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 Straight Shooter
Posts: 5725
   
Location: SW North Dakota | I tore my ACL in 2006 and had it replaced with a cadaver graft. 13 months later, I tore it again. I opted not to have it fixed, as I was frustrated that it only lasted that long and the surgery was prety painful. About a month ago, I jumped about 5 feet to the ground, buckled my knee really bad and wrecked it worse. It's very wobbly and painful, and if I walk too much (think WalMart shopping), it swells up and gets really tight and hurts bad enough to inhibit sleep. The new MRI says that in addition to the completely torn ACL, I also have a severe tear to the medial meniscus and a lesser tear to the lateral meniscus... along with arthritis and almost all the knee ligaments and tendons wallowed out, but not torn.
I am scheduled for surgery on December 30, but was TOTALLY shocked when the doc told me it would probably be a YEAR before I could run barrels or play sports. He said the surgery would be extensive, as they have to work around the old graft tunnels. It might end up taking 2 surgeries to fix it.
Has anyone else fixed their knee twice? How was the recovery? Was it worth it? Of course, I have googled it- which is worthless because only the whiners post reviews. HA!
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 Expert
Posts: 2457
| ND3canAddict - 2016-12-13 10:58 AM
I tore my ACL in 2006 and had it replaced with a cadaver graft. 13 months later, I tore it again. I opted not to have it fixed, as I was frustrated that it only lasted that long and the surgery was prety painful. About a month ago, I jumped about 5 feet to the ground, buckled my knee really bad and wrecked it worse. It's very wobbly and painful, and if I walk too much (think WalMart shopping), it swells up and gets really tight and hurts bad enough to inhibit sleep. The new MRI says that in addition to the completely torn ACL, I also have a severe tear to the medial meniscus and a lesser tear to the lateral meniscus... along with arthritis and almost all the knee ligaments and tendons wallowed out, but not torn.
I am scheduled for surgery on December 30, but was TOTALLY shocked when the doc told me it would probably be a YEAR before I could run barrels or play sports. He said the surgery would be extensive, as they have to work around the old graft tunnels. It might end up taking 2 surgeries to fix it.
Has anyone else fixed their knee twice? How was the recovery? Was it worth it? Of course, I have googled it- which is worthless because only the whiners post reviews. HA!
Repair your knee, do not wait. The longer a person waits, the harder the recovery, seriously.
Do the PT like your life depends on it - because it does. You can start strengthening your muscles now, ask your doctor and PT professional.
Ask if you can repair with part of your hamstring instead of cadaver bits.
Good luck.
And, yes, it was worth repairing my knee multiple times. Yes, I am an eventual candidate for a total replacement eventually. | |
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Straight Shooter
Posts: 5725
Location: SW North Dakota | I am pre-habing now. Last time I did PT 3x a week, like me life depended on it. I was back to running barrels in 3 months- with the blessing of the PT and surgeon. I worked my buns off.
The are planning to use the patellar tendon OR the hamstring plus cadaver this time to make it as strong as possible. May need a bone graft, but the surgeon said he'd have to see once he's in there.
They told me to expect a total knee in 15 years or so... kind of wish I could just do it now.
Thanks for your insight!!
Edited by ND3canAddict 2016-12-13 11:46 AM
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 488
Location: NE Arkansas | I have had three knee surgerys on my left. My first was ACL an meniscus repair, second was meniscus repair again with scar tissue removal an the third was more scar tissue removal an removal of meniscus. It has been a long road an I still have trouble with pain and swelling. My advice would be to do exactly what they tell you and don't rush it. Each one of my surgeries was a year apart an I done what I was told. My biggest trouble is that while taking the time off with each I put on weight so definitely stay on top of your weight while your recouping. | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 488
Location: NE Arkansas | They used my hamstring to fix my acl. My first surgery was in 05 I was told also to expect a total knee eventually. | |
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 Mature beyond Years
Posts: 10780
Location: North of the 49th Parallel | I've had a couple scopes. First major surgery was my MPFL and torn MCL. Did hamstring to graft my MPFL and didn't fix the MCL. Second major surgery was my MPFL again and they did cadaver tendon. Second recovery was a lot better because I got my butt in the gym right away. I won't lie, I'm still not 100% after my second surgery and it's been just over a year. | |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
| ND3canAddict - 2016-12-13 10:58 AM
I tore my ACL in 2006 and had it replaced with a cadaver graft. 13 months later, I tore it again. I opted not to have it fixed, as I was frustrated that it only lasted that long and the surgery was prety painful. About a month ago, I jumped about 5 feet to the ground, buckled my knee really bad and wrecked it worse. It's very wobbly and painful, and if I walk too much (think WalMart shopping), it swells up and gets really tight and hurts bad enough to inhibit sleep. The new MRI says that in addition to the completely torn ACL, I also have a severe tear to the medial meniscus and a lesser tear to the lateral meniscus... along with arthritis and almost all the knee ligaments and tendons wallowed out, but not torn.
