Mus

iTrader: (2)

Hi gents

I had Keywhole surgery yesterday they trimmed some of my cartlidge and meniscus. After a good look inside my knee I was told I need knee reconstruction as my acl has been torn clean off and I have also torn my crutiate ligament. I'm 28 years old I love playing footie table tennis bike riding any outdoor activities really. Has any one had knee reconstruction? Or know anything about it? Is my knee ever goingto be the same again

Thank in advance


Mus

my94wrx

iTrader: (4)

i had my knee reconstructed when i was a kid, i smashed to pieces and did the ligaments too, had surgery (open) to repair it has never been right since

davyboy

I had ACL reconstruction sugery April 2009 due a motocross incident.

The knee might never be quite the same again, but you'd still be able to do the things you mention.

I've got back to motocross (before I injured myself again), cycling, walked up Snowdon. In fact I don't really think about it much day to day. I even skied for a week 11 mnths after the op.

Just be aware it's a very slow process, and doing the physio is key to a good recovery. Expect to be off work for about 6 weeks after the op.

Mus

iTrader: (2)

Not sounding good at all the consultant said only a thrid of people ever get it done

what about cruitiate I also have a torn cruitiate?

davyboy

The NHS would try and talk people out of it. If they are old or don't lead particularly active lives, then a years worth of physio and a painful operation might put some off.

You've 2 cruciate ligaments. Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL).

To be honest, these are questions you should be asking your consultant, he'll have a nice model of a knee....and if you have private health care then use it!

Mus

iTrader: (2)

My consultant Is too busy and has booked to see me in October, i wish I had private health insurance. Is it worth asking for a transfer.

It's my acl the been tore clean off

DaveBeck

iTrader: (12)

Kept popping my knee out at rugby. In the end the Ligaments went along with tendons etc.

Had an op to sort it. Had to do keyhole underneath, clean up the Anterior and also break the lumpy bone just under knee and relocate it to tighten ligament/tendons attached

Long process after. Smash in the physio for sure.

Im back playing again and its been fine but on cold days it aches and also i cant kneel on it

not pretty

Westwood2006

iTrader: (1)

Sorry to hear this Mus. As long as you can still use a clutch you'll at least have a good time behind the wheel!

davyboy

On reflection, how did you not know you'd torn/rupured your ACL? It's very painful and gets very swollen. Often comes with a popping sound and you'd not have been able to put weight on it for a few weeks.

Seems an odd thing to discover.

Maybe worth having a private MRI scan and consultation. Would cost about £500 I'd have thought.

CSW_Scoobie

I had my ACL replaced using some of my hamstring about 12 years ago. I feel the cold in it a little in the winter but other than that I have a full usable knee. If you do a lot of kneeling for a living your best off having the donor ligament from the hamstring, most ACL repairs are done with the ligament that holds your knee cap in line but can prove painfull if you kneel on the area after. Three months recovery and I was back to work fully fit.

Hope it all goes well for you, its not the end of your sporting career though.

CSW_Scoobie

Double post, oops.

GC8

My girlfriend had similar last October and she is still off work now. She has more scars and whilst tis better, it is very far from right.

She has a combination of very stretchy tendons and a poorly defined track on the rear of her kneecap: leading to endless dislocations.

Mus

iTrader: (2)

I havent driven my Subaru for a good few months now, it's going up for sale end of the month just can't drive it at all for now thank u all for your input.

I'm gutted can't play footie nomore

I had an MRI done and the doctor at the time suspected it but couldn't confirm it for sure. It was All confirmed yesterday when I had the keywhole. I feel like have no balance at all on my right knee. It just feels like it's ready to flop whenever I put weight on it. Did any one feel like that afer the operation.

CSW_Scoobie

You will probably play footie again, after you have the ACL replacement surgery. Your knee wont feel stable untill the surgery is finished. I had two cartlidge ops before the ACL tear was spotted. I wore a knee support while I waited for surgery which enabled me to walk around normally. I would however start grimbling to the local NHS trust about the amount of time you are going to have to wait.

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

I wont show you the scar I have on my knee, it may put you off surgery for life but lets say ive had this since 17 after knackering it in PT (full dislocation of the patela(sp))
You can lead a near normal life again, you will suffer a stiff knee in bad/cold weather but it doesnt last long once your up an about on it, just be quite active and it should be ok, plenty of things you can do to strengthen it up, physio will be your first stop, then remember what exercises they give you

Tony

my94wrx

iTrader: (4)

what scar you got? a sort of stretched s on its side? if this makes sense

Mus

iTrader: (2)

I've started doing some knee exercises already but just feels painful, I know I'm going to get open knee surgery I just want to play footie again, Or even go for a jog I'm not scared to get surgery again I just want it done asap.considering I had my two accidents in march I'm pretty pleased I had my first operation already.

What the average recovery period for knee reconstruction.

Mus

iTrader: (2)

I've started doing some knee exercises already but just feels painful, I know I'm going to get open knee surgery I just want to play footie again, Or even go for a jog I'm not scared to get surgery again I just want it done asap.considering I had my two accidents in march I'm pretty pleased I had my first operation already.

What the average recovery period for knee reconstruction.

Fat Boy

2 knee reconstructions here and just the 13 keyhole ops, including the last one on Monday this week = currently bored stupid at home.

First big one was when i was 19 -I played sports to a good level-and I was told never to play any sports again.I'm now 48 and while my knee isn't great (I will need another big op relatively soon and that could be a knee replacement, but it also may not) I played the occasional game of drinking rugby, i played 25 years of 5 a side footy, I learnt to ski at 26 and soon graduated to offpiste (coz that's great for knees ) , even heliskiing, I've surfed all that time, mountain biked, etc.

