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May, 2025

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Torn ACL.

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PG_EDA
Posts: 474 - Karma: 830
Wat up NS. I just found out my ACL is torn completely and that my minisc has been ruptured :/ not so nice to hear. And I'll be out from skiing for a while. I know people on here have done it so I'm wondering what you experienced, how long it took, and if you are all good now? Thanks!
14 years ago
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TechnoPotamus
Posts: 11626 - Karma: 3,522
tore my acl all the way through, mcl halfway through.

couldn't jog or run on it for 13 months after. this was about 6 years ago now, my leg is way stronger than it ever was before i did it now.


anyway, advice....do every single bit of physical therapy you are told to do, it will get frustrating but stick it out and be patient and you'll recover. once you're able to jog and put weight on it again and are no longer required to do therapy - keep working out your legs. Best thing you can do is to keep working them out 1 - 2 times a week to keep them healing and on the path to being 100% again.

any specific questions - PM me

14 years ago
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TonKwon
Posts: 1013 - Karma: 54
My suggestion is get a physical therapist and once you start making progress get ahold of a personal trainer and work the muscles slowly.

Anyhow, good luck to you.
14 years ago
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Lemuel
Posts: 14544 - Karma: 11,157
I ripped my ACL completely off the bone a year ago January. I had the patella graft, which I would recommend over the hamstring. Do physical therapy in the 6 week prior to surgery, and do it after. It is alot of work, and if you stop exercising if will not heal correctly. 6 months until I could go back to normal physical activity, a year until it is pretty much 100% healed. It's been a year last friday since surgery, and I have had no problems. It gets sore at times, and I still can't kneel on the ground, but other than that it's all good. Doesn't bother me at all skiing.
14 years ago
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christinesedd
Posts: 24 - Karma: 11
I tore mine in a tennis match on September 25th. I rushed my surgery and got it on October Twelfth. I was walking in four days and jogging again in four weeks ( I am very athletic so recovering went fast.)  I was bummed because I thought I wouldn't be skiing all season, however, I worked my ass off and got full strength back in my leg on Februrary 10th. I started skiing that weekend and I don't feel anypain. Skiing was the easiest out of all my sports to return to. So, basically it is different for everyone, I recovered quickly where as not-as-strong-people recover much slower. Deffinatly get a cadaver instead of using a peice of your hamstring because I have know way to may people who then have hamstring problems. Key to ACL Reconstruction: WORK YOUR ASS OFF and don't be lazy no matter how much pain you are in or how resistricted your workouts are ( They will be very easy sometimes but neccesary.)  If you need more info contact me. I am an ACL pro.
14 years ago
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Lemuel
Posts: 14544 - Karma: 11,157
I would not choose cadaver. Not even over hamstring. Cadaver is the weakest of them all and usually they only use cadaver for older people who are not as active. I guess it is different for everyone though, I was told to wait 6 weeks before getting surgery and work up the strength so that recovery is easier, which I would highly recommend over getting surgery instantly. Different doctors have different methods though.
14 years ago
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PG_EDA
Posts: 474 - Karma: 830
Thanks a ton for all the advice, I'm quite overwhelmed with it happening in the first place. But I'm real active and really strong in my legs. So I'm planning on doing everything I can to get back to full strength. I don't think I would have too much problems with a hamstring procedure because first of all my thigh muscles are huge, I usually leg press 200-225 kg so I think that's the smartest way to go. But I've planned my surgery for 7-8 weeks after for a smoother recovery. I'm just kind of worried over the operation.
14 years ago
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christinesedd
Posts: 24 - Karma: 11
I disagree about the cadaver only because I run track. The two people who got the hamstrings that I know both re-tore so I didn't want to risk it.... But it is not good to rush the surgery, as i did. However, I had to compete in nationals for hurdles so my plan was quickness. However, it is important to be safe even though I did not always follow that rule.
14 years ago
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,392
Hamstring, done by the right person, is for sure the best. Cadaver and Patellar have much higher rates of early onset arthritic symptoms, and Cadaver offers a chance for rejection.

I got hamstring - and so did Pep, T Hall, Witt Foster, all of the Battersbys, and Tiger Woods - all by the same doctor. Two years later I'm skiing stronger than I ever have in my life with no pain at all.



