Time Frame for coming back from an ACL

[rustywater]

I have just torn my ACL mtn biking, damnit (about 3 weeks ago). probably going to have surgery in about 2-3 weeks.

Assuming everything goes well, what can I expect my time frame of return?

Has anyone had similar experience?

Will this affect more kitesurfing or freestyle riding?

Thanks

Russell

[jbirdmarin]

Bummer for you, but luckily the procedures have much improved. Docs say everyone is different. A buddy of mine took 6 months before he could kite again, and another took 2 months. I tore my ACL 3 years ago kiting. It was misdiagnosed, but I have lived with it. I had surgery this May to clean it out hanging cartillage that was bugging me and to shave down the bone, but not the ACL reconstruction, and I was kiting in a month. I knew that would be a quicker recovery and I didn't want to miss the entire summer season. I will have the reconstructive ACL surgury in October (so i don't miss any September kiting) and hopefully it will heal in plenty of time for the spring season.

By all accounts I've heard, if it goes well, it won't affect future kiting moves.

I'd be interested in hearing other recovery times from folks out there?

[adamrod]

Nour just had surgery for hers, i think she's out for about 5 months...she tore hers on the waves, even tho i'd guess that freestyle might put more strain on it, my guess is it will affect both....

do your PT and rehab . . .

but it all depends on how the surgery goes I think, how complete your tear was, whether or not you're getting a new ligament or a graft etc etc...

[rustywater]

thanks for the info, I am hoping to have a speedy recovery and get some spring time wind and swell.

Ride on,

Russ

[dmays]

ACL Recovery defenitely takes some time. My wife is an Athletic Trainer (ther person you see doing triage on the field for pro sports teams) she runs her own business here in the city doing post rehab therapy for athletes who get hurt and want to get back to their sport as soon as possible.

To repair an ACL the surgeon has to "borrow" a piece of Tendon from another part of your body and surgically implant it in as the ACL. It takes about 6 months for your body to convert the tendon into a ligament.

It's very difficult to shorten the recovery time but what you can do is ensure that you are doing the correct Rehab/Post Rehab training so that in 6 months you are fully ready for action. We have seen many people do only what the MDs/PTs tell them and they recover in 6 months but have very little range of motion and they are too weak to perform their sport effectively.

Do your homework. You will be able to recover better if you fully understand what is being done to your body. Also, make sure you are getting a good surgeon. I had knee surgery 2 years ago due to a torn meniscus. I found a very good surgeon and had my wife do my rehab. (she takes a very agressive approach) In 3 weeks I was able to run 3 miles again.

Good luck. If you need any more info, feel free to PM me.

-Damian

[GracieMarie]

[font=Times New Roman]:( Sorry that you are on Injured Reserve! Many kiters have crutched this path before you, and can offer you experience and support.

www.knee1.com has good data. Also, check out the Steadman Hawkins ACL Patient Education section of their website---http://steadmanhawkins.com/acl/overview.asp

They usually offer you 3 ways of grafting a piece of tissue into your knee : 1) shoplift a piece of tissue from your hamstring, 2) shoplift a piece of tissue from your patella tendon (the whole point is to give your knee something suitable to grow a new ACL out of) or 3) use a cadaver ACL to graft in----they get 'em from a soft tissue bank. If it was me to do all over again, I'd ABSOLUTLY take the cadaver. A lot of docs don't want to risk rejection with a cadaver ACL, and fair enough. But it's already an Anterior Cruciae Ligament vs. a piece of patella tendon that needs to morph into a new ACL for you. That part takes more time.

Don't be afraid of interviewing a BUNCH of knee surgeons. You are the CLIENT, not some annoying lower caste member taking up their valuable tee time. They can be very brusque and impatient, especially if you are a pesky question-asker. Be persistent; you need to understand what is happening with you orthopedically. Unless you went to medical school, you probably don't know Chondral Defects from Cam Impingement.

I was out for a year, but I did the whole knee in; I know another devoted kiter that used a cadaver ACL and was kiting in 3 months. Once you find a medical team (surgeon, physical therapists) you trust, YOU MUST DO EXACTLY AS THEY TELL YOU! Otherwise you may have to start all over, do not pass Go, do not collect $200....And, you'll need (knee'd?) access to a gym to build up the quads/hamstrings/calf muscles, etc. on the surgically molested knee. The atrophy is swift, and you need those muscles to protect your knee and other joints. Pool swimming and stationary bike riding are the best post op ways to keep chi in the joint while building up strength; they are non-weight bearing exercises, so your knee will love you. Best Wishes and mach schnell recovery, GM :)

[mbzporvida]

Look up DR.TING http://www.healthgrades.com/directory_s ... 8bf10c.cfm

One of the best in the bay area.