Ridecamp: Re: [RC] Knee Surgery

Tracy,

I have had knee surgery that was similar...

I tore my ACL and lived witht he chronic tear for a
number of years.  I had the ACL reconstructed, the
cartilage smoothed & a cyst removed from the posterior
drawer space.  I managed to avoid the knee cap
problems, though.  :-)

Here is a board that talks about this type of knee
repair - very helpful individuals there.  They would
be able to answer your questions pre-op & post-op. 
There are a few equestrians there, too.  I HIGHLY
recommend this web site!

http://66.54.168.84/cgi-bin/kneebbs.pl?index

I had a ACL Allograft rather than autograft - faster
recovery & less donor site morbidity for an old fart
like me at age 41.  Most orthopedic surgeons tend to
be "conservative" and not want to operate after you
pass the mid 30's.  I also had to look for a surgeon
who would work with to get back to riding.  Since most
weren't familiar with riding, they didn't want me on a
horse for 6-12 months!  I found a surgeon who rides &
who had her knee done a few years before!  

I was riding at 4 weeks on our broke-to-death 20 yr
old retired gelding.  There is a LOT of muscle atrophy
immediately after this type of surgery.  I swore that
it wouldn't happen to me, but it did.  There was a
visible difference in the diameter of each thigh.  My
leg was so weak that I had a hard time getting it over
the horse's back.  I had no strength to use my leg for
balance or direction on the horse until nearly 8
weeks.

I am 2 weeks shy of 6 months post op now.  I still
have occasional twinges in the knee with some
activities (like driving our tractor to mow) and
occasional swelling, but no more pain.  I'm riding 25
miles comfortably - something that I haven't done in a
VERY long time.  My physical therapist said to expect
75% of strength at 6 months.  I'm at almost 90%! 
Overall, I'm glad I had it reconstructed.  My only
regret is waiting so long to have it done.

Let me know if you have specific questions.  Besides
being a knee patient, I'm an RN as well.

Linda Flemmer
Blue Wolf Ranch
West Virginia

--- TBlue1@xxxxxxx wrote:
> Would like to know if anyone has had similar surgery
> to what I have scheduled
> for Friday. I will be having a torn ligament
> repaired, a bone fragment
> removed, and due to kneecap arthritis the knee cap
> will be removed, honed 
> smooth and reattached.
> Anyone had this? How long to recover? How long
> before riding again?

> Tracy

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