RE: RE: Knee Surgery over, no ACL

["Kathy Mayeda" <kathy_mayeda@atce.com>]

I have no ACL remaining in my left knee also from a ski accident.  
I had arthroscopy done to flush out the debris and staple my 
medial collatoral ligament to the bone followed by 6 weeks in
a cast and 3 months of physical therapy.  I understand they
don't cast anymore because of the build-up of scar tissue.
The first few years after the accident I had a "weathervane"
knee that ached when the weather changed.

Anyway, I don't ride with a brace.  I hardly ever even think
about my knee anymore.  In fact, I since I've been riding,
my knee has been more stable because the muscles are tighter
around the knee.  But then again, I don't do any activities
such as running, tennis, etc. that would aggravate it.

Just keep the faith and do some muscle building.  I guess
if I was more active and athletic I would have had an
ACL graft done, but so far so good.  Going on 15 years
without ACL.

Kathy Mayeda




-----Original Message-----
From: Steph Teeter [mailto:steph@endurance.net]
Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2000 8:14 AM
To: Linda Flemmer
Cc: ridecamp@endurance.net
Subject: RC: RE: Knee Surgery over, no ACL


Linda - I severed my ACL (and MCL and PCL) in '96. Did 
the rebuild (graft) - and was riding (50 miler) with a brace 3 
months later. This probably isn't advisable :) but it can be 
done. It's a pretty straight forward surgery, and certainly 
worth it in the long run. An unstable joint is going to cause 
more wear and tear on the cartilage. 

Steph

(been there, done that - but not necessarily wise!)

-----Original Message-----
From: Linda Flemmer [mailto:bluewolfranch@yahoo.com]
Sent: Monday, December 18, 2000 8:11 PM
To: ridecamp@endurance.net
Subject: RC: Knee Surgery over, no ACL


Well, ride season is over in the NE and I finally "got
around" to having my extremely sore knee looked at. 
MRI showed torn ACL and cartilge, so I agreed to knee
surgery last Friday.

I sit here propped in front of the computer wondering
what to do next.  Hoping someone has "been there, done
that".

The cartilage tear wasn't bad, but I have no ACL left.
 None.  Evidently the "unstable knee" has caused a lot
of arthritis in my 40 year old joint.  The surgeon
wasn't prepared to do an ACL graft Friday (MRI hadn't
looked that bad & my leg muscles made the knee look
more stable than it actually was), so I'm faced with
that decision now for a future surgery vs "live
without it".

Has anyone had a ACL graft done vs riding/walking in a
brace?  I was told it was 4-6 mo of rehab after
grafting versus a lifetime of braces for any athletic
activity.

Any words from the wise!

Linda Flemmer
Blue Wolf Ranch
Bruceton Mills, WV

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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.    
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/RideCamp   
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=