Life After ACL Reconstruction - Page 4

no worries at all, I'm happy for you 'cause you're able to ski again & do what you love doing! congrats!

will the popping/cracking sound go away after ACL Reconstruction?

I had some for a few weeks but as the swelling (internal and external) diminishes, it should abate. I have no noises anymore.

I just got off the phone with my doctor & he said it was scar tissue, i really don't want the popping/cracking to stay, thanks!

hmm, my doctor & PT told me it was just from internal swelling and so far, he's been right on the money. I actaully had some this AM after pushing my kee quite a bit this week and my knee is stiff and a little swollen I could feel the knee cap rubbing and some clicking on the outside of the knee. I don't have it this afternoon.   Why would you have scar tissue from ACL recon?

Edited by Finndog - 6/1/12 at 11:56am

according to him he says it's totally normal after the surgery, how long ago was your ACL Rec ?

totally normal with noses and rubbing yes, but I don't think it's due to scar tissue, its just internal swelling where parts just are rubbing and impinging on each other due to the swelling and fluid build up.  Scar tissue? i guess so but I though that was more permanent in nature.

 

Me? 12 weeks. Zero noises or rubbing in fact, its hasn't worked this smoothly in quite a while. When I overdo it and  pushing it, It will swell up then  I ice it down. by the next morning, it's fine. Just rode mile 50 this AM on my bike and another 15 or so on my stationary bike plus daily workouts totaling about 65 miles this week ( a paltry amount for Mike :) ).   3 days a week are heavier leg workouts with added lunges, buttwalks, one legged squats and some other stuff thrown in for extra pain :)  .  Hey, I'm not doctor, what do I know. I had a fair amount of rubbing an popping noises until the swelling; both internal and external went down.  Figure up till about week 7 ? 

Edited by Finndog - 6/2/12 at 5:27pm

Hey Finn,
Great news! I'm intersted in what your MD is saying about return to snow. I'm actually in a work group looking to standardize the progression & would love to hear how it is being handled around the country.

I'll post up our RTS protocol once I get the permissions squared away!

thanks finndog, my OS says it may stay forever......i'm extremely confused, glad you're doing so great! it IS cracking less & less each day but I kinda lost confidence in my knee.....it feels so weak...specially going downstairs

MsWindsor - I'm in agreement with Finn (we had our surgery the same day). The popping sensation does seem to go away as the swelling diminishes. I also had what I called a "grabbing" sensation on the outside of the knee joint when I walked. That was painful and depressing as I wondered if it would go away. It did. I had a pretty aggressive session with my PT and then he manually pushed my heel toward my butt. The limp basically went away and since then I have been making a lot of progress and don't have the popping. That was around 8 or 9 weeks post op. I'm not at Finn's level of exertion yet, but I expect to pick it up after my next doctor visit. So be patient and follow what the PT says.

 

Iriponsnow - I would be interested in you compilation. My goal is to be skiing at a camp at Copper in the middle of November. My concern is how aggressive I should be when I go back. I plan to broach the subject with my doc on Wed. He had an affiliation with the US Ski Team at one time so it will be interesting to see what he says. He may just tell me to wait until the next visit.

clfjmpr- thank you so much! yes! I also have the feeling like it might give away, & I feel like it gets stuck sometimes 

I have crackling noises in the reconstructed knee, but then again, I had scar tissue and a second surgery to remove it.  This was seven years ago.  also have trouble going downstairs in the a.m., when the joint is stiff.  That's from loss of cartilage.

 

JaneB
 

 

This is what my PT told me. Seems to make sense as I hear it more after a good PT session/a long day on my feet (but then again, I'm only 3 weeks post-op). It also makes sense that the clicking noise would be more frequent for the first 6 weeks. During surgery docs inflate the synovial capsule with saline. Apparently it takes 6 weeks for the saline to completely absorb and normal synovial fluid to replace it. My guess is that adds to the swelling and general noisiness of the knee. To be fair, I'm just putting together puzzle pieces and could be completely off . . .

 

We have only discussed it at a cursury level at this point. I was told I can't go to Chile in August. I could go if I agreed to ski only easy groomers and that's not why you go to chile. Also, keep in mind I am dealing with a very stubborn ankle and it's just starting to show good healing and return to more normal functioning. I am not sure if I could actually wear a boot at this point. I go back up to Steamboat in July and will try my boot on then and will be seeing the Doctor and my therapist. For the most part I am doing my own rehab as directed by my PT in Steamboat. I go to a local guy once a week but I really don't get much out of that.  The expectation at this point is a return to skiing in december however we have not discussed whether or not I should wear the DonJoy or if I am restricted from bumps or other more stressful skiing.  

 

I am interested to see the protocol as from what we have seen here, not only the protocol but the surgical procedure itself varies widely. I also think that since so many people have menisus tears in conjunction with the ACL tears, this too effects the protocol.

 

Clfjumpr- awesome goal!  Keep it up.

will the sensation that it gets stuck stay or go away?

only your doc can say. If there's something that is really cathcing and it's not improving, I would ask for sure. Is this painful?

