Acl/Meniscus

[mcguinncat]

Hi...California gal here...Just wondering if anyone has had this experience and how they work to rehab.
June 07' ACL Healing Response and Meniscus repair....6 mos post op and doc thinks the meniscus tore again....Not full ROM still....No snow yet but really want to in February ish....

 

[altagirl]

Hi...California gal here...Just wondering if anyone has had this experience and how they work to rehab.
June 07' ACL Healing Response and Meniscus repair....6 mos post op and doc thinks the meniscus tore again....Not full ROM still....No snow yet but really want to in February ish....

I don't know anyone who has had their ACL repaired with the healing response technique, but what I saw on google says the rehab protocol is identical to other ACL repair techniques. I've also had one meniscus repair on each knee. The first one lasted maybe 4 years or so and then I tore the meniscus again and shredded it up in that incident, so they just scoped the knee to clean up the mess. Most of my medial meniscus is gone in that knee, but the hamstring graft ACL has held up.

My other knee had a meniscus repair about a year and a half ago, (and an allograft ACL a year and a half before that) and I'm pretty sure that's re-torn. But at this point when it locks, I can kick my knee just right and it un-locks again and feels okay to ski and bike on so I'm ignoring it until that stops working...

Anyway, is your doc basing the guess on the re-torn meniscus on just the lack of full ROM? Or is it catching? How far away from full ROM are you?

The unfortunate thing really is that there's no rehab that's going to help a torn meniscus fix itself. You should keep doing your strength and balance work, because the stronger your knees and muscles the better it is for everything.

As far as getting back to skiing, I guess it depends on what is causing the reduced ROM and how significant it is (and whether it's a few degrees short on full flexion or full extension, which is more important.)

 

[mcguinncat]

ACL/Mensicus

Thanks for sharing~ Full extension is good but flexion is still a big problem..
Going down stairs still needing the handrail sucks. Repeat MRI on Friday and see the orthopod in a week or so. This guy is great and works with the US Ski Team so I trust him implicantly. Will be happy to find out ... Probably just some junk in there.. So for now I'll keep up the proprioceptive work and get the quads stronger.. I really appreciate in your sharing because I don't know anyone with this repeat performace.
Out for now.. Cathy

 

[Pequenita]

So for now I'll keep up the proprioceptive work and get the quads stronger..

Don't forget the hamstrings. One of the main theories as to why women have so many ACL injuries is that our hamstrings are both weak and do not fire at the same time as the quads. But, I'm sure your orthopod knows that.

 

[altagirl]

Thanks for sharing~ Full extension is good but flexion is still a big problem..
Going down stairs still needing the handrail sucks. Repeat MRI on Friday and see the orthopod in a week or so. This guy is great and works with the US Ski Team so I trust him implicantly. Will be happy to find out ... Probably just some junk in there.. So for now I'll keep up the proprioceptive work and get the quads stronger.. I really appreciate in your sharing because I don't know anyone with this repeat performace.
Out for now.. Cathy

Well at least it's not missing full extension - I know that's really bad and you wouldn't even be able to walk right.

Is it hurting when you walk down stairs or just feeling weak and wobbly?

 

[mcguinncat]

Hey...Doesn't hurt much going downstairs on extention unless I hyper extend. Just have to be careful on that side..Main problem is the flexion isn't there so it's hard to manage letting go of the previous step..still unstable and need that handy handrail to be safe. Upstairs sometimes get a real zinger in the area of the lower medial incision area.

Checked the step ups today and that is just a real no no..
I think I got into trouble about 3 weeks ago when I did a few progressive sets of weighted squats and lunges..55 lbs was the top weight. 32 reps on each leg going lower in reps as weight was increased...Same with the lunges. Darn leg was feeling pretty good before..Now back to icing 2 tp 3 times a day after just a regular workout in the gym with minimal activity in the legs or too much walking around.

That's about it for my story...MRI on Friday so we'll see. Thanks for the interest and input...Not looking forward to a repeat performance on the surgery.

 

[altagirl]

That's about it for my story...MRI on Friday so we'll see. Thanks for the interest and input...Not looking forward to a repeat performance on the surgery.

Well the good news is that if they just need to clean up the meniscus tear, it's just a scope and recovery time is usually about 6 weeks. I'd guess they wouldn't try to repair it a second time and that's the option that would make it a tough recovery.

So don't worry too much. It doesn't sound like you'd be starting from scratch or anything.

 

[mcguinncat]

yep...that's pretty much what he said..If he needs to scope it, he wouldn't be repairing it, just cleaning it up..

Awesome to hear from one who's been there, done that.
6 weeks would be no problem...Didn't know that, so thanks.

Take good care and take a run for me ~ Cathy