ACL Reconstruction and Meniscus Removal

[StatenIslandYankee]

Hey guys,

So I recently had a bad injury. Tore my ACL and ripped my meniscus pretty bad. I guess it was inevitable competing in martial arts and playing other sports most of my life. I was curious if anyone on this board had this surgery? My dr used the Patella Tendon graft and he said my meniscus was beyond repair so it was removed. I am unsure how much of it was removed, be it partially or fully. I will ask him more tomorrow. But any of you have similar experiences? I know the recovery time will be long and the recovery will be an uphill battle but I rehab like a beast with any previous injury I've had so I'm game for it.

[BBombers85]

Ouch. Hope you have a good recovery and rehab. Never experienced anything of this sort, so just passing on my best wishes.

[CanoForPresident]

Hey guys,

So I recently had a bad injury. Tore my ACL and ripped my meniscus pretty bad. I guess it was inevitable competing in martial arts and playing other sports most of my life. I was curious if anyone on this board had this surgery? My dr used the Patella Tendon graft and he said my meniscus was beyond repair so it was removed. I am unsure how much of it was removed, be it partially or fully. I will ask him more tomorrow. But any of you have similar experiences? I know the recovery time will be long and the recovery will be an uphill battle but I rehab like a beast with any previous injury I've had so I'm game for it.

I tore my ACL when I was in HS. The Rehab is a total BITCH so just be ready for that. I totally underestimated how tough it was going to be but it needs to be done 100%

[Gringaloca]

I had arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus last September. I can't imagine removing the whole meniscus as it acts as a cushion or shock absorber between the tibia & femur..without it you'd have bone on bone..ouch!!..

The rehab was only a couple of weeks of PT..of course, only repair to the meniscus and no torn ACL or tendons.

Ask for the icepack knee thingy with the cooler..and of course, the script for pain meds...you'll need 'em..

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/m...tment-overview

[Bub]

I had the same procedure done back in 1997. With a lot of hard work you can be back to better than 90% in about 18 months. All the talk about 1 year is just talk....it takes longer. My advice to you is that you do the best you can weeks prior to the surgery to strengthen your upper leg muscles because in a couple of days after the operation you'll lose more than half your strength and it'll make rehab all the harder. I'm glad I had it done....I can do just about anything...although jumping off of anything higher than a couple of feet is not a good idea at my age; don't want to risk having to go through it again.

[hed]

I had knee surgery July 17, 2009 for acl and lateral meniscus tare. The scans before surgery showed they completely shredded and were gone, no where to be seen.

[StatenIslandYankee]

The most pain I am experiencing is in the front knee cap (anterior knee pain). Man that is unbearable.

[StatenIslandYankee]

I had knee surgery July 17, 2009 for acl and lateral meniscus tare. The scans before surgery showed they completely shredded and were gone, no where to be seen.

And how are you now? About a year later?

[StatenIslandYankee]

I tore my ACL when I was in HS. The Rehab is a total BITCH so just be ready for that. I totally underestimated how tough it was going to be but it needs to be done 100%

I think the scariest thing will be bearing weight on the leg and starting to walk. I don't want it to buckle.

[StatenIslandYankee]

I had the same procedure done back in 1997. With a lot of hard work you can be back to better than 90% in about 18 months. All the talk about 1 year is just talk....it takes longer. My advice to you is that you do the best you can weeks prior to the surgery to strengthen your upper leg muscles because in a couple of days after the operation you'll lose more than half your strength and it'll make rehab all the harder. I'm glad I had it done....I can do just about anything...although jumping off of anything higher than a couple of feet is not a good idea at my age; don't want to risk having to go through it again.

Damn 18 months. I'm wondering when I can go back to the gym, play sports, and start training again (MMA). I hope 6 months and I'll be back (even if it's at 70% and I have to take it light). I am glad I did it, but the most painful thing is the front knee cap (patella tendon). It's unreal. Makes anything I have to do that much harder. I am now 11 days post op and I still don't have the strength to stand up and walk. Just using the CPM machine and the ice machine.

[Bub]

Damn 18 months. I'm wondering when I can go back to the gym, play sports, and start training again (MMA). I hope 6 months and I'll be back (even if it's at 70% and I have to take it light). I am glad I did it, but the most painful thing is the front knee cap (patella tendon). It's unreal. Makes anything I have to do that much harder. I am now 11 days post op and I still don't have the strength to stand up and walk. Just using the CPM machine and the ice machine.

