Sachin's ACL reconstruction experience.

sachin_patel

New User
Hi guys.. I've had couple of threads about this.. so finally got my surgery and posting my experience to help others who may need.


So I got injured about 4 months ago playing foot ball first(and last) time in my life. I didn't hear a pop or anything.. on my way back to home walking knee buckled once.. and it was a little bit swollen at night.. not much..

in 15 days swelling was almost over.. just slight swelling left.. pain was there when I step in certain position.. i went to doctor just to get swelling checked out, MRI was ordered and there it was, ACL tear. No meniscus tear though.

I researched for about 4 months and tried to avoid surgery. One day I was talking over phone and walking and a small step was in way.. I felt like I was lucky that I didn't damage any further.. but that made me realize I am missing something in my knee.

posted couple of questions here and finally decided that I am going for the surgery.

My doctor suggested Cadaver graft and I went with his suggestion. I have metal screws fixed.

Surgery was done on Friday and I had ROM of 60% that night. I didn't feel any pain due to the nerve block in that leg. but that leg was like dead weight. can't lift, can't feel anything..

Day two at night started feeling slightly in that leg. I was worried that I will wake up at night with shooting pain in my leg when the effect of nerve block goes away.. but instead I woke up at 4:30 am due to a back pain!! I am lucky I have close to no pain even on day 2 with nerve block effect gone completely.

I have a CPM machine and I have an easy ROM of 72%. I feel that I can easily go to 80% but just to be safe I am growing it slowly.. I don't have much swelling.

I took bandages off on day 2 and i am surprised to see very small holes and stitches.. I think my doctor has done a good job.

My physical therapy starts tomorrow. I am not on pain meds and hopefully I won't need them.

Thanks to all who advised me so far and please give me any feedback that will help me in my recovery.
 

RogueFLIP

Professional
Hey, glad to hear surgery went ok....

First few sessions of PT will be pretty easy....

Just get in the mindset that this will take 6 months minimum.....can't rush it.

Get some good books, movies and/or video games! :)

First stage, ice, ice, restore ROM esp full extension first.

Good luck and keep us posted.
 

sachin_patel

New User
Thanks, I have pretty low swelling and ROM is good too.. Extension is also at comfortable level.. i can touch my bed with back of my knee..

started leg raise slowly yesterday and I found out my quads had almost shut down.. I couldn't lift my let at first. but by end of day, I could.

any way to know if my ACL is in proper shape and its not loose or tight? anyone know if you feel how your ACL is? I can't make it right now..just saw couple of videos where people said their ACL was loose three weeks after..

Also anyone know a good site for physical therapy exercises? apart from what my own therapist will show me?
 

sachin_patel

New User
Completed one week from Surgery now. I have zero degree of extension and about 110 degree flex. I know my other leg has kind of hyper extension and I also read somewhere that try to achieve hyper extension.
My PT told me that you are not gonna get hyper extension because the way ACLs are restored, they are restored to operate at zero degrees. He said hyper extension could bring instability. Is this true? Should I not even try to get it back?

I tried walking without crutches today and it was very hard to trust on my knee in the beginning.

He said I am going to start biking from next week.
 

ProgressoR

Hall of Fame
After my ACL reconstruction I dont have hyper extension in my right leg, my left leg naturally has some. I never really noticed an issue with this and its been around 20 years since I had it done.

Just FYI, I got back to playing every sport I used to and some new ones. I just notice sometimes that knee gets a bit sore quicker than it used to, I listen to my body and dont over do it.

I currently play tennis 4-5 times a week a couple of hours each time, and my knee is fine.


Just prepare to work hard in physio, do lots of weights to get your quads strong, and the bike really is your friend till you can jog.

It took me around 6 months to start to be active in a very tentative way, and around 9-12 months not to be concerned about it.

I still wear soft knee supports as a mental thing.
 

sachin_patel

New User
I keep haring clicks sometimes and every time I fear if I broke it again.. some words or confidence would help because there is no way to know if ACL is still there.. Is there?

After week 1, I've started walking on my feet without crutches.. although its very hard to trust that knee right now.. I can bend it up to about 115 degrees.. lets see what week 2 brings.
 

ProgressoR

Hall of Fame
I guess they still drill and use screws or staples to fix the new ACL. I wouldnt worry about the odd clicking unless you feel a bit of pain when it happens.

When most of the pain had settled down, I remember my final check up was the consultant grabbing my ankle and doing all kinds of stuff to see if there was laxity or weakness. There wasn't. I wouldnt really worry until they do this kind of test, if they still do it.
 

RogueFLIP

Professional
I keep haring clicks sometimes and every time I fear if I broke it again.. some words or confidence would help because there is no way to know if ACL is still there.. Is there?

After week 1, I've started walking on my feet without crutches.. although its very hard to trust that knee right now.. I can bend it up to about 115 degrees.. lets see what week 2 brings.

Clicking is normal....at this point after the surgery, the graft is the strongest it'll ever be.

The knee will be very untrustworthy....that's normal as well. Just be careful.
 

sachin_patel

New User
Thanks guys. I am hoping for the best. How strongly is the graft fixed with the screws? What are the chances of that loosening up? I keep worrying about this things. My doctor has set up appointment 3 weeks after surgery so until then, I won't know.

I feel that I didn't have pain. I could live without painkillers from the moment my leg lost effect of block. And as a result of that I might have used my leg little casually instead of keeping it locked in brace at night like lifting it without support under knee and changing position.. Could things like this loosen up reconstructed graft from screws? For example knee hanging from the chair?
 

RogueFLIP

Professional
Thanks guys. I am hoping for the best. How strongly is the graft fixed with the screws? What are the chances of that loosening up? I keep worrying about this things. My doctor has set up appointment 3 weeks after surgery so until then, I won't know.

I feel that I didn't have pain. I could live without painkillers from the moment my leg lost effect of block. And as a result of that I might have used my leg little casually instead of keeping it locked in brace at night like lifting it without support under knee and changing position.. Could things like this loosen up reconstructed graft from screws? For example knee hanging from the chair?

Relax....very unlikely that the screws came loose.

Be glad you don't have pain....it's not uncommon to not have pain following ACL surgery.

Are you sleeping with the brace on at night? I mean, unless you're a football playing sleepwalker, I don't think it's necessary.
 

sachin_patel

New User
Thanks,
I am feeling better now. I had doctor's appointment last week and doctor checked and confirmed it looks good.

I am walking on treadmill now for about 10 min at 2.2 mph speed.

My doctor shared the arthroscopic images for me.. will try to share it here if anyone wants to see what a ligament looks like :)
 
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