Hello - new member in UK, desperate to ski!

[michellec]

Hello,

What a great site this is!
Hello, it sounds like most of you are luckly to live very close to ski resorts and go ski-ing all the time, so jealous!!!

I live in UK and go ski-ing for a couple of weeks now each April as have two little children, 2 and 4. My 4 year old started lessons last year and was so looking forward to getting going with him this year.

I am 12 weeks post operation for ACL reconstruction using patella graft so it will be 6 months when I want to ski. Recovery is going fine according to consultant and physio but they dont realise how much I want to ski. Physio is not a skier either so dont think he understands what I mean when I say I only want to be able to do a couple of blue runs with son, he seems to think I'm returning to really serious sport which I have no intention of doing as I am so unfit anyway following immobile year with knee.

Has anyone got any advice or words of encouragement from their experience that 6 months is achievable? I know what exercises I should be doing and am doing my best but am busy working mum too so quite difficult to fit everything in or even remember to do exercises!

From next week though I have 3 gym sessions a weeks scheduled for definite so will be able to make the most of these.

Look forward to hearing from your experiences

Happy New Year
Michelle

 

[Ski Fanatic Mom]

Hey Michelle,
I know that 6 months seems like forever when you want to do something so badly, but you are half way there already. What does your doctor say about you skiing?
I would definitely get his/her opinion before you get on skis again. You don't want to compromise any of the healing that has taken place so far.
I know how you feel! I had to sit out half of last winter because of an injury, and that was more painful than the injury itself! Hang in there...you'll get out there again when the time is right and the knee is ready.

Bernadette

 

[itri]

Welcome, Michelle! It's so hard to be stuck on the sidelines. I'm also recovering from knee surgery, although not as serious as ACL. The thing is, it takes the tissues a long time to heal, and you gotta let 'em heal, or you risk doing the whole thing over again. Definitely talk to your therapist and your doctor, and feel free to be kind of a pain about letting them know how badly you want it, but if they say no, unfortunately it's probably for good reason. Hang in there, you'll be skiing again before you know it!

 

[michellec]

Hi Both,
Nice to hear from you and thanks for words of encouragement. Am not really feeling bad about not being able to ski at the moment as we only generally go in April with the children but I really am desperate to ski in April so hope someone who has had this surgery might see this and say it's easily achievable!! I'll be really sad if I cant ski with my little boy.
I have missed out on a girls trip this year but I have been talking with my best ski friend today and we might consider going summer ski-ing in the Alps for a quick trip if I get on ok in April - has anyone been summer ski-ing on one of the glaciers in France? I lived in the French Alps for a couple of years but didnt ever go summer ski-ing.

Are you both from the States? Have never skied in the US or Canada but would love to - my friend goes over to Canada next weekend to do a three month ski instructors course - how great. She's really nervous about it but I said to contact this site to see if anyone in the area she is going to.

Anyway, let me know your ski gossip,

Michelle

 

[Jilly]

my friend goes over to Canada next weekend to do a three month ski instructors course - how great. She's really nervous about it but I said to contact this site to see if anyone in the area she is going to.

Please find out. We are small number here in Canada, but we're all over the place. Sounds like "ski le gap" here at Tremblant!

 

[RuthB]

hi Michelle

I have absolutely no experience with serious injury recovery and skiing - but I would ask my consultant and physio if they could give you a referral to either a sports specialist or a consultant/physio who skis and who you can have a frank chat with. I am not familiar with the UK health system but in NZ I would seek a referral - I know a lot of physios and med consulatants here ski and their opinions are often different those who don't.

I do know that when my mother damaged her knee her rehab was different as she wanted to ski and she was also prescribed a specific brace - as opposed to being treated as a sedentry/non-sporting patient where the treatment would have been more passive.

I guess that I would rather seek further advice than be gutted to find out after the fact that I could have done more or a different rehab programme that would allow me to ski with a feeling of confidence in April or understand why skiing wasn't a good idea. Someone who skis should also be able to tell you what to expect; what to do, or avoid doing; signs that you have done enough when you do ski.

Good luck with your recovery

Ruth

 

[volklgirl]

When I blew out my ACL 12 years ago, I did it in March, had Surgery at the end of May, and was back on skis December 1st. So, if your rehab goes as planned, and there's no significant complications, I'd think that 6 months would be doable, but definitely get a consult or check with your Dr. or PT person (or get a referal to a sports specialist). Fortunately my ortho isn't a skier but he is a big biker, so he understood my "jonesing for a fix" .