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3/3/2010 5:10:11 PM EDT
Ok, to start...I've had a torn ACL/MCL  and miniscus years ago, had surgery and the knee has never been the same.  Flash forward to now, stretched/tore my MCL in November and it's still fucked up.  I've got surgery scheduled this month, but I'm thinking it's gonna be even worse than it was after the first surgery...if that makes sense.  I'm wondering if the damage/pain is progressive after each surgery, or if it might stay the same or be better even after another one.

Anyone have multiple surgeries on the same knee and get good results?  Or am I stuck with a fucked up knee for life?
3/3/2010 5:14:32 PM EDT
[#1]
I had 2 on my right knee. One in high school and one after I got out of the military. I am 40 now. I am still living with it and I think you will be too. But I'm no doctor.
3/3/2010 5:16:26 PM EDT
[#2]
I got lucky. Tore my knee up skiing and had surgery on it. Took about 1.5 - 2 years but it's back to 100%. So maybe there's still hope.
3/3/2010 5:16:38 PM EDT
[#3]
Quoted:
I had 2 on my right knee. One in high school and one after I got out of the military. I am 40 now. I am still living with it and I think you will be too. But I'm no doctor.


Still in the .mil...so I need to be able to run, and run often.  That's why I'm wondering, I don't need/want a med board.  

I know I'll live, but will I be able to run a few miles on a regular basis?
3/3/2010 5:18:24 PM EDT
[#4]
Man.  I can sympathize.





Had my complete knee replaced at 15.  Now it's been 13 years and it's time for a re-work.  Doc told me to expect 10.





And...  i'm scared.  To be perfectly honest.  I'm procrastinating on seeing my doc.  Been procrastinating for 5 years.





But now i can feel it's time.  It's like a hinge that's loose.
3/3/2010 5:21:35 PM EDT
[#5]
Quoted:
Quoted:
I had 2 on my right knee. One in high school and one after I got out of the military. I am 40 now. I am still living with it and I think you will be too. But I'm no doctor.


Still in the .mil...so I need to be able to run, and run often.  That's why I'm wondering, I don't need/want a med board.  

I know I'll live, but will I be able to run a few miles on a regular basis?


I had my 1st one about 1 year before I entered the Army and did fine. Never re-injured it while I was in and this was after AB school etc... Also, the recovery time on the 2nd was MUCH less than the first. I have to believe by now they are much less invasive than they were when I got my 1st one (1985). You should be fine, but you will probably get arthritis later in life, much like I have. The doc told me this was going to happen, even back when I got the 1st one done.
3/3/2010 5:24:30 PM EDT
[#6]
I have a couple surgeries on my right knee and the first was an ACL w/PT graph/replacement.

It hurt like hell and ICE was my best friend for years after (even now) and the surgery was in '93

Recently, my buddy, a knee surgeon, 'cleaned it up' and I'm back to 100% playing tennis and running like back in the day.

I'm 52, so it's no small miracle...but having a surgeon that specializes in knee surgery is a good thing.

Find 'the guy' in your area...don't worry! The progress made in techniques and recovery times over the past decade is quantum.
3/3/2010 5:26:43 PM EDT
[#7]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
I had 2 on my right knee. One in high school and one after I got out of the military. I am 40 now. I am still living with it and I think you will be too. But I'm no doctor.


Still in the .mil...so I need to be able to run, and run often.  That's why I'm wondering, I don't need/want a med board.  

I know I'll live, but will I be able to run a few miles on a regular basis?


I had my 1st one about 1 year before I entered the Army and did fine. Never re-injured it while I was in and this was after AB school etc... Also, the recovery time on the 2nd was MUCH less than the first. I have to believe by now they are much less invasive than they were when I got my 1st one (1985). You should be fine, but you will probably get arthritis later in life, much like I have. The doc told me this was going to happen, even back when I got the 1st one done.


I've already got arthritis in both knees...and I'm only 37.  

