ACL/Knee repairs?

I’ve been living with ACLs that are torn up and knees that give out/twist most of my life. Kind of comically for those of you that like to watch people fall down. Finally reaching a point where they both need to be fixed soon or I’ll be facing a double knee replacement, which all the doc’s I’ve talked to want to wait another 10+ years before that option As bad as both of them are and the constant pain that keeps me awake, waiting is no longer an option for me. So, the real question is – I have two different doctors I’ve been comfortable with that both do a lot of pro athletes. However, two very different strategies. One wants to do both knees at once with an assisted/aggressive rehab and the other is one at a time and talks about a much longer rehab time. Being self employed, its not easy to just say Hey, I’m not working for the next couple months For those that have had cadaver replacements and bone polishing/repairs – what is your experience? All at once or one at a time & why???

I’ve never had it done, but I played college football, so I know a lot of guys that have. Every one I know has said to do them both at once, or you’re not going to want to go back and have the second one done. Rehab is a b-word, but the results are generally fantastic.

I had a buddy who’s dad had one done at a time and he missed more work and a lot more hunting/fishing time. I would go for them both at once and be done with it so you can go back to enjoying life. Pain sucks!

Sorry to hear that. I will be having a complete ACL replacement summer 2014. I choose to use a tendon from my hamstring muscle vs. a cadaver tendon.

Neither are an easy choice. Are you just having tendons fixed or bone replaced to?

Like others have said. Do both at the same time. You will be out for the same amount of time for one as you would two. So in theory, doing seperately will be twice as long.

Go for hard core rehab. Wanting to get better and working for it will shorten the recovery time. Getting depressed and not working towards recovery will prolong recovery and could actually be a death sentance.

My right knee started failing for no good reason this summer. I knew this day was coming. Just hoped it was still 10 years away.

Some of you guys are talking about bone on bone knee replacement. That is different (and a ton more painful) than tendon repair/replacement.

Randy, my brother in law had BOTH replaced at one time, and he loves them.
He was told that he can do anything that he did before he had the knee problems. He went to some specialists that have a clinic that is all they do is replacements.

I am like you I been suffering for years, I need mine done but at my age I dunno, I am 77 now and on heart meds, had a bypass, so I am cautious about it all.
If I lift any thing I am sore for two days, hurts like H___, hard to even take a step till they get back to normal.
Best on your decision.
Hope this helps.

Iowa Roger

Randy, I have avascular necrosis in both legs(dead,dieing bone tissue) I just had my second hip replacement done in August and will most likly need knees done in the future. I can’t imagine having both done at the same time. Thats just me though and I’m fortunate enough to be able to take the time off needed to recoop. I’m 52 and have some other healh issues that prolong the healing process.
My two cents would be to get it done sooner rather than later and end the pain, life is too short to live with it and the work they do these days is pretty remarkable. Young healthy people bounce back pretty quick(don’t know how old you are) I don’t think I’d wait ten years, They wanted me to wait because of the life of the prosthetic hip but I wanted to be able to walk now!
Good luck with whatever you choose! End the pain!!

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Neither are an easy choice. Are you just having tendons fixed or bone replaced to?

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I wish it was as simple as just having the tendons replaced. I’m opting for the cadaver Vs the hamstring because of the loss of mobility that I hear of from guys that have gone that route.
I want to avoid the replacement as much as possible. My Father had both knees done as total replacements. He has about 90% mobility in one knee and about 70% in the other. Clearly the difference in rehab, which he neglected on the first knee and learned his lesson. Both doctors have been pretty clear on that there will be much more to do once they have me opened up. Because of the side-to-side twisting, cartilage and bone repairs will be needed. The extent won’t be known until I select a doctor and start the process with the cat scan and more once they are inside.
I’ve been dealing with this since early 80’s and now its like a train going off a cliff. A bit embarrassing falling down in the boat, down the stairs, on the driveway, on job sites, off of ladders,…to the point I’m having wrist problems from the repeated impacts my hands take catching my fall.

Sorry to ramble on here, but due to things I’ve dealt with I have become a big proponent of living for today, in the moment , however you want to look at it. I could live to be 95 or my cancer could come back and I’ll never see 60. Waiting ten years means living with pain for ten years in the prime of your life, waiting is BS!From your past post you’re obviously a bright guy and you think things thru. I just wanted to stress the waiting thing.
Rant is over, thanks for indulging me.

The only “good news” I can offer is that I have never met anyone who had knees or hips replaced that didn’t wish they had done it much, much sooner. There is no benefit in putting it off as every year you age makes it that much harder and then you’ve wasted another year living with the problem.

My uncle just had both his hips done at 60. He’s a marathoner and cross country skier and his Dr said basically you’re pretty bad now and it’ll be all downhill from here if you don’t get-r-done.

What you said about won’t know until they get in and look around is exactly right. Could be easier than they thought and everything will just bolt right together like replacing an OEM part, or in some cases it’s a some-assembly-required thing.

How long are the wait times for surgery?

Grouse

Having had 4 knee surgeries, and soon to have number 5, do them both and get it over with. More pain initially, but less overall and much less time off. Prepair the family for a longer waiting room visit as it always takes longer than expected once the doc gets in there. My last was to take 2 hours and my wife was freaking out because it took 4 due to the un-forseen.

Good luck!

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How long are the wait times for surgery?

Grouse

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Since I’m booked out until December now with work and a few other projects pending, we discussed a very tentative late winter. Then I could be 6-8 months or more between knees if I chose to do them separately. I like the idea of just getting it done and over with and not spreading this out. Foremost, I can’t afford to not work. For me, no work = NO PAY. Sure would be nice to have this done on a friday night and back to work on monday

obviously a bright guy and you think things thru I really need to share this with my wife today! I don’t know if she’ll laugh or cry, but I appreciate it!

Randy My wife is a RN on a med surgical floor so she sees these a lot. I could ask her her opinion on it if you want.

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Randy My wife is a RN on a med surgical floor so she sees these a lot. I could ask her her opinion on it if you want.

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Sure – I really wnat to know if there are any significant disadvantages to having them both done at the same time. How does it affect rehad? Is it more comp-lex for rehab that I won’t have immediate stability in either knee? Do people often “favor” one over the other during exercises? Will I most likely exercise one and be too worn out to properly exercise the other? After seeing and working with my Father with his replacements, it opened a lot of questions on the double rehab aspect of it.

Randy, I would follow Wade’s advice – do both right away, use your own tendons and hit rehab as hard as they’ll let you. I’ve heard of a few studies that say the acceptance of a cadaver tendon isn’t as good as using your own tissue – it’s not like an organ where the donor tissue is rejected but it’s more about the minor synapses that help with body control and to have the joint not feel “foreign”.

I blew out my knee in high school and had ACL replacement using the inner third of my patellar tendon. It will be 20 years in January since the surgery and honestly my repaired knee feels and has felt about 90-95% compared to my good knee the entire time. I know I was fortunate to have a good surgeon and to be 16 at the time but I feel that a lot my success was based on the fact that I did my initial rehab as diligently as possible. Even right now, I’d start by trying to stretch and and strengthen your quads and hamstrings as much as possible – that will help your post surgery rehab go a lot more smoothly.

No two ways about it, it really sucks but if you put your head down, listen to your doctors and therapists and pay attention to what you body is telling you, you’ll come out of it the best way you can.

Hope this helps, good luck.

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Do people often “favor” one over the other during exercises? Will I most likely exercise one and be too worn out to properly exercise the other? After seeing and working with my Father with his replacements, it opened a lot of questions on the double rehab aspect of it.

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Get them done at the same time. You indicated that your legs give out and you’ve fallen. I’m no Dr but by doing one at a time may put you off balance and you may really favor one leg over the other. Not a good situation on a ladder.

I had my ACL’s replaced and cartilage cleaned up about 9 months apart. Blew one out skiing and blew the other one out playing football. They used the patellar tendon on both of mine, and I would not do that again. I have a lot of pain when I kneel down where they took the grafts from.

When I started reading the tread, I thought no way would I do both at the same time. However, the more I think about it, you are already going through the rehab and exercises, might as well get them both done at once and get it over with. I would make sure you talk to a physical therapist first though. I can’t imagine not having one stable knee for some of the exercises they make you do.

Whatever you decide – follow the rehab religiously. Makes a huge difference.

Good luck.

Randy,

I had one done several years ago. If faced with two I would have done it at the same time. You do need a support person for just a short period of time (two weeks). Not that you’ll be laid up but for both I’d error on the high side and say have a support person for two weeks. (driving around, issues at home).

You start rehab before leaving the hospital. It’s amazing but you’ll start using them again soon. Walking should not be a problem in short order. But anything other than straightline walking will be out probably around 6 months.

#1 deal is to do ALL of the rehab. And I like your one doctors thinking on aggressive rehab. Of course that will take up significant time so prepare for that.

If you have a slow season. Do it at the start of that season and rehab like crazy (or like AP)!!

Randy , Only ONE place to go and that’s the M.C. in Rochester .

Randy my uncle an avid golfer had both knees replaced at the same time, he is the go get them type. He went from fighting pain to do a couple of round of golf a week to 18 holes a day and loveing life. He gave up elk hunting years ago he lives in denver and at late sixties is think of trying it again. With the aggressive rehab most Dr’s are using i.e he was up and started walking the day after surgery and he said the pain was less intense than his everyday pain of walking. So he recomends both. Good Luck
Chippman

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Randy , Only ONE place to go and that’s the M.C. in Rochester .

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I would argue that almost to the point of a oiding the Great Mother Mayo, but that is another conversation.

AFLAC type insurance help a guy that is self employed? plan out surgery till something like that can kick in? I don’t know much about it, but worth checking out?

My wife managed an ortho clinic 17 years specializing in knees. Regardless which option you choose, surgeons only do part of the procedure. Their Doc stressed 1/2 of the procedure is up to the patient. Succesfull outcome depends on you committing to therapy. Good luck.

PM’ed