Knee reconstruction

[Uni]

Howdy there folks,

just received the news that i need to have a knee reconstruction.. down at the snow i dislocated my patella for the second time and managed to pretty severely strain my MCL (medial collateral).

i'm not getting it done until after the HSC, so it'll probably be mid-january next year. in the mean time i can still walk and drive, but not for any length of time

anyone ever had a knee reconstruction, and if so what was the recovery time like? how soon could you walk/drive afterwards?

cheers
Uni/.

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by Uni

Howdy there folks,

just received the news that i need to have a knee reconstruction.. down at the snow i dislocated my patella for the second time and managed to pretty severely strain my MCL (medial collateral).

i'm not getting it done until after the HSC, so it'll probably be mid-january next year. in the mean time i can still walk and drive, but not for any length of time

anyone ever had a knee reconstruction, and if so what was the recovery time like? how soon could you walk/drive afterwards?

cheers
Uni/.

Had a full reco including ACL graft and cartlidge about 4 years ago, it was day surgury, was on crutches for a week, the pain was not good, physio 3 times a week, the harder you work on the recovery the better the results long term, you need every bit of 12 months to fully recover (to play sport again), and need to work your butt off from basically a week after the op at the physio.
Did you snap your ACL too? if you dont need an ACL graft you'll recover in a few months, not 12.

[Matty4]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Had a full reco including ACL graft and cartlidge about 4 years ago, it was day surgury, was on crutches for a week, the pain was not good, physio 3 times a week, the harder you work on the recovery the better the results long term, you need every bit of 12 months to fully recover (to play sport again), and need to work your butt off from basically a week after the op at the physio.
Did you snap your ACL too? if you dont need an ACL graft you'll recover in a few months, not 12.

I had pretty much the same thing done 12 years ago. Full ACL graft and a bit of trimming of the torn cartilege. Spent 4 days in hospital (most uncomfortable 4 days I ever spent!!!)
2 weeks on crutches with a full leg splint (brace) then another 2 weeks without the crutches.

Couldn't agree more 4Vman, you need a full 12 months with plenty of physio in the first 3 or so months and then taper that off.

Touch wood I haven't had any problems since and I still have full range of movement.

Matty

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by Matty4

I had pretty much the same thing done 12 years ago. Full ACL graft and a bit of trimming of the torn cartilege. Spent 4 days in hospital (most uncomfortable 4 days I ever spent!!!)
2 weeks on crutches with a full leg splint (brace) then another 2 weeks without the crutches.

Couldn't agree more 4Vman, you need a full 12 months with plenty of physio in the first 3 or so months and then taper that off.

Touch wood I haven't had any problems since and I still have full range of movement.

Matty

Wow, things have changed that's for sure as far asw hospital time goes, i had the hamstring graft, bone bruising, torn meniscus and main cartlidge, i was in at 7am sat morning and out on crutches by 3pm the same day, by the following monday was doing light physio, walking within 14 days, 3 long months of intense physio, pool sessions gym etc..
Damn i was in alot of pain for the first week though, i don't wish that again if i can help it!!

[SB076]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Had a full reco including ACL graft and cartlidge about 4 years ago, it was day surgury, was on crutches for a week, the pain was not good, physio 3 times a week, the harder you work on the recovery the better the results long term, you need every bit of 12 months to fully recover (to play sport again), and need to work your butt off from basically a week after the op at the physio.
Did you snap your ACL too? if you dont need an ACL graft you'll recover in a few months, not 12.

Agreed I had a full reco too, had my leg in a zimmer splint and left it there for 6 weeks (did my knee at the end of the footy season playing basketball, so couldnt get it looked at as all the surgeons where doing footballers knees)

Definitely keep your knee moving and before the op, I didnt and lost a lot of movement (could barely bend it after the op, keep in mind it didnt move for 6 weeks than for two weeks after the op I was told not to move it)

Really work hard after the op, to get your movement back, I did after the first op (did about 1 hour plus every night, 2nd op I lost a bit of interest, probably only did 1 hour every second night, after the third op I cracked the ****s and did probably an hour once a week)

I did ACL, MCL and something else (forgotton, what but the surgeon said I did it well and truly "terrible three or something") But work hard, the harder you work the better it will be in the future, especailly if you want to continue playing sport.