I guess I'll just live with the pain for a few more years after surgery...hopefully the surgery will get me through that long at least.
3/3/2010 5:36:27 PM EDT
[#8]
Quoted:
I got lucky. Tore my knee up skiing and had surgery on it. Took about 1.5 - 2 years but it's back to 100%. So maybe there's still hope.


Hopefully I'll get lucky too.
3/3/2010 5:43:08 PM EDT
[#9]
Total blow out of ACL and MCL, tear of the PCL and LCL, some damage to the MM  about 20 years ago
(Bad landing doing a flying side kick board break in Tae Kwon Do)
About 7 hours of sugery to put it back together (ACL rebuilt using part of my patella tendon)
Took about 9 months, with a lot of physical therapy to get back full speed in TKD

I have had to have it "cleaned up" about 4 times, (all with a scope) then good to go for a few years
But I am now 55 years old, currently run anywhere from 4 to 10 miles per week (as work and travel allow)
In the last 8 years, have run 3 Marathons, and 2 half Marathons

My left knee (the one with the damage) does not feel the same as the right (not as much flexibility and not as strong)
But I have found it does a LOT better if I "use" it - running, lifting weights etc,,,,

I have not had to have it "rebuilt" a second time- good luck to you on that,
From my experience, get it fixed, work hard in therapy, and then continue to work it several times a week - running or weights
Keep us posted
3/3/2010 5:47:15 PM EDT
[#10]
I have had about a dozen surgeries on my left knee.  My second most recent was a partial replacement (medial side) about 4 years ago.  The only surgery since was to repair my patella after a bicycle crash.

I feel like I am doing fairly well after my partial replacement.  I am riding my bike about 80 miles a week (limited by lack of time, not my knee).  Skiing is fine.  I have some pain after long walks but I think that I recently discovered some stretches that help a lot with that.  No running for me anymore.
3/3/2010 5:47:19 PM EDT
[#11]
Quoted:
Total blow out of ACL and MCL, tear of the PCL and LCL, some damage to the MM  about 20 years ago
(Bad landing doing a flying side kick board break in Tae Kwon Do)
About 7 hours of sugery to put it back together (ACL rebuilt using part of my patella tendon)
Took about 9 months, with a lot of physical therapy to get back full speed in TKD

I have had to have it "cleaned up" about 4 times, (all with a scope) then good to go for a few years
But I am now 55 years old, currently run anywhere from 4 to 10 miles per week (as work and travel allow)
In the last 8 years, have run 3 Marathons, and 2 half Marathons

My left knee (the one with the damage) does not feel the same as the right (not as much flexibility and not as strong)
But I have found it does a LOT better if I "use" it - running, lifting weights etc,,,,

I have not had to have it "rebuilt" a second time- good luck to you on that,
From my experience, get it fixed, work hard in therapy, and then continue to work it several times a week - running or weights
Keep us posted


Was running a couple miles 5 times a week before I fucked it up again...I've not been able to do shit since I screwed it up again.  I'm going nuts not being able to go to the gym.
3/3/2010 5:50:33 PM EDT
[#12]
Quoted:
Ok, to start...I've had a torn ACL/MCL  and miniscus years ago, had surgery and the knee has never been the same.  Flash forward to now, stretched/tore my MCL in November and it's still fucked up.  I've got surgery scheduled this month, but I'm thinking it's gonna be even worse than it was after the first surgery...if that makes sense.  I'm wondering if the damage/pain is progressive after each surgery, or if it might stay the same or be better even after another one.

Anyone have multiple surgeries on the same knee and get good results?  Or am I stuck with a fucked up knee for life?


Two surgeries on my right knee for torn meniscus and now almost ten years later I have no problems.  It is as strong as ever and does not limit my activities.
3/3/2010 5:54:21 PM EDT
[#13]
Quoted:
Ok, to start...I've had a torn ACL/MCL  and miniscus years ago, had surgery and the knee has never been the same.  Flash forward to now, stretched/tore my MCL in November and it's still fucked up.  I've got surgery scheduled this month, but I'm thinking it's gonna be even worse than it was after the first surgery...if that makes sense.  I'm wondering if the damage/pain is progressive after each surgery, or if it might stay the same or be better even after another one.

Anyone have multiple surgeries on the same knee and get good results?  Or am I stuck with a fucked up knee for life?


I remember your first thread on this back then. I'm still getting along pretty well backpacking without my MCL, but then again, I'm not in .mil either.

You're probably better off letting them try to fix it if you want to stay in. BTW, If you get your knee replaced, they just cut your MCLs out and throw them away.
3/3/2010 5:57:38 PM EDT
[#14]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Ok, to start...I've had a torn ACL/MCL  and miniscus years ago, had surgery and the knee has never been the same.  Flash forward to now, stretched/tore my MCL in November and it's still fucked up.  I've got surgery scheduled this month, but I'm thinking it's gonna be even worse than it was after the first surgery...if that makes sense.  I'm wondering if the damage/pain is progressive after each surgery, or if it might stay the same or be better even after another one.

Anyone have multiple surgeries on the same knee and get good results?  Or am I stuck with a fucked up knee for life?


I remember your first thread on this back then. I'm still getting along pretty well backpacking without my MCL, but then again, I'm not in .mil either.

You're probably better off letting them try to fix it if you want to stay in. BTW, If you get your knee replaced, they just cut your MCLs out and throw them away.


If they replace it, I'm out...I don't want that, I can still do my job with a fucked up knee.

I'm hoping they can at least fix it enough that I can finish my 20.  All the men in my family have retired from the .mil, I don't want to break tradition.
3/3/2010 6:08:44 PM EDT
[#15]
This thread makes me hope I never mess up my knees.

Reinds of the quote from that old early 80s Richard Pryor stand up;

The "Mob" (tm), will appeal to your intellect.  They'll take a look at you and say, "You look like an intelligent person.  And you realize that it's hard to walk......... without knees."

//

Three folks on my floor at the office have hurt their knees 'recently'.  One girl completly tore her ACL playing soccer last fall, had it re-built and is doing great recovery wise.  Another guy re-injured his knee last winter skiing (partial tear of his ACL that had previously been repaired), has been working with it all last year in PT, finally went in Friday before last to have it cleaned up, he'll be off crutches this week.  Lastly, my director broke his shin and completely tore his ACL 2 weeks ago skiing, so he is hobbling around dealing with it now, trying to decide if he wants the get the ACL repaired (which we are telling him he should).  The girl who had hers done last year was only out for four days initially, apart from the couple days a week she leaves early for PT.
3/3/2010 7:10:25 PM EDT
[#16]
Will your knee allow you to do weights?
If so, get your legs as strong as possible BEFORE the next surgery
Will help once you get into PT post Op
The guy that rebuilt my knee (a good friend) does the knee work for an NFL team,  along with a lot of college and High School athletes.
If the repair does not have to be done "NOW" then he will often delay for a few weeks - send to PT to work on strength.

I know what you are talking about- not being able to run
After my "crash and burn" landing, post OP was going through PT/rehab but could not run, they had me on a bike etc
Finally one day, they put me in a pool, had a bunch of water jets at the far end, turned them on and had me "run against the current"
Even though I was "running" in water- I knew then, that I would be able to run again