You are unlikely to have the same knee again post op, BUT,it will be stable again and you should be able to do most sports, perhaps even footy and so on, if you do all the physio perfectly and don't rush it. You'll certainly be easily able to drive a car.

The likes of Roy Keane had a full knee reconstruction and came back to play several years at the very highest level - in fact it was his hip that ended his career, not his knee, so stop feeling sorry for yourself, and just move on and get yourself better. I don't mean to sound harsh but just chin up is half the battle.

Me? I couldn't help myself and several of the ops were me coming back to soon, too hard I'm sure I heard the surgeon say "Not this tw@ again"? when he saw me coming this time

FB
Gold card member at who knows how many hospitals...

Mus

iTrader: (2)

I'm trying not to, but it's hard when you can't do the things i used to play footie 3 times a week, table tennis twice a week , gym 3 times a week even fishing or have a spirited drive in the scooby and work 6 days a week. Lucky the footie world cup is on to keep me occupied for now.

I'm thinking of asking for a transfer as the current hospital I have been attending seem to be taking the **** my consultant won't be able to see me untill october and I can't bare the thought to be with a torn acl until next year. Is it worth asking for a transfer to another hospital?

Thank you all for your advice and sharing your experiences.

Fat Boy

I know exactly what you're going through as before my knee I played first class rugby, ran, cycled, played footy for fun in spare time (but was still pretty good even if i say so myself ), played tennis and table tennis, etc, gym a given with all that so been there, got the t shirt. You would be very hard pushed to get near the level of sports I got up to when you add in all the training I had to do for the rugby team as well. I didn't react well at the time - very similar to your reaction- but I now recognise that was wasted time and energy that could have been better spent sorting myself out.

Definitely worth pushing. I was lucky enough to have private for a lot of my later ops, but the early ones were NHS and pushing politely, but firmly and continuously can get results. Use a bit of nous - ask your Mp about wiating lists and promises made about them, see if anyone you or family and friends know is in the system i.e. nurses, doctors, etc. If nothing else it gives you something to get yout teeth into.

Try and do straight leg lifts and other quadriceps exercises as it will help greatly with your knee stability ( some downhill ski racers don't have cruciates but they leave them until after their careers are over and just hyper develop their quads instead) and it will help post teh reconstruction op if you keep the muscles in as good a nick as you can.

davyboy

I keep hearing about skiers/rugby players not having ACLs but is there any proof of this, or internet bed time reading?

Mus

iTrader: (2)

Thank you for the info Fat boy I will get on the bike this weekend defo

Fat Boy

http://www.epicski.com/forum/thread/...without-an-acl

Mentioned directly to me several times by some of my knee surgeons

Fat Boy

That's the spirit, but be careful about overdoing it as well.

A bit of web surfing- find a sports medicine site and ask a few questions of qualified people or talk to davyboy - he's just been through this- to see what you should and shouldn't do while you're waiting to get some action from the docs.

Best of luck m8

Westwood2006

iTrader: (1)

Every time I need stuff taking care of I always do my own research.

I don't have private medical insurance but if I don't like the NHS offerings, techniques or waiting lists I pay for a specialist to do it. That way you are in full control.

Looks like you spend plenty of cash on your car.... you should do the same for your body.. you can't buy a new one!

It always amazes me when people get many opinions about stuff like cars before doing anything but when it comes to our health we listen to any prat in a white coat!

Mus

iTrader: (2)

I will defo do more research, my mrs just suggested to go private I really don't what to do yet I guess I will reasearch on a few other forums and if need be and I can afford to go private then I certinly will. A mate of mine suggested going to beirut where I can get the the whole knee reconstruction done for around 2000 quid but when I do come back here and have problems I will be told to go back there.

The whole idea of selling the scoob was to buy a bigger place but
maybe after all health is more immportant. I'm just worried if I spent all that money privetly and my knee is still as bad.

More research deffinetley

Westwood2006

iTrader: (1)

Sounds like a no brainer to me. Compare the costs of a forged engine with the costs of a new knee! Pretty similar I'd wager.... travel included!

Find the best regarded surgeon you can afford and go with him!

Leslie

Sorry to hear about all those problems. I hope it can be put right at minimum costs in the end.

Les

Jonnys3

Mus, I have just started playing football again after having my ACL reconstructed in Aug 2009 and having finished a course of rehabilitation (provided by the NHS) in Feb 2010, I can honestly say my knee has never felt the same since but not in a bad way considering what your knee has been through during the operation: (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlAjzngBMJw). I now have a numb shin and the hamstrings in the back of my knee feel like badly tied knots clumped together in a big cluster (suffice to say I cannot get the ball of my foot to touch my butt without warming up first).

My hamstring tendons (from which the graft was taken to recreate the acl) are a different story - these are gonna take a lot of continued strengthening and as such I can still feel a twinge now and again.

However, I am 2 matches (5-aside) in and am making progress. Obviously with my hamstring weakend I am not able to sprint as fast as before (I used to be like lightening) and I was very stand-off-ish the first game, but yesterday's game was much more progressive (safe to say most of it is psychological ie not wanting to experience that level of pain which is induced when snapping the ligament). I also have to be really serious about warming up and down thoroughly before and after playing but I am back playing again which was my goal (excuse the pun). I think it'll be another 6-12 months before I'm playing without consciously thinking about my knee though.

I sincerely hope you make a full recovery (it's hard work, but you get out what you put in).