, get it sorted, follow the advice given and FFS do not make the mistakes I did.
Sermon over
Had my first keyhole knee op, aged 12 and since then I think it’s well into the 20’s across both knees, although the last one was back around 2001 (6 months on crutches). I know have pins, bits of metal, plastic, all sorts – synthetic cartilage, patellae and bits to replace ligaments.
As stated by someone else, do exactly what you are told by the quack I made my problems worse by going back too early after injury, because as a teenager with a promising sporting career I knew better.
These days the knees do groan a bit under strain, can be really painful after running, kneeling or sat still for too long, and I certainly don’t have the degree of movement they should have, although I do still do the exercises and they help. Strangely the cold weather makes them worse, and although it has limited what I can do (can’t ski – I just fold) in day-to-day things you just get on with it, and there is no pain. Personally I’d avoid playing sport with any sort of support as it can mask the problems (as I found out to my cost), and don’t play through the pain or take painkillers – it hurts for a reason.
Obviously techniques have improved, but just listen to the advice and follow it. It’s been over a decade since I played (having played at county level in the past), and am only just in a position where I can consider playing at Sunday club level.
The knee may be one of the largest joints in the body, but it's also one of the weakest - look after them. Once one of mine had gone, the other went pretty soon after.
In short, get it sorted, follow the advice given and FFS do not make the mistakes I did.
Sermon over
Edited by Podie on Friday 8th February 11:09
Thanks for all the responses,
To date I have started physio, as you say it all appears to me noddy exercises as the knee gets a little irritated if pushed.
So at the moment just doing 5 mins of light cycling and x-trainer.
Followed by step-ups, step-downs, step sideways.
Squats against a wall with one of those large balls
and some leg presses and balancing on one leg malarchy
Am seeing the consultant in two weeks, where he is going to see how stable my knee is and then advise on either a clean up or a rebuild.
As I want to carry on skiing I am inclined to go with the rebuild. Although the physio reckons that with good knee stability and leg strenght and a brace you can still ski wo a ACL.
What every happens the next 12 months are going to be interesting!
Edit:
Partial rupture to the ACL, torn miniscus, and chip/crevis in the bottom of the femur requiring microfracture treatment! Op booked for April 16th.
To date I have started physio, as you say it all appears to me noddy exercises as the knee gets a little irritated if pushed.
So at the moment just doing 5 mins of light cycling and x-trainer.
Followed by step-ups, step-downs, step sideways.
Squats against a wall with one of those large balls
and some leg presses and balancing on one leg malarchy
Am seeing the consultant in two weeks, where he is going to see how stable my knee is and then advise on either a clean up or a rebuild.
As I want to carry on skiing I am inclined to go with the rebuild. Although the physio reckons that with good knee stability and leg strenght and a brace you can still ski wo a ACL.
What every happens the next 12 months are going to be interesting!
Edit:
Partial rupture to the ACL, torn miniscus, and chip/crevis in the bottom of the femur requiring microfracture treatment! Op booked for April 16th.
Edited by ALawson on Friday 29th February 07:10
Just an update as I have just got back from Hospital,
I went into the operation expecting an ACL reconstruction using a ligament harvested from the hamstring, micro fracture and miniscus repair.
As a result of manipulation of the joint when under a GA and the Arthroscopy it was determined that the ACL was still intack, confirming a partial rupture as shown on the MRI scan. They did find out that I had ruptured my Medial Ligament which would explain the excessive movement in the patella!
I have has the miniscus repaired as it was badly torn and the knee generally cleaned up.
So they reckon with physio I should be ski-ing next season, although the only for a couple of weeks a year.
I went into the operation expecting an ACL reconstruction using a ligament harvested from the hamstring, micro fracture and miniscus repair.
As a result of manipulation of the joint when under a GA and the Arthroscopy it was determined that the ACL was still intack, confirming a partial rupture as shown on the MRI scan. They did find out that I had ruptured my Medial Ligament which would explain the excessive movement in the patella!
I have has the miniscus repaired as it was badly torn and the knee generally cleaned up.
So they reckon with physio I should be ski-ing next season, although the only for a couple of weeks a year.
Gassing Station | Sports | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff