ACL reconstruction – advice please?

Anyone here had ACL reconstruction surgery? It looks although Mrs K needs to decide whether to continue with a weakness in her knee forever, or bite the bullet and have surgery to fix it.

She done a year of physio so we are down to the last straw choice.

We’re interested in feedback to help the decision, as she doesn’t want months on crutches only to end up in the same place. Internet research has been done, but real world feedback would be hugely appreciated.

Thanks in advance…

Mrs Dubs has had both hers done. One was done on NHS, about 20 years ago, one privately about 12 years ago.

She played at least one season of top league hockey with one of them ruptured, but getting it fixed was worth it.

Advice has changed over the years, but basically they will get you moving as quickly as possible after the surgery.

If you can, look for surgeons who specialise in ACL repair / sports medicine. This is the one she used http://www.parkside-hospital.co.uk/consultants/mr-jonathan-bell/
and has used again for meniscus repair.

I had mine done a few years back. Apparently at 40 I was borderline whether to do it or not. Physio said I should as it will help protect the already damaged cartilage. You can get back up and about pretty quickly getting confidence and strength takes a lot of hard work though.
Mrs anagallis did hers about 7 years ago didnt get it repaired, still runs and cycles fine….

I had mine reconstructed 17 years ago using my patella tendon as a graft across the damaged ligament. Long story short, twisted my right knee skiing (I know stupid sport & only myself to blame). Tore cruciate and medial ligaments and damaged the cartilage as well.
My knee was so unstable it could buckle under me while walking through the office and I had to wear a hinged support on it while cycling. I had it repaired in April 2000 on the NHS. No problems with stability but the cartilage has never fully recovered. I now do silly things like Ironman Triathlon, but I have to walk the marathon and I still ski. My right leg is weaker than my left, but in my book it was definitely worth it.

Have a look at this site, I’m getting an Internal Brace on my ankle in a couple of weeks and expect to be back on the bike in no time. Other case study of a snowboarder ruining his ACL and do an Ultra-Marathon 5 months later!

http://www.mackayclinic.co.uk/

Had mine done 10yrs ago, best thing I ever did 😀

Thanks

She’s been running 5k’s every other day, but then has issues when she “turns” here knee and it tweaks, gets sore and doesn’t support her weight for a few days. The consultant says it’ll always be that way, unless they operate yet it remains a choice.

I should say, once of the concerns over the op is that she’s a Lupus suffer and that can, although not always does give complications.

A friend did hers about ten years ago when skiing. Had the operation to fix it (in France) and did the Bob Graham Round a year later.

A colleague at work recently had his ACL fixed by

Home

If it’s a new injury then they supposedly have a much quicker and more successful method

I have had three different ligament operations and a cartilage snip and trim over the last 15 years. All football related. Pleased I have been able to get them done as I was able then to continue playing. Apart from football and tennis all other sports I play I could manage without the operations so long as I had a solid knee brace/support.

There are lots of variables as to the long term results. If its unstable and stopping normal activities then I’d definitely consider it. If mine “goes” then it’s swollen and takes a week to recover.
Fingers crossed its just the ACL rupture and not cartliage damage as that has the poorer long term prognosis.

My eldest (15) had his done a couple of months ago, along with a meniscus tidy up.
He is off crutches, walks up to the school bus with his heavy bag, and generally gets on with life. He can’t play football or do any real sport for a few months.
I’d do it.
Pm me if you want any more info.

I say get it fixed.
I had my right a.c.l. rebuilt using a hamstring graft. A football injury I put up with for way too long. Previously my leg would give way randomly at gigs, in bars, at the newsagents. Any turning movement . Which used to really hurt & be quite embarrassing as it would lock out.
Anyway , physio started day after op. ,which was character building tbh. Strictly no weight on it for two weeks post op , crutches for around 6 weeks.
Your missus must do the physio.
I cycled round back o’ skiddaw week 13 after the op. Only felt a little pain going up dash falls. Ha.
The hamstring is not as strong as it once was & I’ve been told not to play football again.
IMO 3 months inconvenience is nothing compared to the rest of your life with a glass knee.
Did I mention to do the physio ?
Incidentally , I had it done in Enfield , Mr S.Mellor. If that’s any help to you..:-)

I have broken both of mine, not a tear but completely gone, busted, kaput.

I managed to do ok with one broken (25 years) pkayed a decent level of sport (hockey) but was never back at original level, tennis, skied to a decent level, mountain biking etc.

Breaking the second one has meant more stress on the other and the second injury damaged the meniscus more. As above it will “tweak” itself sometimes and hurt like buggary. I have done numerous physio sessions on specialist hydraulic kit, trampoline, wobble board etc.

Now I am looking at getting both knees done. I am 54

OP running in a straight line doesn’t need your ACL, if there is meniscus damage then running will be painful/troublesome.

Biking is ok, mtb is more of a worry as a big off could lead to more damage if you put a leg out on landing etc

I tore mine 8 years ago and being a scaredy cat didn’t get it fixed.
Medical friends told me to leave your knees alone if possible.
It’s pretty much fine now. There’s some yoga stuff that I know will hurt so I skip that.
I do wince though when footballers do that slide along the grass on their knees though.

Medical friends told me to leave your knees alone if possible.

I have heard this too. As above I managed 25 years with one broken ACL but two isn’t manageable and the surgery is much better now, not sure it even existed in 1984

Thanks all

Senor J – by cooincidence she is seeing the same chap through my private medical so thats inspired some confidence! The physio will happen, not only becuase its private but becuase my work policy included “unlimited as required” physio which she’s been having for a year.

Nice one – I highly recommend him. He also fettled my left leg after an off in Polesden Lacey.
He has magic fingers,like Darth Vader,compared to a Storm trooper physiotherapist. 🙂
With regards to the physio – a lot of it will be up to your missus and a rubber band – to get the hamstring moving.shudder. 😯

I’ve had 3 knee surgeries – 2 cartilage arthroscopy and 1 ACL + cartilage – on the first 2 I didn’t do what was asked of me post op and the post op care wasn’t great and I suffered a lot because of that. However after the 3rd op, done in Bristol, I did everything that was asked of me by the physio and the post op care was class. The difference this made was huge. I was on a single crutch walking out of hospital walking heel to toe and off the single crutch in 2 weeks I think.
My advice is that it is imperative to do the post op exercises and the preop exercises until you’re blue in the face. Things like leg extensions with a towel under your knee, glute work, hamstring strengthening and proprioception work etc.
Having said all that my knee has gradually got worse over the last few years resulting in a trip for an MRI which revealed a good few nasties…bakers cyst, loose bone floating, another large meniscus tear, high grade tear of my replacement ACL, wear to bones due to lack of cartilage, calcification etc etc I’m heading to a sports injury clinic in Dublin at the end of April for a consultation but am totally unsure whether or not to go for another ACL as I don’t know if I can face the rehab or the time not being able to lift my kids etc.

Thanks all. The descision made after an MRI diagnosis today by above said Surgeon. Her surrounding bone & tissue is all good but the ACL shows only a thin shadow so his advice is to repair it while the rest of her knee can cope well with the invasive process.

I have completely ruptured the ACL in my right knee and never bothered with the rehab as was told it was 5 months not doing anything and being on crutches etc. It has to be said initially I had the sore knee after 5k and turning scared me as I thought my knee was going to collapse. However I started going to the gym and doing leg weights, squats and lunges and cycling. I was told if the surround leg muscles were strong and supportive you can do without your ACL.

i now have NO problems whatsoever I run marathons, cycle, swim, snowboard etc and don’t have any issues.

I think ultimately it is down to her. I feel I made the right decision for the stage of my life (student) and 17 years later it is still the right decision. Never want to go under the knife unless you really have to.

Kryton57 – Member

Thanks all. The descision made after an MRI diagnosis today by above said Surgeon. Her surrounding bone & tissue is all good but the ACL shows only a thin shadow so his advice is to repair it while the rest of her knee can cope well with the invasive process.

Is it getting an internal brace as per the links above? If going private I wouldn’t be going down any oher route at the moment (unless it also offers the same recovery times, etc of course)