Comments on: 10 Days Post ACL Reconstruction and Things Look Good

By: Demetri

Demetri — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 05:23:48 +0000

Good luck with your surgery. I had lots of cramps in my hamstring at what seemed like random times. Lasted about a year.

Things are great now with the hamstring and the knee other than being a little noisy works fine.

By: Ann H

Ann H — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 10:46:05 +0000

Hey, I know this was a while ago but I just wanted to say thanks for posting this. I had problems with the medical system too. In Halifax the ER doc diagnosed my knee as a sprain. 5 years later I’d moved to SK and couldn’t stand the pain and went to a Quack-I mean specialist (After a 6month wait to just see him)who said yes it was an ACL tear but I didn’t need surgery and handed me a badly-photocopied page of exercises then turned back to his notes. Oh, I was on my way to a black belt in karate before a slightly off-landed jump during parkour. But I don’t need my knee, why would I ever want to be able to kneel again? Or be able to jump a foot in the air without my leg popping out and making me look drunk. Or even bend down and then get back up quicker than a 90-year old could.
Moving to BC was the best thing I could have done for it(despite having to pay for health care out here). The pain got the better of me again and I went to a walk-in clinic in July. Despite the Just-graduated-med-school doctor’s opinion of my “stable” knee, he refered me to a specialist then tried to sell me on his friend’s physio place. I lucked out and got one of the best ACL Orthos in the area and My MRI is in Jan, and my surgery should be in February. I’m a bit nervous of the hamstring graft, I think I’d rather the synthentic graft, but hopefully it doesn’t make my leg cramps worse. Here’s hoping!

By: Raj

Raj — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 21:40:13 +0000

Demitri,

I couldn't track the dates of these posts but it's been a long time since u had your surgery. Sorry that you had infection complication of your surgery. I had my rt ACL reconstructed 4 days ago. Using less no of pain meds compared to first 2 days, still in a lot of pain though if I move my knee.

Raj.

By: Bryan Annas

Bryan Annas — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 23:34:00 +0000

Bryan here, 5 months post ACL re-construction and I’m doing great! No more pain, leg feels strong, I’d say strength is 90% doc cleared me to play sports, it was a tough 5 months but I feel great now

By: rajesh

rajesh — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:42:00 +0000

hi,
I had my acl reconstruction with allograft from a cadaver last week. The first 2 days were very painful. But after tht pain subsided substantially. I am rarely taking the oxycodone prescribed. I still hav some swelling. Today is day six. I am mostly in bed need help in and out as i dont have enough strength to move my leg. No cpm machine was ever used. have my 1st PT appointment on Thursday. just doing some minor excercises in bed like trying to tighten the quad muscles. Getting up on cructches is a bit painful as there is sudden pain in the shin bone where they drilled the hole. But overall feeling better each day…not a quick reovery but need to be patient

By: Demetri

Demetri — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 02:22:02 +0000

The knee is fantastic now. I can run, jump, do dead lifts and squat.

I find leg curls still a little painful and if I’m not mindful when doing a leg curl my hamstring likes to cramp up.

By: Bryan Annas

Bryan Annas — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 05:15:00 +0000

Hey,

How’s your knee? I just had my ACL re-constructed 10 days go. I’m in the same boat you were. My surgical experience was very similar to yours except I decided to watch the procedure. The first couple days were rough. I spent days 1-3 in bed with minimal movement besides the CPM machine they gave me. At day 4 I was getting around on crutches. Day 8 I was able to drive my car (which is a stick). At day 10 I’m virtually pain free. I have full extension and 110 degrees of flexion. I still have a considerable amount of swelling if I’m on my feet for an extended amount of time. I’m in rehab mode now. Feeling good though!

By: Demetri

Demetri — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 23:18:18 +0000

I had the hamstring graft.

I ended up with an infection which resulted my quad apostropheing like crazy and taking a very long time to heal.

It's now starting to feel strong and does not get as stiff. Makes a hell of a clicking sound.

My hamstring is quite weak still, but that's probably because of the infection setting back my rehab.

I can finally run and walking long distances is not a problem but if I'm standing for a long period of time I need to take some anti-inflammatory.

If I had a choice I would go for the cadaver graft (no choice in Manitoba - Hurray for public health). Getting out of the car in a confined place usually results in a painful hamstring cramp.

It's been a year and a half and I now feel that I'm on track to having a normal knee.

By: Blackbeltmama

Blackbeltmama — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 20:16:00 +0000

I know this was a while ago, but how are you now? How long did it take to be back to normal? Did you have a cadaver graft, hamstring or PCL? I just tore my ACL last week and am looking at all options