[xbcool]

ruptured ACL and torn meniscus (cartilage)
6 weeks on crutches follewed by 2 weeks physio.
no more wheelies for me

[Uni]

Yeh the ACL is fine, just the dislocated patella and its associated ligaments, and some messed up cartilage

thanks for the replies fellas keep 'em coming!


Uni/.

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by Uni

Yeh the ACL is fine, just the dislocated patella and its associated ligaments, and some messed up cartilage

thanks for the replies fellas keep 'em coming!


Uni/.

Thats different then, you don't need a "Full Reco" as such if the ACL is fine, what exactly are they going to do op wise? athroscope? Medial lig will repair itself and patella tendon will too unless its ruptured.
If they're doing an athroscope to clean up the cartlidge you'll be working again almost straight away.

[Uni]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Thats different then, you don't need a "Full Reco" as such if the ACL is fine, what exactly are they going to do op wise? athroscope? Medial lig will repair itself and patella tendon will too unless its ruptured.
If they're doing an athroscope to clean up the cartlidge you'll be working again almost straight away.

its some weird procedure to re-attach and relocate the patella to the rest of the knee i think.. it involves actually realigning the joint or some such rubbish.. im seeing the specialist again in a few weeks, so ill know all the details then.. the description he gave me was pretty patchy and doesnt make much sense so i wont even try to describe it to u

its alot more than an arthroscope tho ;)


Uni/.

EDIT: haha BlueJ ill ask em for ya.. that would be very interesting indeed!

EDIT2: you may be onto something.. the patella ligament might be ruptured.. like i said the description her gave me was very convoluted and doesnt make much sense to me

[MNM96]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

If they're doing an athroscope to clean up the cartlidge you'll be working again almost straight away.

Had an Arthroscope about five years ago. Couldn't walk for three weeks without crutches, six weeks till I could return to work. Doctor said it was the worst Arthroscope he had attempted, would have normally carried out a reco. Pulled a piece of bone out the size of a ten cent piece. I now know he did it this way as it was a Work Cover Job.

Still suffer pain and restricted movement, but am hampered very little. With proper warm ups I play footy and motorbike ride.

I forsee drama's with arthritis fairly early in life. I am 34.

Uni, My case has been a fairly bad example, and most recover from an arthroscope very well, Indeed others were walking gingerly the same day. Hope all goes well for you.

[Creampuff]

..in hospital for 7 days max, can't drive for about 6 weeks.This is for a knee replacement.Sorry I read it wrong,oh well ..this is for next time..hahaha

[Funtime25]

Yep........I had mine done last thursday...........F***** painfull and a bicth to walk..............

[XA Coupsta]

holy crap.......im awaiting ACL reconstruction (later this year)...........stop it!........you're scaring me!.................

[RSgerry]

one word...

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

good luck. i had an ankle recon and was on crutches for about 3 months, limped for about 5. as someone has said, physio is crucial. some people dont believe in it, but they do know what they are talking about. and do your exercises, they make a world of difference.

[XA Coupsta]

Yeh........I know what im in for.

I just hate confirmation of it!!!!

Im in the gym at the moment smashing it up to try and go in there as ready as I can...........

[BlueJ]

Get a video of the reconstruction and post it on the forums...well, at least it would be something different from a 400m or dyno run.

The surgeons use an athroscope with a camera in the tip, and they can record the operation I guess. They usually take stills to show before and after.

Good luck with it and I hope you make a good recovery.

[FTE217]

Matey good luck !!!
Haven't done knee but am starting my 3rd month recovering from a Ruptured Achilles Tendon operation.
Physio 2 a week and just last night was my first time to have a shoe back on my foot very loose obviously !
Second review with specialist will be Nov and after that he said I may be lucky to try a jog !
I'm normally an impatient person and this is the test's of all test's !!
All the best with the op !