Saw my doc yesterday. He is very conservative (taking care of wealthy hockey players I guess) and barely allowed me to start bike riding. I think he thought I was going to be in a clipped in road bike, but I assured him that I would only use my old hybrid with a brace. Still wants straight line stuff until 8/6.

I did ask about a return to snow protocol and he did say he had one. Apparently I'll start the prep work for that in August. Said November is good target. Stressed getting quad the same as the good leg.

Ms Windsor do you have a physical therapist? You could ask him or her if what you feel is unusual. If not contact your doctor.

My doctor said there is no reason why I won't be able to ski in November. I will be 8 months post-op at that point.  I saw last week right around Week 11 and see told me to come back around 6 months and we'll see about a brace for skiing this winter.  That said he cleared me to start running again and golf.  He said its solid and everything is good.  At PT we started running on the threadmill at Week 12 and next week they'll probably clear me to start doing it on a rubberized running track.

 

That said, I've had a pretty good recovery.  No issues and really have not been down and out at all.  I was lucky that I only took out my ACL, nothing else got damaged and no meniscus repair was necessary.

 

Day 5 - off crutches

Week 1 - stationary bike

Day 9 - driving

Week 2 - back to the gym to ride the stationary bike

Week 5 - biking outside (mountain bike on the roads)

Week 8 - biking outside (road bike)

Week 10 - first 50+ mile road ride

Week 11 - played 9 holes of golf (w/ cart) - shot my 2nd best score ever on that course, go figure

Week 12 - jogging treadmill

yes I'm going today so i'll ask him; I REALLY hope it goes away.....the cracking/popping noises have decreased a lot

 

That's pretty much my experience, although I don't run or play golf.

 

Mike

When will i be able to walk without a limp? (2 months post-surgery)

this is really great!  Now that my ankle is really healing up I will catch up. I am riding much more and able to do one legged standing excercises now. I rode 50 miles over friday-Sunday and worked in the yard. My leg is very tired but not painful. Ankle is very tired and little swollen but hugely better than a month ago. Starting to feel confident in it. 

One of the folks at PT told me to fix the limp myself at the beginning of free walking. She said make sure that when you step onto surgery leg start with the heel and progress the weight from heel to toe at every step basically rolling your foot through the step. It didn't really hurt doing the movement, but did feel weird at first. She also (PT) said that limping causes hip and back alignment issues that come at you later in life.

 

two weeks ago the MD cleared me for no brace wear except for places where a slip (it did snow here a week or so ago, also hiking and other areas where a little exra protection helps) Bike riding, don't pump too hard, MD says femur slipping forward is still an issue, no trail rides because of the chance of an unexpected event where we might automatically do something silly with our bad leg. I can climb equipment and carry loads, just take my time and know what I am stepping on.

 

MD indicated that 9 months for Auto-graft and six months for using your own flesh and we are pretty well done other than muscle re-build. So ready for the official season start next Novemeber but October might work.     

I had surgery Feb 1, this year, four months ago more or less. And it should be allograft, or cadaver parts as I call it.

allograft- cadaver acl

 

autograft- your own parts. 

So, I'm in week 4 post-op now. Because of the tears to the menisci, my OS didn't want me to flex to 90* until now. Tried today with no problem. Am allowed to work towards 120* next week. Hooray!

 

Am now working on walking with the brace unlocked. It's a weird feeling. Strength wise, I could have done this a while ago, but they were worried about weight on the menisci. Now it feels weird to walk with a bent knee as opposed to a stiff leg. The PT was having me focus on walking heel to toe and bending the knee normally so as not to limp. It is funny how it's completely mental. It doesn't hurt to walk "normally," but it takes work. I was also having trouble keeping my hips open the entire time. I was crossing my good leg a bit in front of the bad which, if I were to continue that, could open me up to more risk of a re-tear (especially with jumping sports). So, now I get to concentrate on NOT doing that.

 

I also asked when I would be allowed to drive my car again (it's a manual) because I am sick of my husband's (which is an automatic). Guess we need to work on some step downs first. Hopefully soon . . .

hi d, thats great, glad you can get it moving again, I've just been told the same re flexing - aiming for the magic 120 too.  I had physio today and got to 103 so getting there.  Have started driving again aswell but only short distances and that feels fine - I put a pillow on the seat so that the mack of my thigh doesn't push against the edge of the seat when pushing the clutch down and that made all the difference.  At least you've had something to drive though!  Its weird how hard you have to concentrate to walk properly huh, I find it much easier going slowly and slightly uphill, and I hate going downhill! 

Also had my first day back at work in an office yesterday which even though I was just sitting down was absolutely exhausting!  Is a relief to get life back a bit.

MsWindsor- the limp is a combination of pain and stiffness and also developing a habit. It took me about 10 weeks post op before is went away for the most part. My PT still yells at me (verbal cues he calls it) when I start to walk a bit stiff legged. He makes we walk around the room with a proper gait. So part of it is a conscious focus on proper mechanics when you are walking. When I go to the gym I use a treadmill next to a mirrored wall and watch my gait and try to match the bad leg with the good. As time goes on it gets better.