I had my ACL reconstructed Sept 15, 2007, so as of today- it's December 31, 2007, it's been 3 1/2 months. The docs used a cadaver's graft on my knee as I heard from others that this has the least downtime.
I was able to put some weigh on the knee almost immediately after the surgery, which I was very pleasantly surprised about. about 5 days later, I was without crutches, but limping noticiably, but at least I was able to get into the gym.
I started going to rehab about 2 weeks after my surgery, but I had already been doing some rehab exercises at home, working on range of motion, etc.
Just to give you a background on me...I play basketball and baseball, both in leagues..well, prior to this injury, and actually tore my miniscus in 2000 playing basketball, and I thought I had a harder time getting back from that than this ACL surgery.
My goal of this ACL surgery was to be able to get back to playing competitive sports and hopefully be able to play at a decent high level...but most importantly, to be able to play with my 9 month old son for many many years..without having to having too much pain doing so.
On that subject of pain...the orthopedic surgeon...was very adamant about.....the fact that I have osteoarthritis in my knee already and it'll keep getting worse..that my surgery will only prolong the knee a few years. His recommendation was to start golfing and doing other activities that weren't so stressful on the knee.
I'm hoping to prove him wrong by working out and staying in shape, and sliming down from my 205 lbs to about 180...I'm 5'10..and according to the BMI..obese, but I work out and lift weights quite a bit...so I'm muscular...at least I like to think that! HAHA..oh and I'm 38 years old....just turned it 2 weeks ago!
I figure that the lighter I am, even if I lose some muscle, the better it will be for my knee...if anyone has any suggestions or comments, let me know on that subject!
Anyway, about a week ago, I probably did a little too much weight at the gym on the leg, doing leg extensions..and I know you really shouldn't be doing leg extensions, but it was building up my leg quite nicely....and maybe I stressed it too much, as it's been swollen quite a bit, and has some cracking noise inside every so often...which, when it does that, I can feel the knee weaker.
I assume that this is all part of the normal ACL recovery period, that the knee gets swollen every so often when you stress it too much.
Prior to this latest episode of swelling, I was actually feeling quite good, maybe too good...I was swimming a couple of times a week, shooting hoops, but no games, of course, just straight up jump shots...and was feeling no pain or swelling at all...I guess that's when I have to be worried, at least in the early stages of recovery..that I feel too good, then push too hard. It's very difficult for me to slow down sometimes, because it feels so good and normal. going up and down stairs before use to hurt, but after the surgery, it just feels a lot better.
Hopefully, the swelling goes down in a week and I can start doing some running. I'm hoping that others like me will write back and comment...people who have had their miniscus shaved (1/3 of the inner part) who have some osteoarthritis, and ACL surgery...and can give me words of encouragement so I can tell the doctor later that he was wrong about my knee, that I can go back to playing my sports and not have to slow down..at least not for 20 years!....
write back later..Happy New Year everyone!
