My ACL Tear and Recovery
ACL Recovery: One Year Out, and My Final Post on the Topic.
Okay. While I suppose I reserve the right to maybe post about my torn ACL once again after this post, I’m not planning on it. But I’ve been waiting quite some time to post this one.It’s officially been one year since I went under the knife to have my ACL replaced. It was one year (and one additional day) ago that I sat outside an operating room upright on a hospital bed, wearing a hospital gown. It was strange to look down the hallway and see all sorts of other people in the same situation: sitting alone, in a cold hallway, likely worried about what came next. At least I was. And all I could think at that time was, “Holy shit, did I ever make the wrong decision. Get me out of here.” I was terrified.Of course, I would eventually realize that having the surgery done was the best decision I could have made.
One year later, I implore anyone I speak to with a torn ACL that’s considering the surgery to get it done. There’s some short-term pain (though not as much as I expected), and the long-term gain is obvious: no more worry about your knee giving out from under you.I get a lot of inquiries around “what should I be able to do at what month”, so here’s a timeline of my recovery. Note this only applies to me. Every situation is different!
- Day four: off crutches, walking around. It was painful, but also the best form of physio, according to my surgeon.
- Day nine: pain recedes a bit, but mornings still suck large.
- Two weeks after surgery: Walking is fine. Went to the driving range, in anticipation of golfing shortly.
- Three weeks after surgery: Went golfing for the first time. BAD IDEA! The scar tissue from the surgery started coming apart from the hamstring area that was harvested for my new ACL. Although that’s not a bad thing, it was very painful. Physio begins. Physiotherapist at North York General Hospital is the best evar.
- Two months: Mountain biking in a pretty serious way begins.
- Two and a half months: Golfing and biking in earnest.
- Three months: Physio slows up. Hamstring a little weak, but feeling good. “Fast walking” on a treadmill begins.
- Six months (okay, maybe a wee bit earlier): Started running on a treadmill… slowly.
- Eight months: SNOWBOARDING!! Knee feels great.
- Ten and a half months: I join two ultimate frisbee teams, and start playing again with a serious knee brace.
- Twelve months: Still playing ultimate. Now I’ve signed up for the Sporting Life 10K and roller hockey this summer.
Also be sure to check out this entry on the ACL recovery timeline. So that’s it on the ACL for now I suppose. You can follow the whole saga in the My ACL Tear and Recovery category.
Discussion
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Adam (I am guessing from the about),
Congrats on a “full” recovery from ACL surgery. Last March 18, 2007, I tore my ACL in my right knee playing basketball. I had the surgery a month after and did some very aggressive recovery - played basketball 4 months out of surgery and was back to running on a treadmill daily there after. Around the new year I was feeling pretty great and playing in a few basketball leagues - able to dunk well again, with some soreness but nothing big.
Fast forward to March 25, 2008 (a week ago), I tear my ACL in my left knee playing basketball. WHAT ARE THE ODDS??? I am pretty depressed and feeling very unlucky at the moment. Another 6 months of hell and rehab, I am not excited.
I wish I could say I slacked off on my weight training or physio for my legs, but that definitely was not the case. Just bad luck I guess. So here I am on the couch, doing all my prehab exercises for surgery in 3 weeks. Feel free to send me a get well card!
Take care and stay in good health..
Jason
Dude, I’m so sorry to hear that. Oddly enough, I’m SO WORRIED about doing that to my other leg now. I feel like I’m always tweaking my right knee because I’m probably using it more now for fear of re-injuring the left.
Good luck with your recovery!
–adam
Hey Adam,
Thank you for sharing the story. I torn my ACL 5 days ago, I am devasted since I race mountain bikes and the season has just started.
I am convinced too that surgery is the answer for people like us who like tp play hard.
Alex
Alex-
While I’m sorry to hear about you tearing your ACL, I personally think you made the right decision. Best of luck on your recovery!!
All the best,
adam
alessandra,
don’t be devastated. i am 11 days post-op (patellar graft) and can feel myself getting stronger every day. what’s interesting is that i’m finding this to be every bit as interesting a physical challenge as the sports that i’m currently unable to do. the rehab is pretty hardcore and i’m digging it. i won’t lie and say that i wouldn’t rather be snowboarding or training krav maga… but it’s not as depressing as i thought it might be.
good luck to you and keep your head up.
david
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My 21 year old daughter is on a soccer scholarship in college and popped her acl. The surgeon is giving her a choice of using her hamstring or a tendon from a cadaver. What have other people chosen and how was the outcome?
That’s a good question, I don’t know. I can tell you from a hamstring perspective that I have suffered little in the way of ill effects. My hamstring is a wee bit weaker but in ultimate frisbee, hockey, biking, running, softball.. I can’t tell.