Evening all,

Ruptured my ACL playing Ice Hockey back in April. 5 months on and I got my operation yesterday. All went well according to surgeon. Said it was a bit tight if anything.

Feels like it’s ready to explode with the swelling, very tight and stiff. Got some exercises to do like lifting my let up.. Tried but can’t manage it!

I’m feeling a bit restless already as im usually on the go all the time. Looking forward to getting 4 months down the line already so I can get back on the bike.

That is all, just feel a bit “meh” today. Also… Crutches suck! And the surgeon said in on borrowed time for my left knee aswell.. Great. Exercise is bad for u! Fact!

Ahhh…don’t say this. Thinking of getting mine done this year…albeit mine is torn rather than ruptured and is livable, just incredibly annoying and at times very painful!

All the best and hope you have a swift recovery!

I’m only 33 and intend to go back to hockey, running and cycling. I had no stability in the knee and would just pop out walking about. Thought about leaving it but knew id regret it. They did it all keyhole so not messy, very invasive tho. Used a Hamstring ligament so should knit and bond ok, if not them it gets done again.. If that graft fails then it’s new knee time!!

Get it done tho mate.

I had this surgery 8 years ago, snapped it kite-boarding on the beach. Make sure you follow the rehab plan and put in the hours of exercise. I was lucky to get use of a hydro therapy pool which helped loads and then I just followed my physio’s rehab routine. I was back snowboarding the following winter and have never had any problems since. Cycling is really good as it keeps it all moving without stressing lateral movement. It took a few seasons to get my head round the fact that it was 100% fixed i wore a knee support for a few years when i was boarding but now ride without one. i know what you mean about trying to lift your leg up, the day before my op i was able to curl my leg and then after i had zero power as they used a slice of hamstring as the new ligament… a bit like a cheese string!

Got some exercises to do like lifting my let up.. Tried but can’t manage it!

Keep trying – you’ll be amazed how quickly you get your movement and strength back.

Yeah one of the exercises is tightening ur hamstring to push ur knee into the bed.. Can’t do that either! I’m sure the feeling will come back. Feels sore when elevated, sore lying flat and throbs when on crutches. Can’t get comfy with it.

I had an ACL reconstruction 10 years ago at 58. Had a real struggle convincing the surgeon I was worth operating on, as at the time the AHA had a cut off for the op of 40!

Op went well (patella graft) and I was lucky that my local NHS Physio Dept had ex Notts Forest’s physio as their knee man. He was hard, but 10 years later my knee is still stable.

Whilst I was arguing the toss about getting the op done, I bought a Ti brace which allowed me to keep riding!

Good luck with the recovery – and do the physio, it’s critical for a good outcome!

Cheers mate. My doctor was the team medic for Paisley Pirates Ice Hockey team so I’m in good hands. He is putting me in touch the the Team GB winter Olympic physio.. Happy days!

I had mine done 2 and a half year ago not looked back. Back doing everything I was before have managed to get back and play hockey (on astro) without any side effects. I would honestly say listen to the physios and it does get better
I threw my crutches away on the second day and hobbled round cause I found it easier. Didn’t help my wife was booked in for a c section 4 days after my op!!! Did mean I get to spend loads of time with her and our second one for a couple weeks

Yeah one of the exercises is tightening ur hamstring to push ur knee into the bed..

You’ll have that, one where you put a rolled up towel under your thigh and try to lift your foot off the bed, and one where you try to drag your heel towards your arse by lifting your knee. And in time you’ll have lots of difficult balance exercises to do such as standing on a trampoline on one leg and throwing and catching a ball that you’re bouncing off the wall.

There is no need to go spending a fortune on private physio – the NHS physio cover for knees in Glasgow is excellent.

You’re muscle power is currently inhibited by pain – ask for more pain relief if you need it.

Chin up, Miked. I had mine done 10 years ago after a hard landing skiing but I was back in action 11 months later and barely think about it now (unless a storm’s a comin’.) Had the patella auto graft too; Physio was a bit sore but put the effort in, and you should be fine. He was more concerned about getting the leg straight rather than full flex and touching my heel to my ass. And ice is a better anti-inflammatory and analgesic than anything you can get over the counter. IANAD etc etc

I’m based in Glasgow area aswell mate who did your surgery was it Colin Walker? You should go see a guy called Frank Gilroy he practices out of Hampden and you get access to the hydro therapy pool massively speeds up recovery time all though you do feel a bit like a horse in one of those training pools they go in.