[ED Classic]

Had mine done years back. Had torn my ACL 100% and the fluid was eating it. Took me a good few months to walk without a brace. The first brace was with steel bars either side to stop your knee bending was on for about 3 weeks then another brace which you can adjust the amount of bend was on for a couple of months. Wouldnt wish it on anyone but mine was the worst the specialist said hed seen. Had to get the cartlidge altred at a later date.

[bessxg]

I snapped my ACL and had an athroscopy to drill out the remainder of the stump. Thats a cool video. 4 weeks later I had the recon. Most pain IMO, "Now we're just gonna remove the drain from your leg, just hold still sweety."

I was walking the same day after the athroscopy. I could walk after recon about 3 days without sticks. Driving after a week. You'll get some cool battlescars...

[BENT_8]

Originally Posted by Uni

Howdy there folks,

just received the news that i need to have a knee reconstruction.. down at the snow i dislocated my patella for the second time and managed to pretty severely strain my MCL (medial collateral).

i'm not getting it done until after the HSC, so it'll probably be mid-january next year. in the mean time i can still walk and drive, but not for any length of time

anyone ever had a knee reconstruction, and if so what was the recovery time like? how soon could you walk/drive afterwards?

cheers
Uni/.

I streatched my medial ligament causing dis location of my patella 3 years ago and had to have a lateral release.
The orthopaedic surgeon lost the MRI scans on the day of surgery and so instead of keyhole surgery i ended up with a 10" scar down my leg over my knee so they could find the problem and clean it up.
Unfortunately i wasn't given Warfrin or compression stockings and developed a P.E. or Pulmonary Embolis which is a clot that breaks free from the damaged area and lodges in the lung.
If you ever have a clot in your lung, and i hope you never do, you will realise just how much we take for granted the simple act of taking breath.
It nearly killed me physically and emotionally as i had to say goodbye to my wife and kids before slipping into unconsciousness on a cocktail of Morpheine and forced oxygen.
Luckily for me i pulled through and went on to a full, if longer than usual, recovery.
Good luck though mate!

[MYVYSS]

Currently sitting here with a full leg brace on, tripped and fell over, triple fracture of the pitella and ripped the Cruciate clean off the bone, no surgery for me at this stage, 3 weeks of toes to thigh plaster, now about 5 weeks of full leg brace, just starting to get the bend happining in my knee again, will still be in this brace for another 4 weeks, and unable to drive a manual car for at least another 5, then the physio will start, spend 4 horrid days in hospital and worked out how to sleep with the plaster, only to have to learn to sleep again with this stupid brace. Good Luck I wouldnt wish this amount of pain and angst on my worst enemy. if I was you I would start stocking up on Panadeine Forte NOW!!!! I was chewing them like lollies for the first 2 weeks.

[Uni]

thanks for all the replies fellas

had my first session with the physio yesterday, all went well. im gonna be strengthening it heaps before surgery so the recovery period wont be too bad.. im taking next year off, i dont want it to be ruined by a ****ed knee :


Uni/.

[Angry Beaver]

good luck with it.

[Smoked]

You'll probably be having whats called a Lateral Release.

I dislocated my patella at the start of the year whilst on Course with the Army.

Ive since been diagnosed with patello Femoral Syndrome. Only cure is either physio or surgery.

Your op involves cuting the outter (lateral) tendon that hold the patella and relocating them so the patella (knee cap) sit properly. As far as i know recovery can take several months.

[Dezza]

Good luck with the knee reco. I haven't had a knee reco myself, but I have had plenty of knee problems. I have had my patella dislocate numerous times. It always slides back in to place on it's own though. It used to hurt like hell, but now it's happened that many times, the pain only lasts for about an hour (may be due to streched ligaments). Knees can be a real pain sometimes (quite literally :P). Hope all goes well.