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First day back after ACL & MCL reconstrction

#1
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12/9/06 at 2:25pm
  • Joined: October 2005
  • Location: WNY
  • Post Count: 361
Today was the day for me. A little more nervous than the normal 1st run nervousness. My surgery was April 13th. Hamstring graft for the ACL, repair of MCL. Was cleared at 6 months.

First of all it was sunny, about 28 degrees. Awesome! Mostly man made, but we got about 6" last night. Day 3 at Holiday Valley and as good as it has been in years for early season.

The knee was fine. I took it pretty easy, was getting used to new boards but I had no knee pain or weakness. I did not use a brace. By my 4th run I pretty much had my carve down, but stayed on blues.

I felt really good. Had the normal quad pain which felt fine!

A huge apprehension was behind me. It felt so good to be back.

I will be going Monday.

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#2
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12/9/06 at 5:08pm
  • Joined: July 2002
  • Location: NY
  • Post Count: 1,456
Good to hear. What are the new boards and how'd they treat your knee?
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#3
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12/9/06 at 5:36pm
  • Joined: July 2002
  • Location: Summit County
  • Post Count: 8,314
Interesting. I also found that my knee felt much better when I did not use the brace, but many people disagree. I guess it's a personal thing.
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#4
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12/9/06 at 11:03pm
  • Joined: October 2005
  • Location: WNY
  • Post Count: 361
Nordica Hot Rod Top Fuels. I liked them. A lot different than my last skis, Dynastar Speed Course 66's. Turned very nice , they were medicinal to my knee
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#5
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12/10/06 at 10:53am
  • Joined: November 2005
  • Location: Breckenridge, CO
  • Post Count: 716
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skiboats View Post
I did not use a brace.
You're much braver than me. I skied with my brace for two years after my ACL. And I had the patella tendon graft which is generally considered stronger.
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#6
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12/10/06 at 11:08am
  • Joined: February 2005
  • Location: St Lawrence River /1000 islands region of NNY
  • Post Count: 795
good 4 u
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#7
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12/10/06 at 5:18pm
  • Joined: January 2006
  • Post Count: 67
I had ACL/MCL surgery a year ago last April. I used a brace all of the next season but do not use it now (been skiing since November 17th). My doctor recommended a brace during athletic activities for the first 9 months after surgery. I don't like wearing it and am happy to have it off now.

If you have a Don-Joy brace check the surgery coverage guarantee they have. Think it pays up to a certain dollar amount should you blow out your ACL again while wearing their brace. That alone might make wearing it a good idea.
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#8
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12/10/06 at 5:45pm
  • Joined: October 2005
  • Location: WNY
  • Post Count: 361
My doctor said I did not need to use it, you can if you want to. I was 50/50 on using it. I guess I thought if he felt the repair would hold, I would give it a shot. Somewhere I thoght I read they only stabilize a certain amount, less than a proper repair. I could be wrong on this. It certainly was not an ego thing or anything like that. I felt it was strong.
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#9
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12/10/06 at 8:09pm
  • Joined: July 2002
  • Location: Jackson Hole, Wyoming
  • Post Count: 5,016
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skiboats View Post
My doctor said I did not need to use it, you can if you want to. I was 50/50 on using it. I guess I thought if he felt the repair would hold, I would give it a shot. Somewhere I thoght I read they only stabilize a certain amount, less than a proper repair. I could be wrong on this. It certainly was not an ego thing or anything like that. I felt it was strong.
I'm not an orthopod but I did sleep in a Holiday Inn Express and I *have* had an acl reconstruction.

My understanding is that the stabilization provided by an acl brace WILL protect you (in most cases) from hyperextenstion of the acl. It will NOT protect other soft tissues of the knee such as cartilage and the mcl.

I was given the same option by my doc. I wore the brace for the first couple of weeks, but disliked it so much I quit wearing it. No adverse effects and that's been 16 years ago.

Glad to hear you've recovered and you're back on the horse. Way to go.

Bob Peters Jackson Hole, WY       
North40 Realty    
Me on twitter - http://twitter.com/bobpetersjh

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#10
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12/12/06 at 10:35am
  • Joined: September 2003
  • Location: california
  • Post Count: 44
Congratulations!

I hope to have that feeling this January after 19 months of post-op rehab. I ski in the eastern sierra and wonder about my confidence in the pow, crud and other broken conditions I used to predominately ski. I suppose sticking to groomers for a bit is good advice.

I'm going to wear my brace. I'm heading to the manufacturer tomorrow to have it refitted as my operated leg is almost as big as it's twin (finally).
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#11
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12/12/06 at 11:13am
  • Joined: October 2005
  • Location: WNY
  • Post Count: 361
Thanks folks for the confidence building. I did not make it out Monday. It rained here. Looking forward to the next run.
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#12
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12/12/06 at 11:37am
  • Joined: August 2005
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Skiboats -- did you injure it originally skiing?

I tore my ACL and lateral and minsicus cartilidge in Jan 2000 spinning a 360. Gettting back on the slopes the next year I was aprehensive, but just thrilled to be skiing again. My problem was getting the jeuvos to spin again...I didn't even attempt a 3 until last year, winter 2006...so it took me six years post-op to get up the nerve to go back to doing what caused the injury.

I also had the hamstring tendon repair and can say that my knee gives me very little problems now skiing or mt biking, but the thought of going through the surgery and rehab again makes me queasy....

Best of luck -- awesome to be back on the slopes so soon after surgery!
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#13
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12/12/06 at 2:42pm
  • Joined: October 2005
  • Location: WNY
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Yes, skiing last March. See my story on the injury poll post http://forums.epicski.com/showthread...408#post607408
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#14
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12/12/06 at 3:16pm
  • Joined: September 2000
  • Location: NTS, PA
  • Post Count: 22,539
Sunday was my wifes first day out. We went to a small local area to get some turns in before we have to hit the ground skiing at ESA this weekend. She started easy on the greens then worked her way to the blacks (blue at most areas) by late morning. She had her confidence and really did't feel that the brace was a hinderance. In watching her ski, it didn't look like she missed a beat. I am very proud of her, the hard work she put in over the summer will pay off.
Click. Point. Chute.  
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#15
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12/12/06 at 6:49pm
  • Joined: October 2005
  • Location: WNY
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Phil, I remember reading about your wife pretty near the same time I wiped.

Glad to here she made it as well. For the week leading up to skiing the first time, all I could think about was my first turn, how I would initiate it, would I go left or right, go straight, fall. It was crazy. Then when I clicked in it all came back.

Now our weather has turned to poop and I don't think I can go for a week or more.
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