I’m on the waiting list for Colin Walker to do mine in the next few months, I blew mine out doing Judo, I think I’m getting some cartilage trimmed out too.

I’m on my feet a lot at work, I’ve booked 3 weeks off for it, is that likely?

I had acl surgery 2 years ago with a very good surgeon. 3 weeks recovery for acl not a chance I was off work for 7 months as I had a physical job. The rehab goes on for ages you ll be off 6 weeks minimum

I’m having mine done on monday. We can compare notes!!

The info I was given was 2-4 weeks for a sedentary job and 4-6 for moderately active.

one where you try to drag your heel towards your arse by lifting your knee.

Aaaaaggghhhh , I remember it well.

I’m on my feet a lot at work, I’ve booked 3 weeks off for it, is that likely?

My specialist insisted I spent TWO(!) weeks on my back apart from using crutches to go to toilet.I was off work 3 month.

O.P. best of luck with recovery – it does get really boring. The physio is painful imo – no pain, no gain…. I was riding round the back of Skiddaw 13 weeks after the op. 😀
I still have a weak right hamstring and i reckon it took 12 months to go full chat.

1981miked, i had acl reconstruction,meniscus repair (bucket handle tear) and microfracture surgery all done at the same time about 3 years ago. My advice is to ice your knee as much as you can whilst having it raised. I followed a trick i found on a knee specialist site which was to put a heat pad on your groin area and ice on knee and ankle, this is the second law of thermodynamics creating blood flow which is what you want in the knee. Always follow the physio advice and try and do your exercises at home that you should have been given, this is key to faster recovery. I was in rehab for 18 months but mine was quite severe and required a knee abridement further down the line to repair a tear and clear out the remains of some floaty ligament. I found the biggest hurdle was the mental side, i never ever forget that my knee is weaker and it took a long time to build up confidence in it to do things. It is boring but cycling is a great help and can be done to a lesser extent early in your recovery so chin up. There is always the Dave channel to keep you amused and i am sure you could find some “entertainment” on the net!

If it was my knee I would be icing it: frozen peas/cool packs until I can get home to plug into my ‘Aircast Cryo/Cuff unit with pump’, marvellous invention!
And as above, the rehab is tedious but essential.
Caz

Off work for 3 months does t sound right. Was that the old style full open surgery job? Got my left acl done 10 yrs ago and 2weeks taking it easy (remember general aneasthetic really messes you around and stays in body for weeks) driving within 4 weeks. Getting moving and all the physio for 6 months is tough but worth it. following summer I did Lejog and year after went back to playing football and skiing. Unfortunately I ruptured the other knee playing with work colleagues at beginning of this summer and you know it’s time to hang up the boots she. A lot of the concerned faces looking down at you are half your age. Now heading for 42 and 8 weeks into physio to stabilise it but allow hill walking jogging around and possibly skiing. Going ok but always the option of the op if I can’t get it right.

Chin up and keep at it and remember feeling a bit blue sfter an op is quite normal.

Add me to the list. I’m waiting on an op date to sort 2-3 meniscal tears + complete ACL reconstruction.

Keep us posted Miked. I’m keen to learn what might be in store. Hope all goes smoothly.

I was encourage to get of the crutches after 2 days and then very gentle stretching and gentle strength work with the bands. Then one the wounds healed in the pool and then very gentle gym work. As said before its about getting the leg straight with full range of motion before strength. I work in kitchens and am on my feet all day. I was off for 4 months and just spent the time training and it seemed to have worked.

Deev if your seeing Colin walker your in good hands he’s supposedly the top dog in Scotland for knees. You’ll need more than 3 weeks of though!

How can one tell your ACL is damaged? I’ve played competitive squash throughout my teens and into my late 20’s when I had to stop due to knee pain. I’m 37 now. My right knee is the issue, I have trouble climbing or descending stairs or steep slopes, and have to adjust and compensate my position and balance.

What were your symptoms?