OP - My advice is to get a hamstring graft from a surgeon that specializes in sports orthopedics, not rush it, and WORK YOUR ASS OFF EVERY DAY AND NIGHT, EVEN WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE IT'S NEVER GONNA GET BETTER. I can't stress that enough. Everyone says you need to hit PT hard - you SERIOUSLY need to hit PT HARD if you want to get better.
14 years ago
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B.Aussie
Posts: 5852 - Karma: 4,531
I'm the same in the Rush surgery (Got it done in two weeks, would have gotten it done straight away but he wanted me to get my leg straight before surgery). Although I got the hamstring as my surgeon said cadaver has a higher rate of getting rejected (as it's not from your body) and it's a lot weaker. But the reason you got cadaver makes sense, mine reconstruction was so that I could get back to competitive skiing as soon as possible. I'm at 3 weeks now and I can walk, fully straighten my leg and bend it to 90 degrees. If all goes to plan I'll be back on snow in 6 months and jumping in 8.
14 years ago
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TheHamburglar
Posts: 3895 - Karma: 3,317
getting ACL surgery june 1st. this is all really good advice, karma to all.
14 years ago
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christinesedd
Posts: 24 - Karma: 11
Luckily mine wasn't rejected then! But all has gone well and I hope it does to all you guys too. It is a pain in the butt, but the recovery truly goes faster then one may assume and skiing was a pretty easy thing to get back into, I don't go crazy on the park obviously because I don't want to risk a re-tear.
PS : I really like this quote and I hope you guys to. It makes me reflect on my entire recovery.
>>>>"Damaged people are dangerous because they know they can survive."
14 years ago
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mistahfabbydavis
Posts: 216 - Karma: 15
Yea I tore my ACL a while back and I was really bummed but it was actually a blessin in disguise. I listened to everything that the doctor's and therapists said and worked really hard and ended up gettin back out there in 4 to 5 months. It also made me look at my lifestyle and cause me to eat better, get healthier and actually lose a good amount of weight. Also I realized how much I loved goin to the mountain, and when I got out there, I was so motivated and learned so many new tricks and jus had even a better time because I realized at anytime snowboarding or skiing can be taken away from you. Keep your head up, watch ski videos and keep your motivation up dood, you'll be back at it soon.
14 years ago
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wolf.
Posts: 958 - Karma: 115
Did you by chance see Dr. Rosenburg? He's done my 2 knee surgeries the past year and he's amazing!

And exactly what he said. If you don't work your ass off then there's no point. I'm just had surgery on my left knee but when I had surgery on my right knee this summer I worked harder than you can imagine and I was released to ski and bounce on tramps a month early. Also, make sure you ICE, ICE, ICE!! I cannot stress that enough. The cold attracts the blood to that area and with the blood come nutrients.
Another thing you might want to think about doing that you might not think of before is to start eating a lot healthier. If you have a happy healthy body it makes your recovery that much easier.
14 years ago
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Emma_Rae
Posts: 4 - Karma: 13
torn acl and ripped meniscus. had the reconstructive surgery, and got right back into my life ... only to do it all over again, i am 13 months after my second surgery and i am back skiing pretty hard, but i have to wear a huge paradigm knee brace when i ski and i will probly always have too. i go to physio 4 times a week right now.

only advise i have is dont push yourself to hard when you first get back into it. that was my mistake. the only thing worse than doing it the first time is doing it a second time when you could have just stuck to once.

good luck with recovery.

Em
14 years ago
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,392
Same clinic! I went to Cooley. I love those guys.
14 years ago
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wolf.
Posts: 958 - Karma: 115
Oh right on!! Me too, they are amazing! I feel like it makes the whole world of difference having a good surgeon. My friend is going to have her 8th knee surgery in a few months. And its all because the first doctor put her graft in fucking backwards! Now she's seeing Rosenburg and he's hopefully fixing her knee up right this time.
14 years ago
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PG_EDA
Posts: 474 - Karma: 830
Guy I can't thank you enough for all this advice it's my first time tear so it's really good to hear what people have to say! I'm definatly going to work my ass off I'm going set my mindset to "what ever it takes" mode. And start focusing on eating better, even though my diet isn't that bad it can always be better. I'm leaning towards a hamstring rather then a cadaver, and I'm going to find the right doctor for the job straight away.
14 years ago
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TechnoPotamus
Posts: 11626 - Karma: 3,522
Attitude is everything homie. you'll be fine, just be patient.

(i did patella tendon just for reference)
14 years ago
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B.Snow
Posts: 1859 - Karma: 92
I tore mine a bit over a year ago and I'm like 9 month out of surgery.

- Keep a positive

- Work out a lot before surgery. This is just as important as working out after. I rode a bike like everyday for almost 3 months before surgery.

- and obviously work out a fuck load after surgery as well. And do physio and stuff.


A lot of people I know, haven't worked out before their surgery and its been a lot more painful the week right after. I was up, off painkillers and moving around only 2 days after I got surgery. My friend who got his surgery at the same time as me and didn't prepare for surgery, was in pain and bed ridden for almost a week.
14 years ago
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