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Question for ACL survivors

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ChillTeenDad420
Posts: 1858 - Karma: 5,512
So el cinco is comin up and its the last day of lift service at Alpental. I had acl +meniscus recon on Dec 28th (patellar autograft), so I'm just over 4 months out. I really would love to ski a few runs at my home mountain on closing day. My doctor hasn't given me the go yet, hes fairly conservative and said he wouldn't clear me to ski before 9 mo no matter my progress. My knee feels good, I've worked it relatively hard and although I haven't been to PT (weren't pushing me enough imo) in a month and a half, i've been consistently doing strength training in the gym. The quad is nearly the same size and strength as my uninjured leg.

anyway dr. NS, ya'll think it would be worth the risk for me to turn the FKS dins down to 3 and take a couple tentative runs on the bunny hill on closing day?
May 2 2013 7:17PM
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crawley
Posts: 605 - Karma: 729
had mine done 7 years ago at 23. took me 6 months to get back to full strength, where I wakeboarded gingerly, and 12 months for full coordination. I worked my ass off and my knee is 100% at 30. My advice would be don't do it. You'd never forgive yourself if you compromise your graft. Imagine doing the surgery, the first 30 days after with the ice and the movement machine, then the rehab all over again. And if you used your patella or hammy as the donor? Guess what, can't fucking do that again, so hello shittier graft. At that point you'll realistically miss all of next winter as well- at least in terms of high quality charging skiing. If you do go, and I can't stop you, I've done stupid shit before so I know that feeling and what it's like, I would absolutely NOT lower the din. Having an unexpected release is one of the most dangerous situation a knee could see. That said, take it extremely easy and DO NOT FALL. It is so easy to twist a fresh graft with 6 foot long torsion rods attached securely to your tibia that wrecking the graft won't take much. Again, don't do it. If you do, don't fuck up.
May 2 2013 7:33PM
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.Roockley.
Posts: 3857 - Karma: 4,000
don't do it, i had a friend who rushed back and it put him out for even longer. youre risking next seasons skiing by doing that
May 2 2013 7:44PM
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ChillTeenDad420
Posts: 1858 - Karma: 5,512
yea you pretty much convinced me not to do it, thinking about going through that shit all over again wouldn't be worth it at all.

That being said, I've been skiing my whole life, I teach skiing, and like to think I have decent form, I really don't think I would fall taking some slow runs on a green. but really how much fun are greens anyway and with the worry of possibly retearin looming over, i'd probably just be stressin about it. guess i'll just get hammered instead and spit game at all the fly ass huneydips
May 2 2013 7:45PM
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Leeyum
Posts: 1285 - Karma: 168
I tore mine a few months back and say the same as the guy above me- not worth it man. Have beers at the base and tailgate instead. Your knee is just getting over the hump for you to begin enjoying some summer activities. You fucked up your winter why risk the summer and have a weak knee next winter!
May 2 2013 7:45PM
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Brodie133
Posts: 109 - Karma: 14
Similair situation, had ACL, MCL and medial meniscus reconstruction December 18th and closing day was April 21st. I wanted to ride up the lift just once so i threw on my brace and did three runs. It was awesome but it didn't satisfy my craving at all like i thought it would (basically skied three groomer runs gingerly). Do i regret it no. Would i probably want to kill myself if i reinjured myself yes. That being said it was awesome to be up the hill on a sunny closing day with my buddies. Definately doable but does the reward outweigh the risk. for me it did.
May 2 2013 11:10PM
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special-J
Posts: 1572 - Karma: 4,477
you're an idiot.

1. 4 months is not nearly enough time to get on skis. No matter how good of a skier you are, you are just putting yourself in a situation that could easily take you out for next season too.

2. go to physical therapy... you know you can tell them you need more of a challenge right? They know a lot more about how to fix your knee than you do.

