I am going to my surgeon tomorrow to discuss acl reconstructive surgery. I tore it slightly when I was 16 and in January I tore it completely (i'm 25 now) I tried the therapy route and it helped, but not enough. I have a 2 1/2 year old daughter I need to keep up with. I'm not really active in sports, but I would like to be. My question is, how effective is this surgery and should I use a graft from my own knee or leg, or a cadaver graft? I've done quite a bit of research online and even watched some surgeries. I know I'll have a tough road of therapy afterwards, but I'm very willing to do it.
Also, how soon would I be able to return to work? I bartend on saturdays at my parents bar. Nothing too busy, just a laid back country bar. I don't want to be out too long, but just looking for some sort of timeframe. Thanks! :)
2007-05-07 17:54:30 · 3 answers · asked by Tanya 2 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Injuries
Yes it does give out on me frequently and I actually slipped in the store the other day because of it...think I just aggravated it more because of some minor swelling but a lot more pain.
2007-05-07 18:14:20 · update #1
My suggestion is that you have it done. My ACL exploded and I had it repaired. Your risk of further injury if you don't have the sx (surgery) is far worse than the time you will spend in recovery and the therapy. In fact, the procedure is now incredibly minimally invasive and the recovery time is amazing.
My results were phenomenal. I spent six weeks in PT and gained 100% of my range of motion back and was back to full activity in 8 weeks, including soccer and swimming competitively. It's been 10 years since i had my ACL reconstructed (I was 14) and I have never had a problem with the knee outside of a very strange sensation when the area was touched as the nerves grew back, which ceased in about a year. I had my ACL repaired with a piece of my own patella tendon and it was an easy recovery. I am now a marathoner, triathlete and competitive open water swimmer.
You wil be in an immobilizer for awhlie afterward and you won't be able to run for a few weeks after that but soon enough you will not only regain the ability to do these activites you will not risk further injury to the knee because you will have the stability needed to carry on day-to-day activity.
If you can bartend in an immobilizer and crutches (which you very well may be able to!) you might only need a week off. And since you only work Saturdays, have the sx on a Monday and see how you feel by Saturday and there is a good possibility you'll be back. Your best bet is to ask your doctor how long he thinks you'll be on crutches and go from there.
Good luck!!!
2007-05-08 04:22:12 · answer #1 · answered by Kristy 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
you should have the surgery if you have problems with instability. That is, the leg gives out on you if you turn or cut.
Allograft reconstructions (cadaver) have minimal risk and a much quicker recovery. Let your surgeon tell you what he / she is more comfortable with.
Allow at least 2 weeks off work 6-12 weeks for full work load.
www.AAOS.org for more info.
2007-05-07 18:02:11 · answer #2 · answered by psnorb 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
having had a torn meniscus, and subsequent knee replacement; the sooner, the better. i got my total last june. i,m 63. i work out, bike ride, garden, walk. i,m short one ACL tendon because the stainless steel knee part had to go where it was. i never missed it.
2016-05-18 00:15:12 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