Acl injury doesn’t give ongoing pain in my experience. Knee pops out tears acl the. Within a few days it’s all settled down and after a couple of weeks you think no damage done until you try to twist move off it and it pops again. The acl pulls the joint together in the middle and stops exces pulling apart but without much in the way of nerves and so no pain. If ongoing painful then that suggests outer ligaments or cRtlidge damage so joints are rubbing. Could be acl as well of course

Could you for example hop over a gate or fence jumping of the leg that gives you pain? I snapped mine but was told by the hospital it was only some ligament damage despite me telling them I heard a pop in my knee after it over rotated. I walked about on it for 6 months and it didn’t feel right and there was no way I could have jumped off my sore leg. I went snowboarding 1st day hit a small jump, leg collapsed stretchered off the hill. Turned out the injury had happened six months before during the summer when heard it pop.

Thanks for all the encouraging words guys. I’m in Dundee, my surgeon was Dave Nicoll, who I was very impressed with before and after surgery. He didn’t seem overly keen on doing the surgery at the consultation but I insisted it was what I wanted.

I’m not giving up Ice Hockey at 33, he said the success rate is 90%, but there was 100% chance I wouldn’t be playing hockey at the level I wanted if I didn’t get it done. Plus anything more than 25 miles on the bike and it was locking out, getting weak and swelling. I couldn’t do anything with it as it just used to swell and get very tired!

Been icing it and using a hot water bottle on it, I had ice under the knee and heat on top last night which really helped it. Just so frustrating having to rely on people to do stuff for u. I can’t really put any weight on it for a pro longed period.. May have over done it yesterday! Surgeon said it was a bit on the tight side.. I can safely say he was right! Tight as a camels arse in a sand storm!

As for the crutches, I don’t want to think about not using them, Early days mind you. Need to get the missus to help me do the exercises as I can’t lift the leg, and I can’t straighten it and “push” the knee into the bed, I can do the movement but can’t hold it. I’m a lorry driver but luckily (or unluckily) the boss let me work in the office when I first did it. I’m going back into the office until it heals properly.

Symptoms wise.. I was playing in the Scottish Cup (which we won by the way) and I had my legs swiped by my opposite number, then got a few hits on the knee and shoved against the goal.. He was bullying me : (

Then in the 30 seconds we were 2 – 0 up and I was on chasing the puck down in their zone, I went to bank to the right and my knee just gave out and dislocated, went down like a ton of bricks and couldn’t get up. Had to get it popped back in on the ice.. Was helped off the ice and as soon as the leg pads came off.. It started swelling immediately. Tried to put weight on it but couldn’t. I never went to A&E until next day, they thought I’d fractured my knee cap at first. Let the swelling go down and had it X Rayed, nothing broken, then they thought it was my Medial Collateral Ligament, the MRI showed a complete rupture of ACL and possible cartlidge damage!

So waited for surgery, knee was unstable and nearly popped out last time I rode at Glen Livet.. Even though it was heavily strapped. They said my left knee is on it’s way out aswell and I’m on borrowed time with the ligaments, so have have to look forward to aswell. Marvellous.

Sorry for long post, just wanted to answer all the posts.

All done and back in the ward. Bit sore but fine.

Keep taking the painkillers !!

Mrs Daz had this exact same op (ACL reconstruction with hamstring graft) 5 weeks ago. First couple of weeks were the hardest, she had a few problems with the swelling as she wasn’t icing it and keeping it up enough, so just resign yourself to sitting on your arse for two weeks until the swelling goes down (computer games are good time wasters!).

She’s making great progress now. She’s off the crutches and a lot more mobile and just about ready to drive again, so it doesn’t take long before some semblance of normality is back.

Good luck with it.

Good stuff anagallis_arvensis, hope u get home same day like me. I had my whole leg numbed so felt little pain until the next day. Making up for it now though, especially at nights. Throbs when I’m on my feet for more than 15 minutes. On the plus side the exercises are getting easier to of and I can now lift my leg. Make sure and use bother cold and hot pads to help the swelling, it made a massive difference to me.

A bit more stable on the crutches now aswell and I can hobble short distances with just the one, I wouldn’t recommend attempting to go without them as I have no strength in the knee and it just wants to give if I even try, I read some people get off them in a few days.. I won’t be trying it that’s for sure. Bruising is showing up now and still very tight.

Finding it hard to just accept I can do **** all but enjoying the lazing about for a change. X Box will be getting big useage this week.