I am scheduled for surgery on December 30, but was TOTALLY shocked when the doc told me it would probably be a YEAR before I could run barrels or play sports. He said the surgery would be extensive, as they have to work around the old graft tunnels. It might end up taking 2 surgeries to fix it.
Has anyone else fixed their knee twice? How was the recovery? Was it worth it? Of course, I have googled it- which is worthless because only the whiners post reviews. HA!
Have you gotten a second opinion? It seems pretty obvious you need the surgery but...I just got a second opinion after I had my knee scoped (doc wanted to go back in a do a partial knee replacement)...second opinion doc said NO WAY not until you do some serious PT and then we'll see where you are at...it's worth a shot. Good luck! | |
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Straight Shooter
Posts: 5725
Location: SW North Dakota | This was my third doc. First one told me it would be 2 surgeries- first one to drill out the old tunnels and do a bone graft, then heal for several months before installing the new ACL. Second two thought they could get it all done in one surgery, but prepare for 2 JIC they can't work around the old tunnels. Both of the second two doctors said the same thing, but the first one was so arrogant, he wouldn't allow many questions. Second one was friendly, helpful and jokingly told me "this wasn't his first rodeo" with this type of surgery. Plus, he is the ortho for the college rodeo team and treated me like I was an athlete with goals instead of a 42 year old mother-of-two... which I really liked. Middle doc suggested I give up horses/barrel racing and skip the surgery and do PT instead of surgery. Last doc said if I wanted to stay competative with horses, I should really do the surgery.
Needless to say, the third doc is doing the surgery on December 30. I will rehab hard, and am "pre-habbing" on the exercise bike, resistance bands and wall squats.
I think I just want to talk about it to hear others' experiences for reassurance that I'm making the right decision, because I know it will be a PAINFUL surgery and rehab will be brutal... but worth it, I hope!
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
| ND3canAddict - 2016-12-15 12:10 PM
This was my third doc. First one told me it would be 2 surgeries- first one to drill out the old tunnels and do a bone graft, then heal for several months before installing the new ACL. Second two thought they could get it all done in one surgery, but prepare for 2 JIC they can't work around the old tunnels. Both of the second two doctors said the same thing, but the first one was so arrogant, he wouldn't allow many questions. Second one was friendly, helpful and jokingly told me "this wasn't his first rodeo" with this type of surgery. Plus, he is the ortho for the college rodeo team and treated me like I was an athlete with goals instead of a 42 year old mother-of-two... which I really liked. Middle doc suggested I give up horses/barrel racing and skip the surgery and do PT instead of surgery. Last doc said if I wanted to stay competative with horses, I should really do the surgery.
Needless to say, the third doc is doing the surgery on December 30. I will rehab hard, and am "pre-habbing" on the exercise bike, resistance bands and wall squats.
I think I just want to talk about it to hear others' experiences for reassurance that I'm making the right decision, because I know it will be a PAINFUL surgery and rehab will be brutal... but worth it, I hope!
I totally get talking about it. I was the same way! It sounds like you're making the right decision. I cannot imagine being told to "just give up". OMG. I would've slugged the guy! Good luck, stay strong! | |
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Straight Shooter
Posts: 5725
Location: SW North Dakota | RedHead84 - 2016-12-15 11:56 AM ND3canAddict - 2016-12-15 12:10 PM This was my third doc. First one told me it would be 2 surgeries- first one to drill out the old tunnels and do a bone graft, then heal for several months before installing the new ACL. Second two thought they could get it all done in one surgery, but prepare for 2 JIC they can't work around the old tunnels. Both of the second two doctors said the same thing, but the first one was so arrogant, he wouldn't allow many questions. Second one was friendly, helpful and jokingly told me "this wasn't his first rodeo" with this type of surgery. Plus, he is the ortho for the college rodeo team and treated me like I was an athlete with goals instead of a 42 year old mother-of-two... which I really liked. Middle doc suggested I give up horses/barrel racing and skip the surgery and do PT instead of surgery. Last doc said if I wanted to stay competative with horses, I should really do the surgery.
Needless to say, the third doc is doing the surgery on December 30. I will rehab hard, and am "pre-habbing" on the exercise bike, resistance bands and wall squats.
I think I just want to talk about it to hear others' experiences for reassurance that I'm making the right decision, because I know it will be a PAINFUL surgery and rehab will be brutal... but worth it, I hope!
I totally get talking about it. I was the same way! It sounds like you're making the right decision. I cannot imagine being told to "just give up". OMG. I would've slugged the guy! Good luck, stay strong!
I have a foul mouth. I would have liked to have practiced my words on him, but at the time, my feelings were hurt and I was feeling like a fat, worthless old lady! | |
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