Good Luck
3/3/2010 7:16:47 PM EDT
[#17]
I would go to an ortho surgion w/ a good rep.  Dont let a mil doc fuck w/ your knee.
3/3/2010 7:21:19 PM EDT
[#18]
If you can afford it replace them with bionic knees, those always seemed cool.
3/3/2010 7:26:53 PM EDT
[#19]
Ouch, Aiden, I feel your pain!  I blew out my knee skiing a few years ago - tore my ACL completely, had a few tears in my meniscus and sprained my MCL.  They fixed the ACL using the patella tendon and did their best to smooth the tears on the meniscus, but they were in areas that couldn't be healed completely.  Anyway, I'm wondering if you guys have had frontal knee pain following your surgeries?  I can't kneel down or put any pressure at all on the front of my knee, and it sucks!
 It's fully functional otherwise - I can run, jump, do step aerobics and what not, just can't touch the area around the scar on the front of my knee at all.  Is there anything that can be done about it?
3/3/2010 7:32:01 PM EDT
[#20]
Tag - since I have a torn meniscus on my right knee.  Doesn't pain me 95% of the time, but I cannot crouch down with weight on that knee, thats how I blew it.  My tear is on the back side.  Have had it lock up 3 or 4 times, only one trip to the ER.   I have figure out out to "pop" it back with copious amounts of swearing, and am afraid surgery is in my future.
3/3/2010 7:48:46 PM EDT
[#21]
Find a decent surgeon who does quite a few. The more they do the better.

The biggest factor in % of full function returned is proper and long enough rehab and retraining after repair.

If you don't put in 12-24 months of hard work after the surgical repair its all for naught. If you do the new ligaments/meniscus can be 99% of new.
3/3/2010 8:04:15 PM EDT
[#22]
Had a complete knee replacment back in Nov. Wish I had it done earlier. The recovery is hard! I dont want to think about doing it when I'm older(50yrs old now).
3/4/2010 4:13:20 PM EDT
[#23]
Quoted:
I would go to an ortho surgion w/ a good rep.  Dont let a mil doc fuck w/ your knee.


My first surgery years ago was a .mil doc.  He did a good job, I was back up and running within a month...but it always hurt after that.  The guy doing this surgery is a civilian at a large hospital here, he's been doing it for many years, and I know a few people he's operated on...he's a good doc too.
3/4/2010 4:50:28 PM EDT
[#24]
Quoted:

If they replace it, I'm out...I don't want that, I can still do my job with a fucked up knee.

I'm hoping they can at least fix it enough that I can finish my 20.  All the men in my family have retired from the .mil, I don't want to break tradition.


Serious question: What's more important - not breaking tradition or being able to walk when you're 50?  Have you read runcible's thread about being medically retired from FDNY?

I've had two ACL surgeries on my left knee but it's the soft cartilage/245lbs (I'm 6'4") that are the bigger issues.

Brian

3/4/2010 4:53:42 PM EDT
[#25]
Originally completely tore my ACL in '93. Continued to play sports (basketball, football, racing motocross) until '98 when the knee kept popping out of joint and then it finally wasn't healing anymore. ACL reconstruction was successful and I haven't had any problems since.

With that knee, anyway.

3/4/2010 4:56:23 PM EDT
[#26]
My 2nd son, 28, had it 4 months ago (reconstruct his ACL/MCL) and has regressed here lately.  Doc says he needs to strengthen his quad...these are not-fun surgeries.

HH
3/4/2010 4:58:54 PM EDT
[#27]
Quoted:
Ouch, Aiden, I feel your pain!  I blew out my knee skiing a few years ago - tore my ACL completely, had a few tears in my meniscus and sprained my MCL.  They fixed the ACL using the patella tendon and did their best to smooth the tears on the meniscus, but they were in areas that couldn't be healed completely.  Anyway, I'm wondering if you guys have had frontal knee pain following your surgeries?  I can't kneel down or put any pressure at all on the front of my knee, and it sucks!

Same here for about two or three years, then it gradually went away. Just the thought of kneeling and putting pressure on it that way sent shivers up my spine. Now it's more or less normal.
3/4/2010 5:00:20 PM EDT
[#28]
Unfortunately, recovery is different for everybody.  It just depends on the severity of the damage as the result of the injury, the ability the doc has to mitigate the issues, and your own ability to recover.  The doc will probably have the best take on your prognosis because he's seen thousands of knees with thousands of different patients and he be the best one to tell you what your range of expectation could be.  But even then, he's just going to be able to give you a ballpark.  Work hard to control all the variables you can –– strengthening the knee as much as possible will help post op recovery.  Be determined to rehab as aggressively as possible when you're done.

I had medial tears in both my left and right meniscus and had the surgery for both last year.  My recovery has sucked.  I readily admit that my experience seems to be atypical –– most people have much better success.  But it looks like my complication is related to some osteoarthritis in both knees.  I'm doing everything possible to get them back to being pain free, but I haven't gotten there yet.

Best of luck to you.
3/4/2010 5:03:28 PM EDT
[#29]
Quoted:
Find a decent surgeon who does quite a few. The more they do the better.

The biggest factor in % of full function returned is proper and long enough rehab and retraining after repair.

If you don't put in 12-24 months of hard work after the surgical repair its all for naught. If you do the new ligaments/meniscus can be 99% of new.

I was a three sport athlete in college (NCAA Div. III) before the ACL tear. After reconstruction and pretty serious therapy and workouts for 18 months, I built up to about 95% of original strength, 90-95% flexibility, 90% overall speed in sprints, and 85% in jumping ability.

For some reason my jumping ability never recovered as much as the other areas.
3/4/2010 5:13:42 PM EDT
[#30]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Ouch, Aiden, I feel your pain!  I blew out my knee skiing a few years ago - tore my ACL completely, had a few tears in my meniscus and sprained my MCL.  They fixed the ACL using the patella tendon and did their best to smooth the tears on the meniscus, but they were in areas that couldn't be healed completely.  Anyway, I'm wondering if you guys have had frontal knee pain following your surgeries?  I can't kneel down or put any pressure at all on the front of my knee, and it sucks!

Same here for about two or three years, then it gradually went away. Just the thought of kneeling and putting pressure on it that way sent shivers up my spine. Now it's more or less normal.


I was on crutches for a month, then just the knee brace up till now...I still can't stand on my right leg alone for more than 5 seconds.  I'm sick of being limited, I need to get this shit done, it's driving me nuts.

I recovered pretty well after my acl/mcl/meniscus tear surgery years ago, but I was in my 20's then, and I still had pain afterward...but it wasn't unbearable.
3/4/2010 5:32:30 PM EDT
[#31]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Ouch, Aiden, I feel your pain!  I blew out my knee skiing a few years ago - tore my ACL completely, had a few tears in my meniscus and sprained my MCL.  They fixed the ACL using the patella tendon and did their best to smooth the tears on the meniscus, but they were in areas that couldn't be healed completely.  Anyway, I'm wondering if you guys have had frontal knee pain following your surgeries?  I can't kneel down or put any pressure at all on the front of my knee, and it sucks!

Same here for about two or three years, then it gradually went away. Just the thought of kneeling and putting pressure on it that way sent shivers up my spine. Now it's more or less normal.


I was on crutches for a month, then just the knee brace up till now...I still can't stand on my right leg alone for more than 5 seconds.  I'm sick of being limited, I need to get this shit done, it's driving me nuts.

I recovered pretty well after my acl/mcl/meniscus tear surgery years ago, but I was in my 20's then, and I still had pain afterward...but it wasn't unbearable.


My first ACL (patellar auto graft) was done in '99 when I was 29 - I went thru the police academy on that one.  Second ACL (revision in med terms) was done in '07 at age 37 - I had a cadaver graft this time around and the recovery was much easier/quicker.  The ACL surgeries have never limited my activities but I'm not a runner - I run playing sports but I hate/won't go for a run unless forced.

Brian

3/4/2010 5:35:26 PM EDT
[#32]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Ouch, Aiden, I feel your pain!  I blew out my knee skiing a few years ago - tore my ACL completely, had a few tears in my meniscus and sprained my MCL.  They fixed the ACL using the patella tendon and did their best to smooth the tears on the meniscus, but they were in areas that couldn't be healed completely.  Anyway, I'm wondering if you guys have had frontal knee pain following your surgeries?  I can't kneel down or put any pressure at all on the front of my knee, and it sucks!