Can you do a leg lift lying down? (not high, just holding it straight and up about 4 inches for a few seconds at a time)

[StatenIslandYankee]

Can you do a leg lift lying down? (not high, just holding it straight and up about 4 inches for a few seconds at a time)

Nope can't raise it at all.

[Bub]

Nope can't raise it at all.

The longer you go without working that quad the harder it's going to be. I had someone lift the leg for me and then I'd try to keep it there for a few seconds before dropping it. Lots of pain. I'd check with your own doc/physical therapist about attempting stuff like that.

[hed]

And how are you now? About a year later?

I had surgery July 17, 2009 and it's now September 14, 2010. I am 24 as of July 28th.

[Bub]

I had surgery July 17, 2009 and it's now September 14, 2010. I am 24 as of July 28th.

I think he meant where are you in terms of recovery. Are you 80%, 90% etc. After 1 year I was about 80% strength/tightness with 90% mobility, then after 18 months over 90% strength/tightness and 100% mobility. I'm very satisfied with how tight the knee is...it will never be what it used to be, but I had my operation at age 39.

[4bronxbombers]

Nope can't raise it at all.

Are you still in PT?

[hed]

I think he meant where are you in terms of recovery. Are you 80%, 90% etc. After 1 year I was about 80% strength/tightness with 90% mobility, then after 18 months over 90% strength/tightness and 100% mobility. I'm very satisfied with how tight the knee is...it will never be what it used to be, but I had my operation at age 39.

My mistake. I didn't read the other posts to know that.

Honestly, I didn't do a single day of rehab. Stupid, I know. I went to get the tendons stretched out three times a week but I didn't do any of my rehab. Saying that, it's still weak. I don't know if it's more of me not trusting my knee or it's actually weak. I can play pickup basketball at this point of time but I play lazy defense and don't do much driving to the basket. More of a run down court and set shooter. I feel my knee would be fine to play baseball/softball but pickup football games are out of the question.. unless I'm QB.

If it helps, I do fully believe if I did ANY rehab/jogging, weight training on it the last year I would be close to 100% if not fully.

[4bronxbombers]

My mistake. I didn't read the other posts to know that.

Honestly, I didn't do a single day of rehab. Stupid, I know. I went to get the tendons stretched out three times a week but I didn't do any of my rehab. Saying that, it's still weak. I don't know if it's more of me not trusting my knee or it's actually weak. I can play pickup basketball at this point of time but I play lazy defense and don't do much driving to the basket. More of a run down court and set shooter. I feel my knee would be fine to play baseball/softball but pickup football games are out of the question.. unless I'm QB.

If it helps, I do fully believe if I did ANY rehab/jogging, weight training on it the last year I would be close to 100% if not fully.

oh no!

[BxBomber44]

Jenkins, Kris. Poor guy.

[StatenIslandYankee]

Are you still in PT?

I start PT this thursday.

[StatenIslandYankee]

My mistake. I didn't read the other posts to know that.

Honestly, I didn't do a single day of rehab. Stupid, I know. I went to get the tendons stretched out three times a week but I didn't do any of my rehab. Saying that, it's still weak. I don't know if it's more of me not trusting my knee or it's actually weak. I can play pickup basketball at this point of time but I play lazy defense and don't do much driving to the basket. More of a run down court and set shooter. I feel my knee would be fine to play baseball/softball but pickup football games are out of the question.. unless I'm QB.

If it helps, I do fully believe if I did ANY rehab/jogging, weight training on it the last year I would be close to 100% if not fully.

damn ... not what i plan on doing ... i plan on rehabbing hard like an animal ... i need to get back into competition condition.

[StatenIslandYankee]

The longer you go without working that quad the harder it's going to be. I had someone lift the leg for me and then I'd try to keep it there for a few seconds before dropping it. Lots of pain. I'd check with your own doc/physical therapist about attempting stuff like that.

That sounds like a good idea. I think the fact that I waited a month longer to do the surgery than I should have makes a difference. But I had no choice since my insurance wasn't covered for another month ... I had to wait or pay out of pocket.

[StatenIslandYankee]

So I had my first PT today ... lots of stuff I need to work on .... quad firing, flexation, extension, calf strength, and walking.