Active Community: Message List - Coming Back after ACL Surgery ?

Re: Coming Back after ACL Surgery ?

guest — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 19:56:25 GMT

I had my left ACL replaced September 2009. I was never a runner, but became one as part of my PT. I've now completed a 10 miler and a half marathon and plan to complete a marathon this year. My biggest lesson learned - take it slow and easy...

Re: Coming Back after ACL Surgery ?

guest — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 02:02:25 GMT

Just trashing some old e-mails, and I came across a post notification from this thread.

I am now 3 years!! post-op. CRAZY.

My knee is phenomenal, and I am in the best shape of my life. I took up triathlon last year, and did my first half ironman in June.

Check out my blog -- http://legalb.wordpress.com if you are in need of some post-ACL repair motivation. This thread was very helpful to me during some dark times. ACL repair is scary, and there are a lot of horror stories. But like others here have said, most outcomes are positive.

I truly hope everyone is doing well, keeping active, and strengthening their knees

Re: Coming Back after ACL Surgery ?

guest — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 03:28:49 GMT

Hello all:

So, I wanted to put another post up about ACL recovery. I had my ACL replaced (complete tear, some miniscus damage, dead guy's tendon used) just over two years ago (Feb of 2008). Now, I know that everyone's body is different, everyone's injuries are different. But I wanted to put something out there about recovery.

First (not just from my own experience, but from *MANY* others who I personally know who have had ACL surgery as well) -- you will recover. You're knee will be awesome (as long as you do your PT and keep your knee strong). Of course there are instances of unsuccessful ACL surgery, but I think it's an overwhelmingly successful proceedure. I was not a runner BEFORE my surgery, but about 1 year post-op I ran 2 1/2 marathons, and am running the NYC 1/2 in March.

Second, you will have set backs. You will. Trust me. Between about 9 months post-op and now (2 years+ post op), I've had about 3 .... what I like to call "Knee Spazz-out Episodes". Where, for no reason at all, my knee just started hurting. I wasn't running at the time or working out. Often it was when I hadn't been doing anything on the knee for quite some time. But as long as you're good to your knee, you ice it when it's sore, and rest it when it's hating on you, you'll be fine.

Oh, and I signed up for the NYC marathon yesterday.

Anyway, this message thread was a great resource for me before and just after my surgery, so I wanted to add a little more to it.

Re: Coming Back after ACL Surgery ?

guest — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 06:36:06 GMT

I had a complete ACL repair back in 1/04 using part of my patella tendon and well as medial meniscus repair due to a basketball injury. I had followup surgery in 4/05 to remove scar tissue that was hindering complete movement. In July 07 I was able to complete 60 miles of walking over 3 days as part of the 3 Day Walk for breast cancer. Last year I started running again and though I was never much of a long distance runner, started to train for a half marathon. Since then I have completed 2 half marathons and a number of 5Ks. So far this year I've completed a couple of 5Ks and am currently training for a sprint triathlon and the Marine Corps Marathon. Recovery was a slow and painful process but I had a great ortho and PT. Neither one is overly crazy about my running but my PT (I try to keep in touch with him), has wished me the best of luck with the first full marathon. I hope this never happens to anyone who has never gone through this but if you have, don't give up hope. Oh I almost forgot, I continue to play basketball (at times) and an avid alpine skier (again).

Re: Coming Back after ACL Surgery ?

guest — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 05:40:17 GMT

what a mistake in getting my acl repair constant pain never will be the same..........use to love to ride my horses but now cant and have had to sell my horses as a result BAD DECISION FOR ANYONE TO GET ACL REPAIR!!!!!!!

Re: Coming Back after ACL Surgery ?

guest — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 13:52:17 GMT

I had the dreaded triad back in 2000. I was in an ankle to hip brace for 6 months and then a smaller calf to just above the knee brace for another year. It was almost 2 years to the date that I could finally run pain free. I still prefer running on softer stuff. Tried running on a dirt/gravel bike and hike path only to have my knee swell and be sore for 3 days. Good luck. Oh, I am 50 yrs old by the way. The story may be different for younger people.

Re: Coming Back after ACL Surgery ?

guest — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 14:43:53 GMT

Hi !

Its' Skpenny (a/k/a skynickel) Bonxdave - that is AWESOME. I am so encouraged. The longest I have run since coming back was 10 miler befoer Thanksgiving. A race wodul give me a goal. My regular weekly total is closer to 15 - 20 these days but I do a lot of cross trainign so it adds up. My LR is usualy 5 or 6 - but maybe its time to crank it up again. I was just so happy to be back at all, with no pain. My 3 mile lunchtime runs are so great, especially in this cold crisp weather. Big news for me - this is my second seaon back on the alpine skis. (That is how I got injured.) Scary at first, but I stay on runs I can handle (tranmsalte - EASY ones) and I knock off after lunch instead of skiing all day like I used to. (There is a lot to be said for a post-ski fireplace at the base lodge, with a beer and some conversation) I am psyched to hear of your victory !

Re: Coming Back after ACL Surgery ?

guest — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 12:34:33 GMT

Congrats Dave!! That's awesome.

I've been doing great as well. I set a new half marathon PR in October, and am getting ready to run another one in a couple of weeks. I'm hoping to do a full marathon in october. After my half my knee did go kind of nuts, and I actually went to the surgeon after a few weeks of physio to make sure it was not my ACL or meniscus. She said she was pretty confident it was ITB friction syndrome (also what my physio said), which was great news by comparison. I do find if I run outside the side of my knee gets kinda sore but I am anything but religious about icing afterwards. The surgeon said my ACL was perfect and my knee did not test positive for anything to do with meniscus so with that relief I have been running like I've never ran before.

Hope everyone else is enjoying similar success!

Re: Coming Back after ACL Surgery ?

guest — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 02:52:04 GMT

Hey skypenny, and everyone else:

I've been reading and posting to this thread since late 2007. I had a complete tear of the ACL in my right knee with some miniscus damage as well. I had a new (dead guy's) tendom put in on Feb 2nd of 2008.

So, it'll be a year post-op next week. And today, I ran my first 1/2 marathon -- not just since the surgey, but ever. I iced it down later at home and all is well.

Hang in there. It gets better so much quicker than you think

Re: Coming Back after ACL Surgery ?

guest — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 20:50:22 GMT

Could the shin pain be related to tightness in your calf and hamstring muscles? It's not uncommon for persons who've had ACL surgery to have some difficulty with that. Another possibility is that your biomechanics have changed due to the altered strength profile post-operatively. Are you wearing the same shoes you were before? Perhaps a different shoe is in order? It might be worthwhile to get a gait analysis done either by your therapist or perhaps you've got access to a technical running shoe store that has people there that can watch you run and see if the shoes you're wearing are correct?

Just some food for thought, Janet

Treat the cause, not just the symptoms.... http://www.runningstrong.com