Same here for about two or three years, then it gradually went away. Just the thought of kneeling and putting pressure on it that way sent shivers up my spine. Now it's more or less normal.


I was on crutches for a month, then just the knee brace up till now...I still can't stand on my right leg alone for more than 5 seconds.  I'm sick of being limited, I need to get this shit done, it's driving me nuts.

I recovered pretty well after my acl/mcl/meniscus tear surgery years ago, but I was in my 20's then, and I still had pain afterward...but it wasn't unbearable.


My first ACL (patellar auto graft) was done in '99 when I was 29 - I went thru the police academy on that one.  Second ACL (revision in med terms) was done in '07 at age 37 - I had a cadaver graft this time around and the recovery was much easier/quicker.  The ACL surgeries have never limited my activities but I'm not a runner - I run playing sports but I hate/won't go for a run unless forced.

Brian



I hate running with a passion...but I still forced myself to run a couple miles 3 times a week to keep my PT scores up.
3/4/2010 5:43:14 PM EDT
[#33]
First of all this is my first post!  There goes my cherry.

I'm a bad guy, I'm a Ortho/Sports Med Physical Therapist, I see knees all day everyday.  Several key points are to have a GOOD Ortho MD.  Second, be serious about the rehab, if you half ass the PT, you will not have maximal benefit and outcomes.  Meaning that you will not achieve the full range of motion nor strength, then you wont be able to return to your normal activities.  

Any surgery on the meniscus means that some of it is removed, so by the time you have 2+ surgeries you are getting around on about 50% of what you originally were born with.  This kind of reduced surface area means you are going to wear down your joint cartilage quicker and develop knee arthritis, osteoarthritis to be specific.  The least invasive way of keeping your joint pain free and maintaining you mobility is to ACHIEVE good quad, hamstring, and calf strength through a good rehab program followed with a good LOW impact strength/resistance training maintenance routine; treadmill/walking/running is not strength training!

Good Luck/God Speed.
3/4/2010 5:46:32 PM EDT
[#34]
Quoted:
First of all this is my first post!  There goes my cherry.

I'm a bad guy, I'm a Ortho/Sports Med Physical Therapist, I see knees all day everyday.  Several key points are to have a GOOD Ortho MD.  Second, be serious about the rehab, if you half ass the PT, you will not have maximal benefit and outcomes.  Meaning that you will not achieve the full range of motion nor strength, then you wont be able to return to your normal activities.  

Any surgery on the meniscus means that some of it is removed, so by the time you have 2+ surgeries you are getting around on about 50% of what you originally were born with.  This kind of reduced surface area means you are going to wear down your joint cartilage quicker and develop knee arthritis, osteoarthritis to be specific.  The least invasive way of keeping your joint pain free and maintaining you mobility is to ACHIEVE good quad, hamstring, and calf strength through a good rehab program followed with a good LOW impact strength/resistance training maintenance routine; treadmill/walking/running is not strength training!

Good Luck/God Speed.


Already got osteoarthritis in both knees...one of the reasons I hate running.

3/5/2010 12:29:19 PM EDT
[#35]
Quoted:
Quoted:
First of all this is my first post!  There goes my cherry.

I'm a bad guy, I'm a Ortho/Sports Med Physical Therapist, I see knees all day everyday.  Several key points are to have a GOOD Ortho MD.  Second, be serious about the rehab, if you half ass the PT, you will not have maximal benefit and outcomes.  Meaning that you will not achieve the full range of motion nor strength, then you wont be able to return to your normal activities.  