Keep us posted mate.

Back home already

I had mine reconstructed 17 years ago when I was 30. I had a patella graft and immediately after surgery spent 2 or 3 days in a machine that kept my knee joint constantly flexing. I then had another few weeks in a brace. They had me walking about 24 hours after surgery though which was scary.

Anyway, do everything your physio tells you but don’t push things stupidly hard or the graft will fail. I had a pretty physical job (which involved climbing ladders & some heavy lifting) and was back at work after 6 weeks with minimal problems. I wasn’t back to any sporting activities for another 6+ months though and some things I stopped doing (contact sports & potholing, although the latter was partly to do with deciding it was a wet, cold, slimy activity that I didn’t really feel inclined to take up again). Despite that, as far as I was concerned, everything was very successful: before surgery I couldn’t walk reliably on cobbles without my knee collapsing, after about a year or so I could happily hike, run and cycle.

Unfortunately, last year I ruptured it again and displaced the screws. I fell around 3m off a narrow trail into a gully & twisted the knee as I fell. I was pretty lucky not to have worse injuries so it’s possible that an unreconstructed ACL may also have ruptured. I’m now in my late 40s and, after some very good physio, decided not to have another reconstruction (although it was an option with my local NHS Trust) but am using a donjoy armour knee brace for off-road riding and more serious hiking and that works very well. So, good luck. It’s frustrating early on and things feel very slow but you ought to be able to get back to (most) things you were doing before. It might ache weirdly from time to time for ages though.

Bored restless and very sore!
How you doing now 1981miked?

Must have gone out dancing!

Still dancing?

Any updates op? I went back to work on monday.

Morning all.. Sorry for the long wait before reply.

Knee healing up nicely, stitches came out 2 weeks past Monday, was back to work last Monday and spent last week in a fair bit if discomfort. Just couldn’t get comfy and not enough support for the back of knee when sat at desk. It is much better this week however. I was at he Physio 2 weeks ago and he said to practice going down stairs.. Which I duly started doing, 1st shot of doing it and my knee have out or I lost my footing.. And down I went! Knee buckled under me (like I was kneeling).. Thought I’d ruptured the graft as it was very painful and started swelling.

Went to Edinburgh on the Saturday with my buddy to collect his new bike and ended up walking about the Lothian Area looking at bike shops, I had my crutches mind u! Felt ok Saturday just a bit tired.. Then woke up Sunday to a lot of pain and loads of swelling. Just rested it and iced every 2 hours.

Monday through to Thursday wasn’t much better so was on and off the phone to surgeon, physio and GP.. End result was a trip to hospital for X-ray, MRI and examination with surgeon. Thankfully no lasting damage, just over stretched the ligament and it was a bit aggrevated.. They suspected I had torn the graft from the knee.. But a ligament test showed it was already very strong..

Told to rest it over weekend.. Which I did and thankfully it is now settling down again, off the crutches and back driving (not lorries tho).. Got physio again on Friday so I will get some new exercises to do.. Was told to stop stretching and half squat by physio after I fell.

As a treat I myself I purchased a new bike… Obviously!

Got a 2015 Giant TCX SLR2. Arrived yesterday and delighted with it.

All in all, I’m glad it is done now. Feels strong and can put my full weight on it, still got tightness in the knee and it aches during the day, it also tires very quickly but I’m feeling good, can do stairs up and down (albeit sideways), and only have a slight limp when I walk, wound has healed up nicely but still a bit of swelling and feels a bit tender under the knee.

Sorry for long post.. Had a lot to tell. How is yours mate?

Double post… Epic fail!

Best wishes and healing vibes to you all, @aa hadn’t spotted this earlier. Hope the rehab goes well.

I bust mine in Dec 2012 (matching other knee broken in 1984). Have not had surgery as afraid of rehab (and knife !).

Take it easy guys, build slowly. Little and often. I tried to start more intense work after 4 months and ended up going backwards. Started riding after 7 months (5k, 7k, 10k …). Now 1.5yrs later I can go 3-4 hour rides but need to be careful as when I am tired the leg looses stability. Get some proper physio and look at not only muscle building work for quads etc but more dynamic workout like on the little squashy balls/wobble boards/tramps (the squashy ball things I suggest you buy for home £15, and watch the tv whilst standing on them one legged)