Has anyone had their cruciate ligament repaired?

[HeadFairy]

I had my ACL reconstructed 11 years ago and I've got really bad pain and swelling in the same knee now. I haven't fallen or twisted it, and I don't know why but I think it might be my cruciate repair failing. I can't remember if the op is meant to be permenant or if it has a shelf life iyswim. Anyone know?

My DB has had his done twice, so I fear it may be the latter. Though his ops were less than a year apart IIRC, so maybe it just didn't 'take'?

Synthetic or tendon graft? Not a doctor but have had acl done twice. First with synthetic then a patella tendon graft. I recall the former had a shelf life of about 10 years or so but mine was done in 1992 so assume technology has moved on.

chippy - my brain is a little foggy, but I seem to remember something like a medial ligament graft. I did have to have some pins replaced the following year (or taken out?) I think I have some metal work still in there holding something in place but I'm not sure. It just feels very unstable and when I rotate it hurts like a bastard.

Classic symptoms by the sounds of it. See the doc and probably get an arthroscopy booked in to check it out.
Good luck.

yeah, I will do, thanks. I hope it's something else, I can't face months of physio again, I'm shockingly bad at keeping it up!

yes, I had a hamstring graft in april 2009.

I've just had an MRI as my knee gave way a few days ago and swelled up .
I'm waiting to hear the results as the consultant thinks it nothing to do with the graft but it may be torn cartiledge.

I considered the op quite seriously as the rehab was so lenghty,but would have thought otherwise of having it done if i'd know it had a shelf life .

sorry to hear that dust... I hope it's not too serious. I think the shelf life of the op really only applies to people who've got synthetic grafts rather than those with their own grafts (as you have - the hamstring tendon). I was always told that although it was a long rehab afterwards it would save worse knee problems in later life. Let's hope that's true!

thanks HF , I'm feeling quite optimistic as my knee feels a lot better now, I just hope that I don't need any more surgery . I severed the ACL in a pretty tame skiing accident, appearently it's very common with women aged 40 - 55 due to hormones. the proof of the pudding is skiing at christmas , which hopefully i'll be able to do .
But i'm sorry you sound in a lot of pain, what's the plan of action for you ?