Any surgery on the meniscus means that some of it is removed, so by the time you have 2+ surgeries you are getting around on about 50% of what you originally were born with.  This kind of reduced surface area means you are going to wear down your joint cartilage quicker and develop knee arthritis, osteoarthritis to be specific.  The least invasive way of keeping your joint pain free and maintaining you mobility is to ACHIEVE good quad, hamstring, and calf strength through a good rehab program followed with a good LOW impact strength/resistance training maintenance routine; treadmill/walking/running is not strength training!

Good Luck/God Speed.


Already got osteoarthritis in both knees...one of the reasons I hate running.



+1  My first ACL surgery included removing the 4 meniscus tears.............  I don't remember how many meniscus tears were removed during the second ACL.

Brian

3/5/2010 3:47:42 PM EDT
[#36]




Quoted:



Quoted:



Quoted:

Ouch, Aiden, I feel your pain! I blew out my knee skiing a few years ago - tore my ACL completely, had a few tears in my meniscus and sprained my MCL. They fixed the ACL using the patella tendon and did their best to smooth the tears on the meniscus, but they were in areas that couldn't be healed completely. Anyway, I'm wondering if you guys have had frontal knee pain following your surgeries? I can't kneel down or put any pressure at all on the front of my knee, and it sucks!


Same here for about two or three years, then it gradually went away. Just the thought of kneeling and putting pressure on it that way sent shivers up my spine. Now it's more or less normal.




I was on crutches for a month, then just the knee brace up till now...I still can't stand on my right leg alone for more than 5 seconds. I'm sick of being limited, I need to get this shit done, it's driving me nuts.



I recovered pretty well after my acl/mcl/meniscus tear surgery years ago, but I was in my 20's then,
and I still had pain afterward...but it wasn't unbearable.


Well Wobblin, my surgery was 3 years ago, and the frontal knee pain when kneeling seems to be getting worse for me, not better.  I'm just glad that my knee is functional without pain - it's only painful to kneel -  impossible, actually.  Aiden - I was on crutches for 10 weeks total, and EVERYTHING ached.  The "heels" of my palms ached and were numb, my back hurt, and I was just plain miserable.  They suck!  When I tore my acl, it flipped up under my patella.  I couldn't walk at all, couldn't even set my foot down and put any weight on it. My knee was swollen up so huge that it didn't even look like a human body part!  I figured I'd end up with stretch marks, but luckily I didn't.  I dread the thought of ever having another surgery!

3/5/2010 4:10:42 PM EDT
[#37]
Quoted:
I have a couple surgeries on my right knee and the first was an ACL w/PT graph/replacement.

It hurt like hell and ICE was my best friend for years after (even now) and the surgery was in '93

Recently, my buddy, a knee surgeon, 'cleaned it up' and I'm back to 100% playing tennis and running like back in the day.

I'm 52, so it's no small miracle...but having a surgeon that specializes in knee surgery is a good thing.

Find 'the guy' in your area...don't worry! The progress made in techniques and recovery times over the past decade is quantum.


I just had arthroscopy on my right knee yesterday! I already had my left done. It helped a lot. I'm older and have arthritus so it will never be as good as new but at least it gets me moving again. I also had my shoulder done.

I have been lucky in that my surgeries have always been sucessfull. I always worry that I will have one that doesn't do any good, or even makes things worse. It's still too early to tell on this one but I'm pretty optimistic it will be fine.

I can't imagine what people did before modern medicine! I would have been crippled at 50! It's scary to think about.
3/5/2010 4:20:57 PM EDT
[#38]
i had my right knee scoped last year and it is still fucked up. i think i went back to full duty too early and didnt give it enough time to heal properly. we went on a 2 mile hike yesterday over rough terrain carrying about 40 lbs of gear and my knee was killing me yesterday. it is still sore as all hell today too...



