10 Weeks Later: ACL Recovery Update

This has become a popular page for people seeking ACL recovery information and experiences with arthroscopic ACL replacement surgery. If you’re interested in learning more about how I have been dealing with my ACL recovery, please check out these posts. Thanks for coming by!
Below is the original post:
It’s 10 weeks out, and my knee feels [...]

An Ode to Mountain Biking

Back when I tore my ACL and determined I needed surgery, I made an important decision. Instead of taking an available slot in fall of 2006, I opted to delay the operation until spring 2007. My rationale? I wanted to be ready for the 2007-2008 snowboarding season. I also figured it was easier to sit [...]

ACL Tears and Hamstrings: You Learn Something New Every Day

This ACL tear overview contains two key points I wish I had known before my operation:

NOT moving the knee post-surgery actually leads to more pain eventually. Just like the overview says, my knee got really stiff and painful from inactivity within a few days.
Although there are a few choices regarding procedure, my surgeon cheerfully informed [...]

The Kids Aren’t Alright; They’re Tearing Their ACLs!

So says this west coast TV station, which is reporting kids are tearing their ACLs left, right and centre — thanks in part to snowboarding!
Most everyone I speak with thinks I tore my ACL snowboarding. They are quite surprised when I tell them it was a combination of basketball and ultimate frisbee.

The Recovery Continues: Can I Ride Yet?

It’s been a little less than six weeks since my surgery for a torn ACL. Since I started physio about three weeks ago, lots has happened:
- I stupidly strained my hamstrings trying to golf;- I’ve lost the limp;- My left quad is basically back to normal.
The last point is kind of interesting. It turns out [...]

Mountain Biking in the Don Valley

It is one of Toronto’s worst-kept secrets, and it also one of its best surprises: there is amazing single-track mountain bike riding in downtown Toronto. The network of Don Valley mountain biking trails stretches from downtown out to almost Scarborough, and the trails are technical, generally well-maintained and quite busy. It is absolutely amazing to [...]

Slow Snow News Day

Damn. I’ve been poking around blogs, sites and news and haven’t really come across much in the way of compelling ski, snowboard or resort stories today. I’m open to ‘em if you got ‘em.
In the meantime: hitting a driving range today. This will be the first meaningful bit of action for my knee since the [...]

Torn ACL: Recovery Begins

It’s been nine days since my ACL reconstruction surgery. So far, it’s been quite an interesting experience… and slightly painful. Though I’m entirely off any painkillers at this point, and I’m pretty much on the road to recovery.
I start physiotherapy in two to three weeks. Feeling good, I  actually ditched the crutches a few days [...]

A Little More of a Sugery Update

First, thanks for the well wishes. I really appreciate it! 
Everything seems to be going very well. Although I feared the oncoming pain in a preivous surgery post, it actually never arrived! I’m on some pretty low-powered painkillers that keep what pain there is at bay; I’ve also got some more serious ‘use when your [...]

The Surgery is Done

Well, I’m home now. Not much pain yet, but I’m sure it will come. Turns out my ACL was totally wrecked, so it’s a good thing I had the procedure done!
For all I’ve said about the MRI mess and Ontario health care in general, I  need to give props to the doctors, nurses and surgeons [...]