Talk me through your knee injury recovery

[ForgivenessIsDivine]

Caught a ski on a rock today in deep powder and as the other ski twisted so did my knee, I felt something snap and when I tried to ski again my knee was sickeningly wobbling as if both half of my legs were completely detached.. X-Ray shows no broken bones and examination showed possible ACL, MCL and meniscus damage. I am feeling very sorry for myself.

So... hit me... how long before it can be operated on, how long before I can drive (it's my clutch foot), and how long before I can drive again after the op...

So sorry OP. I wish you well. I know a few people doing really well overall with their injured knees some time down the line although not the specifics of their recovery period. I would really recommend you go to snowheads forum where they are amazing about everything to do with skiing and they have a lot of posters who have suffered injuries (they have a separate board for it I think and they are super helpful).

Thanks Godric.

I had ACL reconstruction 3 years ago, loads of physio and exercises from day 1, the local hospital had an ACL rehab club a couple of mornings a week where you had physio and exercises. You did this for up to a year, I was back to normal (not sport) life after about 3 months. Sport was a gradual build up but probably a year before it was ready. I think from memory I was driving after about 2 to 3 weeks but it may have been a little longer.

Just left with a scar about 75mm long below my knee which when you touch I get the sensation I'm been touched at the bottom of my calf muscle which is a little strange.

Thanks Woodman. Was the operation done under general anaesthetic?

My dd had an mpfl reconstruction just before last Christmas due to recurring knee dislocation. She had about 6 months of physio - and her knee is fully recovered now. Very very painful for first few weeks after op. Good luck x

Yes general anaesthetic, I don't think I would want to be awake. As they nick a piece of the hamstring to create new ACL then a bit of drilling and screwing. Nice sleep let them do their stuff.

Sounds incredibly unpleasant. watching my knee wobble around and reliving the moment when I tried to stand again was bad enough!!

So sorry OP.. such a horrible injury.

My DH snowboards with a brace on each knee after recurrent ACL damage.

He’s got recovery down to a fine art post/op .. best exercise is static bike. He has a turbo trainer that he attaches his own bike to.

My friend did hers 2 years ago and didn’t get the op and was back skiing the following year. It tends to give way when she least expects it though.

Good luck with your recovery!

Thanks.. .. Static bike is a good idea.. It is depressing as I have put on weight recently and was setting myself some exercise targets... but that has lifted my spirits... Once I have an idea when I can start exercising again a turbo trainer would be a great idea...

Jan 2016 DH broke his leg and ripped through ACL, MCL and meniscus. No surgery, 9 months of strenuous, committed rehab, skied again March 2017. We’re off to Switzerland this coming weekend and St Anton end of Feb. He’s skiing back to normal with no extra aches and pains. We are strong intermediates and do a fair amount off-piste.

Top tip - really commit to the rehab, do exactly as they say.

Thanks LittleWitch, that is interesting and very encouraging.

My MCL has detached at the femur, how on earth can those ligaments repair if they are no longer connected which presumably if he 'ripped through his, he was in a similar position?

Where are you going in Switzerland? We we in Saas Fee which is awesome!!! (we live in Geneva so skiing is my winter weekend activity and I do cross country during the week... seriously depressed...)

The ligaments don’t repair, the rehab concentrates on strengthening the surrounding muscles so that they do the work instead. ACL was fully through, MCL partial so that did repair itself and meniscus repairs anyway I believe.

We were very sceptical of the plan because we didn’t know anyone who had had a similar injury and didn’t have surgery but it has worked. It was a long old road though and we lived with a static bike in the living room for 9 months. He broke his leg on 19th Jan and his goal was to dance at our son’s wedding on 27th August- which he did. From day 1 the surgeon told him he would ski again and to work hard in rehab.

See you in Saas Fee - we arrive on Sunday (avalanches permitting!)

Disclaimer- every case is different of course! DH’s leg broke vertically through the tibia and the tear was at the top of that, rather than related to the femur. Waiting for the fracture to repair held up the start of the ACL rehab because he was in plaster hip to ankle for the first 6-8 weeks. Ideally he would have started physio much sooner. He had a pronounced limp for a year, but that has almost disappeared now.

Thanks... enjoy your holiday. I love Saas Fee and am completely obsessed with glaciers and high peaks.... I will set a target for myself once I have had the first consultation with the surgeon. MRI on Thursday. I have already planned what my target will be... just won't confirm it mentally in case it is unrealistic.

I share your obsession and love Saas Fee, summer and winter. Good luck with your recovery. DH was absolutely determined with his targets, despite his frustration in the first few weeks with the cast. All the best.

Littlewitch’s DH sounds like mine. He was on that static bike about a week after surgery. Committing to the rehab, either with or without surgery, is key!

I popped my ACL skiing (well it was the falling not the skiing to be precise) a few years ago and remember that sickening wobbly-ness only too well.
I saw a orthopaedic surgeon who referred me to 'knee pre-hab' physio class which I attended for 12 weeks with the plan that if my knee was 'letting me down' I would be referred for reconstruction.
I've managed to avoid surgery and knee has survived 2 ski holidays since.
If your surgeon thinks the non surgical recovery is an option I'd recommend giving it a try initially.

Good luck