not good..
3/5/2010 4:41:28 PM EDT
[#39]
I can say after 5 surgeries, 3L and 2 RT that the best thing to do is start working out prior to surgery if at all possible.  I tore the right one up last in a bar brawl, got jumped by a couple of bikers and a freshly released from 15 years murderer.  Bad move as I was with 7 of my cousins.  But I digress.......
I knew it was blown and started rehab the second the swelling was done.  Just worked through the pain.  I had my surgery, and was off crutches in 3 days, back to work in four and made my fall hunting trip with room to spare.  My ortho used to be one of the team docs for the Gator football team.  He was amazed at my progress and noted that if there was more (pre-hab) there wouldn't be so much rehab needed and people would have better success.
3/5/2010 4:50:34 PM EDT
[#40]
For all giving advice and experience, thanks.

I am doing all the strength training my knee will allow, and I'm getting the electrical shock thing during my physical therapy sessions to help what I can't do manually.

I'm hoping this surgery gets me up and running again soon.
3/5/2010 5:10:08 PM EDT
[#41]



Memories......
3/5/2010 5:18:05 PM EDT
[#42]
Two THR's on my left hip so don't be such a fuckin' pussy!
 Took me a year to gain muscle and learn to walk again.



Consult the best SURGEON that your insurance/bank account can afford and move forward.
3/5/2010 5:25:06 PM EDT
[#43]
I have had a total of 7 surgeries on my right knee over the course of 9 years, all originating from a sports injury when I was in college.

MCL, ACL and PCL, and various meniscectomies during and throughout.

My knee today looks like a shark hit it.
3/5/2010 5:42:07 PM EDT
[#44]
That's my knee and MCL destruction. It was black and blue down to my toes

 I did that in spring of 07. Was backpacking WV in a Donjoy by fall.  

 " />

3/5/2010 6:07:20 PM EDT
[#45]
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Ouch, Aiden, I feel your pain! I blew out my knee skiing a few years ago - tore my ACL completely, had a few tears in my meniscus and sprained my MCL. They fixed the ACL using the patella tendon and did their best to smooth the tears on the meniscus, but they were in areas that couldn't be healed completely. Anyway, I'm wondering if you guys have had frontal knee pain following your surgeries? I can't kneel down or put any pressure at all on the front of my knee, and it sucks!

Same here for about two or three years, then it gradually went away. Just the thought of kneeling and putting pressure on it that way sent shivers up my spine. Now it's more or less normal.

I was on crutches for a month, then just the knee brace up till now...I still can't stand on my right leg alone for more than 5 seconds. I'm sick of being limited, I need to get this shit done, it's driving me nuts.

I recovered pretty well after my acl/mcl/meniscus tear surgery years ago, but I was in my 20's then, and I still had pain afterward...but it wasn't unbearable.

Well Wobblin, my surgery was 3 years ago, and the frontal knee pain when kneeling seems to be getting worse for me, not better.  I'm just glad that my knee is functional without pain - it's only painful to kneel -  impossible, actually.  Aiden - I was on crutches for 10 weeks total, and EVERYTHING ached.  The "heels" of my palms ached and were numb, my back hurt, and I was just plain miserable.  They suck!  When I tore my acl, it flipped up under my patella.  I couldn't walk at all, couldn't even set my foot down and put any weight on it. My knee was swollen up so huge that it didn't even look like a human body part!  I figured I'd end up with stretch marks, but luckily I didn't.  I dread the thought of ever having another surgery!

The seven days after my surgery were the seven worst days of my life, by far. My entire body was in pain. Vicious, unrelenting pain. The meds I was given to manage the pain only seemed to take the sharpness out of it, but instead of getting sliced by a dagger I was being pummeled by a sledgehammer of pain. After that experience, my perception of what pain is really changed.

As far as long term issues, as I said, after about two or three years the sensitivity of the knee started to subside and I am now able to kneel down with no issues. I used ice on the knee for about six to ten months. For some reason the joint stayed warm/hot for that long. Weird.

Another thing that was interesting was the nerve endings in the knee and the process of them coming back to life. Made my knee tingly for about a year or so after surgery.