Anyone (or their DH) had a knee (ACL) reconstruction? Questions...

[Amity]

I've managed to completely stuff my ACL (and medial ligament and patella) so need a knee reconstruction.

Has anyone had one? The one where they take the bottom inch of your hamstring and basically thread it through your knee joint? It's about a 2hr operation.

I know I'm going to be in hospital overnight, and then sent home in a Zimmer brace, but I've got some questions that I thought you guys could help me with!

A. How bad was the pain?
B. How long were you bed-bound for?
C. How long until you were off crutches?
D. How long until you were walking normally?
E. How long until you could run?
F. How long did you take off work? (I'm in basically an office and walking around job)

I'd appreciate any comments! Thanks in advance!

[Lisa]

My DH tore cartilage, his PCL & medial ligaments. He had what is called an Arthroscopy. He had it twice. First in 1996 and the 2nd in 1999. The first time they left a piece of cartilage in there that ended up calcifying which then tore into the cartilage... so it all needed to be repaired again in 1999.

The pain wasn't too bad for him with thanks to the pain medication. He said the pain was more of a discomfort during the nights as he tried to sleep.
He was meant to be bed-bound for 2 weeks but he was up the next day and out off bed all the time after a week.
Because of his job which had him climbing stairs a lot, he was on crutches for 2 weeks... after that he could walk fairly normally with help from the knee support he had. It took him about 6 months before he could run properly, but there was still some pain. It was about a year before he could do more involved/heavy sports again like waterskiing. He was doing physio 3-4 times a week.
The Dr told him that everyone heals differently so you could heal much faster than he did... but DH did aggravate his a lot though his work too.

HTH. All the best for your Op and I hope the recovery is nice & quick for you

[RhiChiChi]

I had a knee reco due to a very bad netball injury.

I was actually in hospital for two days (but my sis, who recently had a knee reco about 3 mths ago was only in for overnight)

It was very painful when first coming out of recovery, then settled down with the Morphine (could self-administer). After a few hours, I stoped using the Morphine as I was coping ok with the pain then was on Panadiene Forte & when I left hospital. In hospital my knee was in this machine that continually kept it moving up and down and they were icing it constantly to get the swelling down.

Walking normally took about 4 mths. By normal - I mean full strides, no limping, no pain.

Running was about 6 mnths, maybe longer. I didn't return to sport as I fell pregnant a couple of months after my surgery, but psychologically I was very nervous when I did return.

I didn't need a Zimmer Frame but had to be on crutches until I could walk unaided and with control. I think I was on crutches for less than a week.

I wasn't bed bound, but had to rest for a good 1-2 weeks so I could ice my knee and do my exercises religiously.

I took 2 weeks off work. I was in a sitting job, but had to climb stairs, which was difficult at first.

I had a very good surgeon (Dr Andrew Tang) and my recovery was very good.

One thing I did was 'pull' my hamstring about 2 weeks after my surgery due to overdoing it and of course my hamstring was very weak due to taking some of it to replace the cartlidge.

I was going to physio once a week at first and had to see my surgeon fortnightly, then monthly, then every eight weeks etc... until he gave me the all clear.

GL, I hope it goes well for you