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 Expert
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Location: home for the winter...what a dumb idea | So my SO took a bad step off a snow machine at work yesterday and tore both the Dr think. There was to much swelling for an MRI they are hoping to do one Tuesday.Does anyone have experience with this type of injury?What kinda recovery time are we looking at?How does workmans comp work in CO? |
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Location: Friendswood, Texas | My horse fell with me last March and it caused a torn ACL and Meniscus and strained the LCL. My orthopedic did an "old-school" method of treatment by using a series of braces until scar tissue formed enough to stabilize it. I then went to physical therapy twice a week for 8 weeks. Funny thing about wearing a brace, people always seem to know what the injury is and I was glad people were willing to share their experiences. Here' the two most important pieces of advice I've gotten so far:
1) Everyone who had the surgery for repair was glad he/she did and everyone who didn't, wished he/she had.
2) Post surgery rehab/therapy is a must.
I can't give you any info about workman's comp but I wish the best for your SO. Next month I'm getting a second opinion. My knee is not stable to my liking. |
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| I've blown out the ACLs on both knees (not at the same time). The first one the Orthopedic surgeon did the patellar tendon graft, it's a longer surgery, spent several days in the hospital (and a return stay for a nasty staph infection that was very serious); a lot more painful because you are dealing with the patellar resection and the graft and a big scar down the front of your knee. Physical therapy was painful and long, total time I was out of commission was over 6 months, by that I mean no riding, on crutches for a couple of months, in a brace the whole time.
Second knee I opted for a donor graft, what a difference! Much shorter surgery, only day surgery, went home that afternoon. No big scar, just a couple of small holes because it is all arthroscopic. A bolus was inserted in the knee that continuously fed pain numbing med's into the knee so very little pain. Physical therapy was much easier and recovery was much faster, total time about 3 months, though I was really moving normally about 2 months into it. and was able to ditch the knee brace after about a month.
Both knees are stable and feel the same years later so both methods seem to have the same end result, just the second method has a much quicker recovery and less trauma. The key to a full recovery is the physical therapy, you really must stick with it.
Edited by 4Horse 2015-02-23 7:43 AM
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Expert
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Location: home for the winter...what a dumb idea | Thank you guys for sharing. He found out his workmans comp is only 66% of his normal pay. I have no idea how we will be able to live on that especially if I have to take time off my job to take him to town 2x a weekfor rehab. We had cut all the extras last year. I already take our 2year old with me to work 40+ hours. |
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 Expert
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| I have torn my ACL in half, in the same accident I also tore my meniscus badly, and tore my supportive ligaments on the inside protion of my knee.
I chose the option of my own donor graft from my own hamstring to fix the ACL. The meniscus was removed and the supportive ligaments were brought back with rehab. It was a couple months of rehab but the knee is fine and strong as ever.
Just a note - when his physical therapist instructs him to do at home exercises - he should do them ... PT will help him recover more quickly. |
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 Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
 
Location: NE Texas | I had ACL reconstruction with cartilage and meniscus damage. I made the mistake of waiting too long to have the surgery and was in an immobilizer between the time of injury and surgery, so by the time surgery rolled around I already had so much scar tissue built up and a huge loss of range of motion. I had the middle third of my patellar tendon removed to fix the ACL (same as the first option 4horse listed) and it was very painful. Rehab was also extremely painful due to the amount of scar tissue built up and diminished range of motion. I was in PT 3 days a week for at least 6 months and while my knee doesn't necessarily bother me now, it does grind and pop, so I know at some point i'm going to have to get it cleaned out again.
Good luck to your husband and be sure that he doesn't wait to have it fixed. Also be sure he takes his PT very seriously both before and after surgery. |
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The Resident Destroyer of Liberal Logic
Location: PNW | I have a torn ACL and meniscus right now. I go in on Wednesday to schedule the surgery. I've also done this before. Make sure he does any PT that he is told to do, and I found that the sooner I started "using" my leg - the better. My friend blew out her ACL the same time as me when we were in high school. I was up and about and trying to stay mobile; she sat on the couch and didn't do anything. She ended up having to have a second surgery to clean out scar tissue that had formed and gotten out of control due to lack of mobility. |
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Location: USA | I've torn my meniscus, MCL and ACL. I did the patellar tendon repair for the ACL bc I'm too short to do the hamstring graft, and putting a cadaver ligament in me grossed me out. I had to stay in the hospital over night because I was technically considered out of town living 2 hours away from the hospital. It would have been same day surgery had I lived relatively close to the hospital. I started PT 2 days after the surgery and I was riding my horse in 2 months. I was also back to work by then too. It wasn't painful to me at all. Matter of fact, I stopped taking my narcotics long before bc it didn't hurt, nothing a little motrin couldn't fix. I did PT for about 10 weeks or so. After about 11 days, my mom (who was driving me to PT) had to go back home. I had an immoblizer on my right knee that seriously went from my groin to my ankle - he should've used a pediatric one but I'm sure they didn't have any since that hospital does not do kids. Anyway, I had my immobilizer on and I used my left leg to get to the pedals. Totally wasn't safe, but I had no one else to help me drive around. The only thing with the patellar graft is that area is sore to kneel on. When the surgeon was asking me which graft I wanted, he mentioned the patellar tendon graft would always be sore but I thought, well, I don't kneel a lot anyway. Well, you don't realize how much you do kneel down until it's sore to do so. It's not unbearable, but it's not comfortable. If I had to do it again, I'd still do the patellar vs cadaver bc they don't test for hepatitis and stuff. The chances to get something from the cadaver is small, but I've seen the bodies that they use for those, and trust me, some of the people they use are gross.