sorry, don't mean to be an asshole but take it from someone who is over a year out of surgery and still not ok to ski yet. granted, I had a bunch of complications with my meniscus and needed that scoped again, but still. I get frustrated when people fuck around with the recovery process and go "my knee feels pretty good, I'll be fine."
May 2 2013 11:29PM
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*TURBONERD*
Posts: 15078 - Karma: 9,136
Don't. I retore mine second run after 9 months doing a stalefish straight air on a side booter. Your body isn't ready.
May 3 2013 12:02AM
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gr4
Posts: 1499 - Karma: 945
just hike up to the park with a portable grill, cooler, chair and speakers and you will have way more fun than hitting a few groomers.
May 3 2013 12:15AM
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bakedpow
Posts: 8770 - Karma: 10,462
not worth it
May 3 2013 1:38AM
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JMEN
Posts: 123 - Karma: 907
Remember that your knee isn't anywhere close strong, even if it may feel that way
May 3 2013 6:33AM
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ohboy
Posts: 1177 - Karma: 2,528
Pretty much what everyone else has said. I wouldn't do it if I were you. 4 months is no time, even if your knee feels good. It's still weak, and it is just waiting to give at any moment.
May 3 2013 7:17AM
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Afterbang.no
Posts: 1105 - Karma: 4,297
I had the same as you,acl and meniscus recon. Took me 6 months to ski, and even 8 months to ski proper park. 4 years are gone now, my knee still swell up if i ski like 4 or 5 days straight. I think i started a little early, should have waited a couple of more months! Take care now, believe me, you want to fully recover! I think if you start to early you gonna struggle with that knee for the rest of you active life!
May 3 2013 8:32AM
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ThaLetterM.
Posts: 8609 - Karma: 1,612
go to PT, do what they tell you, do what your doctor tells you. Enough said.
May 3 2013 9:03AM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
This is a terrible idea.


And go to PT, good lord.
May 3 2013 9:50AM
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steezy.stew
Posts: 1137 - Karma: 568
Ayyo peeps! I just had acl and meniscus surgery 10 days ago, what is Dr.NS' thoughts on my ability to return strong next season? i was hoping to start the season goin hard and what not but based on what some of you who have already lived through this tragedy are saying it sort of seems like this might not be my reality. just looking for more insight into the recovery process and personal accounts of returning from a knee injury. K+ for good answers!!
May 3 2013 11:15AM
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J.D.
Posts: 21362 - Karma: 5,141

I had my surgery a week before you, same exact thing, and I wouldn't do it. I'm not doing any sports other than cycling until the doc gives me the go ahead.

May 3 2013 11:18AM
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Elmo.
Posts: 4317 - Karma: 663
keep doing what your doing and youll be skiing the first day your hill opens. its not worth the risk
May 3 2013 12:00PM
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A^frame
Posts: 297 - Karma: 297
GO TO ALPENTAL!!! The party will be in the upper lot. I went the year I tore my ACL didn't ski just partied in the upper parking lot with another friend who also tore his ACL. Met a lot of awesome people and got super drunk. Had a Blast! It's gonna be 65 Degrees. the skiing will suck anyways.
May 3 2013 12:10PM
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ChillTeenDad420
Posts: 1858 - Karma: 5,512
thats the plan, I'll see ya there!
May 3 2013 12:57PM
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Skibumsmith
Posts: 5414 - Karma: 11,608
Don't be stupid.
May 3 2013 1:30PM
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eheath
Posts: 61107 - Karma: 118,279
I skied 4 1/2 months out of surgery with a serious brace when I was 16, worked great but it really isn't worth it for your last day of skiing, might as well be healthy for next year
May 3 2013 1:39PM
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ClydeFrog
Posts: 164 - Karma: 56
NO

At 4 months out, the graft is actually weaker than it was the day after your surgery -any dissolving screws are gone and capilaries and blood vessels are just beginning to seat into the new tissue. You're MOST vulnerable right now, though your knee might feel good.

I'd keep at your PT, knowing that you'll be thankful for doing so down the road. I was a bit lax on my PT and my knee is permanently a little bothersome - not as strong as it could be.

That's my $0.2
May 3 2013 4:26PM
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backwardsrider
Posts: 543 - Karma: 70
4 months is right around the time when it's the weakest it has ever been. dont do it.
May 3 2013 4:33PM
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7springsprod
Posts: 2661 - Karma: 3,181
Dont do it. It may feel good but at 4 months your graft is still only 60% healed. Its not worth the risk in my opinion. Good luck with the knee though! Had my acl reconstructed on feb 8th this year with a hamstring tendon graft.
May 3 2013 5:40PM
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Skibumsmith
Posts: 5414 - Karma: 11,608
On a lighter note, vibes to everyone here who has blown their knee. I'm sitting here one month out of ACL, MCL and meniscus surgery. I always new statistics were going to play against me one day and I'd join the ranks of millions of skiers who blew their knees before me. It still fucking sucks dick and staying positive has been the hardest part. Here's to a full recovery bud.
May 7 2013 1:58AM
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B.Aussie
Posts: 5851 - Karma: 4,522
This
May 7 2013 9:58AM
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