No ACL physical therapy

Well I did it again….Playing softball a month ago I decided to tear about everything possible in my knee AGAIN 20 months apart same knee! Well last week rolled around and the plan was to have a 2 part surgery. 1st last week was to clean up and fix everything BUT the ACL and in December have the second surgery for a cadaver ACL again. Well they got in the knee and it appears I did enough damage this time that they will not be giving me an ACL. Sooooooo I get to start this new physical therapy to build muscles around the knee to stabilize it. Just curious if any of you guys out there have been through this yet and what to expect besides hell from what I remember from the first surgery!

I would get a second opinion on that. No ACL means a life with an unstable knee. I did mine playing softball and the took the middle of my patellar tendon and the repair has worked great. Just a little arthritic from time to time here. Time to hang up your spikes and go fishing instead.

Been thru ACL stuff myself. (and also quit playing ball ) Why are “they” waiting for the replacement? They should be doing everything at once. Second opinion is a good idea.

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I would get a second opinion on that. No ACL means a life with an unstable knee. I did mine playing softball and the took the middle of my patellar tendon and the repair has worked great. Just a little arthritic from time to time here. Time to hang up your spikes and go fishing instead.

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Absolutely UNTURE. I completely destroyed my right knee about 7 years ago (Destroyed ACL (gone), partial tear of MCL, unaffected (stretched) LCL. Since that time, I have no ACL in my knee and I have yet to have it replaced. I’ve been postponing surgery as long as absolutely possible. It hasn’t affected my lifestyle one bit. Sure, when I’m hunting in the mountains I have to wear a knee brace for fear of knee failure and rolling down the hill. I also have to be conscious about how I jump out of the back of a truck/boat etc. However I still go about my day. Of course I can’t ice skate or water ski until I get the surgery (or wear the brace).

Living without an ACL is entirely possible and doable. My knee does dislocate about once/year when I am not paying attention and jump/land wrong. It hurts for a few minutes, but I suck it up and go on.

Of course my Orthopedic Surgeon wanted to use a tendon from my Hamstring. Sounds like that would hurt like hell. And 6 months on the couch would seriously interfere with my living.

The kicker of it all is this….the first time i tore this thing i was 170+ pounds heavier and went on on a major diet/workout session the past 2 years. When i tore it last time I broke the bone and everything around the knee where the acl rests and runs through. It was held together with staples and screws…well a small portion of it did it again and they needed to clean things up and repair before an ACL could be considered. After the went in (a MAYO surgical team) it is determined that is is shot and replacing the ACL would do little for me this time. There is a new deal going on now though for treatment for a non ACL knee. They say if you can build the muscle mass around the knee itself it will act almost as an ACL itself. Obviously not going to be 100% as to having an ACL of course.

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Living without an ACL is entirely possible and doable. My knee does dislocate about once/year when I am not paying attention and jump/land wrong. It hurts for a few minutes, but I suck it up and go on.

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Agreed. I had a football coach in college who had no ACL, and he got along just fine. He was probably stronger and tougher than 99% of the team

I’ve gone through the ACL surgery and I have to say, getting the right doc helps. I used a sports medicine guy who only does ACL’s. Here’s how you do it. The insurance company will say all docs are ok and will go with the cheapest one. If you say you want a sports medicine guy they will say NOOO!

Here’s how I did it. I found the guy I wanted. He works with some of the pro athletes here in town and his office is nearby where I work. His sports medicine clinic wasn’t on the network, but his orthopedic clinic was, so I told the insurance company that I’m a busy guy and there’s this clinic right down the road. The clerk looked at it and said “that makes sense” and booked an appointment. Had I wanted to go there because he’s the best, she would have said no.

Find the best doc you can, then make sure he’s on your network or have your current doc refer you and find another reason to go to the clinic other than you want the best. It’s closer, more convenient or whatever.

My knee is as good as new and I’m enjoying all the activities I did before. Don’t live your life wincing every time you need to jump two feet to the ground. Life is, too, short.

170 pounds liter?

Erick you stud.

Before my surgery my knee popped out half a dozen times a week and I nearly fell down the stairs I guess it depends on the knee. Getting a second opinion on any major health issue is always a good idea.

i also have a wrecked knee and hip and ankle….from softball…

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i also have a wrecked knee and hip and ankle….from softball…

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Apparently you all need to stop playing ball. At least I was playing hockey when I ruined my knee.

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Absolutely UNTURE. I completely destroyed my right knee about 7 years ago (Destroyed ACL (gone), partial tear of MCL, unaffected (stretched) LCL. Since that time, I have no ACL in my knee and I have yet to have it replaced. I’ve been postponing surgery as long as absolutely possible. It hasn’t affected my lifestyle one bit. Sure, when I’m hunting in the mountains I have to wear a knee brace for fear of knee failure and rolling down the hill. I also have to be conscious about how I jump out of the back of a truck/boat etc. However I still go about my day. Of course I can’t ice skate or water ski until I get the surgery (or wear the brace).

Living without an ACL is entirely possible and doable. My knee does dislocate about once/year when I am not paying attention and jump/land wrong. It hurts for a few minutes, but I suck it up and go on.

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My ACL experience is exactly the same as Wade’s. I tore mine playing softball close to 20 years ago. It slips out of place a couple times a year. It hurts for a couple days. I have less trouble with it when I excersise more regularly. I also have a custom brace but I don’t wear it much anymore. I don’t water ski much anymore or play competitive sport anymore either. I occassionally put the brace on if I know I’m going to tie one on.

Softball does seem to cause a lot of injuries. My guess is because the players tend to not be in great shape. I played a lot of football and wrestled a lot–never tore up my knee, but I’d be willing to bet I would blow an ACL if I was still playing softball

I have a replacement knee and no ACL. Just have to be a little careful picking your “fun” things to do, watch your step a little more. I do lots of stairs at work and work out in the rail yard, I keep up just fine to those with no problems.

I never knew beer league softball was so hard on a guy.

beer can create alot of injuries!