Scooby Snacks 23

Having suffered with knee problems since my teens as a result of various rugby-related injuries (torn cartilidge mainly), I had Anterior Cruciate Ligament reconstruction in August 2003. Apparently the op went well but I have been struggling to regain fitness since and the swelling has never fully disappeared and it still hurts. In the last year or so, it's started to give way again.

So, I got an appointment with another specialist knee surgeon who gave me an MRI scan and told me that I've torn it again (despite not playing any active sports since the op)

I can't believe it - another 6 weeks off work to have the bloody thing done again

Having a patellar graft this time (the one that tore was a hamstring graft) which is apparently much stronger

Anyone else has two ACL's done on the same knee before? The surgeon said he's never seen anyone esle who's managed to do this!

mrsf

I'm in exactly the same situation and have had the hamstring graft, snapped it playing footie and am booked too have a patellar graft on 7th June!

I too struggled to regain full fitness...although this time I am starting in the gym straight after the op to rebuild the strength in my knee.

I've also got a friend that has snapped his in BOTH knees but still plays footie with a simply knee support. I've tried to play with it snapped but I can't seem to get enough strength to support it and it just gives way!

Its a nasty circle as you want to get fit but can't as the knee gives way...nightmare!

Hope yours goes well.

Scooby Snacks 23

Hope yours does too mate - I'm planning mine for July (work committments preclude me from having it done earlier).

Sub97

Done both mine too - and had both types of reconstructions. Plus another op to fix a bucket tear in my meniscus cartilidge, and then another one to clean the knee out and tighten (with electric current) the repaired ACL.

I've since been told (and touch wood it seems to be hellping a lot) that the best thing to do if you want to carry on playing contact sports is to keep doing your physio program a couple of times a week - for as long as you want to keep playing. Originallly, I just did it for the 12 months to get full fitness back then stopped. But keeping your quads and hamstrings as strong as possible helps to take the strain off you ligaments apparantly, and it is working for me. So plenty of squats, leg press, hamstring curls, lunges etc.

Another thing I'd mention from a reply above, get into the gym ASAP, and build your leg muscles up as much as possible before the op. It is a lot, lot easier to regain the muscle strength if you had some before the op, than let it all waste away and then start from scratch after the op.

Good luck with it though mate.

SiPie

Cycling would help loads

trails

iTrader: (41)

road bikes only...snapped my right ACL and had ham string reconstruction and ruined the cartlidge in both knees, all from riding my BMX

i had the ACL and cartilage graft about eight years ago, its never really been that strong even after substantial physio\gym work. the only way i can still ride (and crash ), is using a knee brace...i use a cti edge and its really very good. i'll be in for an arthroscopy on my left knee to get the cartilage...as soon as my broken scafoid heals

this is a fairly common bmx injury so five of my close friends have also had ACL rebuilds; the most recent being completed just after Christmas this year. one thing i have noticed is my scar is bloody massive compared to all the later ops;



the one that was carried out after Christmas has a scare a third of the size and its on the side of the knee not the top. i'll try and get him to mail me a pic.

Scooby Snacks 23

Classic picture
Looks like a patellar graft that one - from my hamstring graft, I have a very neat little scar about 2 inches long on the side of the knee.
I'm starting to feel queezy about having it done again now

SiPie

Ouch

Wot skinny legs you got

trails

iTrader: (41)

lol not after a little (more), knee trauma

SiPie

You sitting on the pan taking that pic ?

Scooby Snacks 23

I take it that's a 'before' and 'after' pic!

My legs are as skinny as that (but less hairy!!)

Andy Porter

feel for you scooby snacks I had to have my ACL rebuilt in June '05 after snapping the ligament in a motor bike crash some 18 months before. I would be gutted if it went again but it will be worth it once it's fixed for good, my knee is 90% back to normal, just gets stiff from time to time

SiPie

Worryingly mine aren't as skinny but MUCH HAIRIER

trails

iTrader: (41)

lol, aren’t hairy legs a sign of manliness

the one with the staples is about four weeks into my ACL and cartilage reconstruction which meant non-load bearing for six weeks hence the skinny-*** leg

the second is from about 18months ago where i foolishly decided to ride without my brace and promptly crashed with that result

ps; sipie; i know i was sitting on a cheap sofabed, but it's not that bad

SiPie

Lol

Hope thats the end of the ops for your knees anyway

Oakers

I had my ACL rebuilt after it ruptured playing Rugby. I had the hamstring graft and was rosie until I went back for my 3 month check up and had to have me MCL redone too. This also was a hamstring graft but this time from the other leg. It meant a whole season out from playing but I am now down the gym 3 times a week working on it to be fit for next season. I have a personal trainer helping me too.

It does swell up from time to time when i've over done it. A bit of rest and ice seems to bring it back to some proportion but never looks the same as the other knee.

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

A while ago on exercise in Canada I tore some too in my knee. Anyway a mate and I were sent to a Canadian Specialist for treatment. My mate had had problems with his knee for ages and was always in constant pain.

Anyway, we were have red lamp and manipulation and my mate was asked had he ever had any ankle problems, which he had, but this had only been a twist many years before. Anyway the doc the checks his ankle and finds that he had a displaced bone, this was causing his knee to compensate for the incorrect foot fall. The ankle bone was reset and the knee problem went away