Rehab Pre-surgery ACL

[Gatlin5]

I am 52 years old and I tore my ACL back in March of this year. My Doctors here feel that at my age and with the good stability I have in my leg, that they would not recommend surgery. Of course neither one has any experience with offroad riding and the abuse our knees can be put through.

I have continued to ride wearing asterick knees braces, feeling somewhat of a false sense of security, but I I do find myself protecting it and riding very cautiously to the point that it has started to take the fun out of it. And I have tweaked it a few times and that gets you attention pretty quick. It has even gotten to the point where I'll get on the bike via the right side so that I don't hyper extend my left leg.

It doesn't give out on me but I have to be careful how I use it. I don't dare step off off anything more than 20 to 24'' with that leg first, I have done that and when it buckles it doesn't feel to good.

I have an eliptical machine at home that I am trying to use daily and it doesn't bother the knee at all and I'm stretching and doing core work.

With all that said, what else should I be doing and is the surgery really needed and if so, How soon?

Thanks

Joe

[erik727]

Joe,i've had both of my knees done before .Last one was rt knee in Aug04.
Tore it again in Mrch,and like you riding as is. Very cautious.

It sure feels alot better when repaired.
When i'm ready ,i'm going to have Dr.Mark do it with his procedure.
I would say ...get it fixed

Erik

[Gatlin5]

Thanks for the reply Erik.

Man, that really had to be rough to do it again 7 months later. I had only been riding a month after a 6 month layoff due to surgery for a torn Rotator cuff and bicep back in Aug of 04. So, that's why I'm been delaying this some.

What kind of repair did you have with the o4 surgery? And how soon did you ride after?

From what I have read it sounds like Dr Sanders will recommend the patella graff from the other leg and my Dr here wants to use a hamstring graff from the same leg. I think I'm going to go out to Houston and let Dr Sanders do mine too, it's just prime riding season here right now and I hate to miss it again.

Do you have any thoughts when your going to have yours done?


Joe

[erik727]

My rt knee in 04 was a cadaver graft......and like Dr. Mark says ...It didn't hold up.
Doc released me to ride a little over 4mo after surg ,which was in Sept 04.
I felt it blow out again while routinely coming out of a wash with the front end high ,chopped throttle ,put leg out and POP...Was wearing asterisk brace at the time. Don't know when i'm gonna get it fixed.

My left knee was a a hamstring graft back in 97-98 .Didn't ride for like 7 mo and it's still in good shape.Dr mark even put his little machine on it and said it was real tight still.

Good luck to you and whatever you decide.

Erik

[Gatlin5]

My rt knee in 04 was a cadaver graft......and like Dr. Mark says ...It didn't hold up.
Doc released me to ride a little over 4mo after surg ,which was in Sept 04.
I felt it blow out again while routinely coming out of a wash with the front end high ,chopped throttle ,put leg out and POP...Was wearing asterisk brace at the time. Don't know when i'm gonna get it fixed.

My left knee was a a hamstring graft back in 97-98 .Didn't ride for like 7 mo and it's still in good shape.Dr mark even put his little machine on it and said it was real tight still.

Good luck to you and whatever you decide.

Erik

Thanks Erik and good luck to you. I hope we get to ride together before we both go under the knife.

Have fun at the Endurocross

Joe

[erik727]

Well Joe, i decided to get it done !!!!!..... Jan 30 is the day... Drmark is going in and reconstruct with opposite knee patella graft...
Another 3mo off the bike :cry:

But then it will be all good...

[Gatlin5]

Well Joe, i decided to get it done !!!!!..... Jan 30 is the day... Drmark is going in and reconstruct with opposite knee patella graft...
Another 3mo off the bike :cry:

But then it will be all good...

Brave decision, I admire you for that. I know you really have been through it with that knee. I look forward to following your progress.

I talked to David this morning and I'm going with you guys to OK this September, I can't wait. Maybe I'll be on a good knee by then too.

Sounds like you and David will make quite the pair after both of your surgeries.

Good Luck and keep in touch!

Joe

[Gatlin5]

Erik,

How did it go? Your about a week post op right? Love to get updates on how your surgery, recovery and therapy goes.

Best of Luck,

Joe

[Tatonka]

Erik - it must have gone well, I know you've been riding! :cheers: