RE: Knee Surgery over, no ACL

["Steph Teeter" <steph@endurance.net>]

Linda - I severed my ACL (and MCL and PCL) in '96. Did 
the rebuild (graft) - and was riding (50 miler) with a brace 3 
months later. This probably isn't advisable :) but it can be 
done. It's a pretty straight forward surgery, and certainly 
worth it in the long run. An unstable joint is going to cause 
more wear and tear on the cartilage. 

Steph

(been there, done that - but not necessarily wise!)

-----Original Message-----
From: Linda Flemmer [mailto:bluewolfranch@yahoo.com]
Sent: Monday, December 18, 2000 8:11 PM
To: ridecamp@endurance.net
Subject: RC: Knee Surgery over, no ACL


Well, ride season is over in the NE and I finally "got
around" to having my extremely sore knee looked at. 
MRI showed torn ACL and cartilge, so I agreed to knee
surgery last Friday.

I sit here propped in front of the computer wondering
what to do next.  Hoping someone has "been there, done
that".

The cartilage tear wasn't bad, but I have no ACL left.
 None.  Evidently the "unstable knee" has caused a lot
of arthritis in my 40 year old joint.  The surgeon
wasn't prepared to do an ACL graft Friday (MRI hadn't
looked that bad & my leg muscles made the knee look
more stable than it actually was), so I'm faced with
that decision now for a future surgery vs "live
without it".

Has anyone had a ACL graft done vs riding/walking in a
brace?  I was told it was 4-6 mo of rehab after
grafting versus a lifetime of braces for any athletic
activity.

Any words from the wise!

Linda Flemmer
Blue Wolf Ranch
Bruceton Mills, WV

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