Regardless of which graft option you choose, you definitely should get the surgery. Your new ACL will be much stronger than even your good one.
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 On the Countdown
Posts: 2934
Location: Texas | I tore my ACL and also was thought the MCL was torn until surgery and doctor determined it wasn't.
Mine was repaired from the Hamstring. I used a doctor that works of professional athletes and his rehab process was different than most. I was on crutches for 6 to 8 weeks then released. I went to PT 2 days and never went back. Why? They were doing nothing to help me and saying I was doing to much. My doctor wanted me exercising almost every 2 hours. When I went to PT they, 3 days after surgery because they wouldn't allow me to come before then, I had more mobility than the therapist had ever seen. Therapy at home will be his friend.
I worked a office job at that time and was off from it maybe 3 weeks, but I was able to do my exercises at my desk. To ride my horse was a good 6 months. |
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Location: Oklahoma | I've torn mine twice and had surgery both times. Recovery didn't take too horribly long. They say six months, but I think i was back on my (smoth gated lol) horse in a couple of months. I was lucky that it was my left knee, so i did have any issues driving, and could get myself back and forth to PT. Just make sure he doesn't skimp on the PT! It sucks, but it'll make or break your recovery. |
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Expert
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Location: home for the winter...what a dumb idea | Thank you guys for the info .....He has hurt this knee badly in the service....it was a complete rebuild with rods above and below and a bunch of screw holding it together. We live in a huge ski town so they are very fermiler with this kinda injury and have the best knee surgeons in the county. But with all the fresh snow this weekend they are back logged on the MRI machine now and it maybe a week now before they can get him in. |
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On the Countdown
Posts: 2934
Location: Texas | Rodeo_cowgirl - 2015-02-24 1:17 PM Thank you guys for the info .....He has hurt this knee badly in the service....it was a complete rebuild with rods above and below and a bunch of screw holding it together. We live in a huge ski town so they are very fermiler with this kinda injury and have the best knee surgeons in the county. But with all the fresh snow this weekend they are back logged on the MRI machine now and it maybe a week now before they can get him in.
I will say this. My doc refused to do my surgery not unless I had full mobility in that knee. I had to work a few weeks to get it. He said it would be a easier recovery. |
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The Resident Destroyer of Liberal Logic
Location: PNW | Rodeo_cowgirl - 2015-02-24 1:17 PM
Thank you guys for the info .....He has hurt this knee badly in the service....it was a complete rebuild with rods above and below and a bunch of screw holding it together. We live in a huge ski town so they are very fermiler with this kinda injury and have the best knee surgeons in the county. But with all the fresh snow this weekend they are back logged on the MRI machine now and it maybe a week now before they can get him in.
That's not unusual. Mind has been busted for going on a month and a half now. The orthos in my area are ALWAYS swamped. It is unlikely he will do any further damage, I wouldn't worry :) |
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 Playing the Waiting Game
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| Rodeo_cowgirl - 2015-02-23 8:05 AM Thank you guys for sharing. He found out his workmans comp is only 66% of his normal pay. I have no idea how we will be able to live on that especially if I have to take time off my job to take him to town 2x a weekfor rehab. We had cut all the extras last year. I already take our 2year old with me to work 40+ hours.
I believe they can't take taxes out on the workers comp pay so his bring home shouldn't be much different.
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Expert
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Location: home for the winter...what a dumb idea | Thank you all for your help. He got the results of his MRI . He has complearly torn all 3 ligaments in his knee and broke a chip off his femur.
He goes in for surgery this week .
Oh And to top off the week his bank card was stolid and someone in OH had a great day with our money....:/ |
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boon
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| sorry to hear about your injury. I tore my ACL 20 yrs ago. Never had it repaired. Then tore my MCL 6 yrs ago loading hay, couldn't have it repaired cause I was pregnant. Finally had it repaired Jan 23rd. My doc said I cant even think of stepping onto a horse etc at least til end of May/ June. He also said no gym workouts and no Zumba. Im healing wonderfully and doing very well. Just take your time and stick with PT plan. I was thankful I had in done in the winter so I wasn't laid up though the summer.
Edited by bryssa78 2015-03-01 9:57 PM
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