Knee Surgery over, no ACL

["Garrett Ford" <gford@easyboot.com>]

Linda-  I had ACL and MCL surgery on my left knee in 1992 after a football
injury.  I have had very little problems with the knee after miles of
running and riding.

They used the patella tendon method and had me up and running in 60 days.  I
would strongly advise the patella tendon method over the cadaver method
because the cadaver methods tend to fail after 5 years of hard use.  The one
big advantage of the cadaver method is a quicker recovery time.

No matter what route you choose the physical therapy is the key.  If you
don't put 110% into rehab, you will be unhappy with either method.

Garrett

-----Original Message-----
From: Darolyn Butler-Dial [mailto:darolyn@swbell.net]
Sent: Wednesday, December 20, 2000 12:02 AM
To: Linda Flemmer
Cc: ridecamp@endurance.net
Subject: RC: RE: RE: Knee Surgery over, no ACL


Been there, done that... not fun, but necessary.  Was riding easy by 4
weeks, racing in two months.  little squeaky occasionally, but that was back
in 1993 & knee works fine.  DO NOT let them take your ligament from your
knee cap.... use cadaver if necessary... my knee cap is still tingly after 7
years.
good luck
djbd
           Darolyn Butler-Dial & Mark Dial
  CYPRESSTRAILS EQUESTRIAN TRAINING CENTER
Specializing in Endurance Horses
                     			& Barefoot Trimming
Distributor for Professional Choice                            & KM (the
Human Electrolyte)
21415 Cypresswood Dr.   Humble, TX 77338
(281) 446 7232   Toll Free 1 (800) 228 8768   e mail darolyn@swbell.net
Web Page  http://home.swbell.net/darolyn/

-----Original Message-----
From: Steph Teeter [mailto:steph@endurance.net]
Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2000 10:14 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
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


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