Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Quentin.. I am missing an ACL too, in my right knee,
the one with the arthritis.

I didn't get the ACL repair done when it happened. As
a result, years later, I'm fighting serious arthritis
because the ACL isn't there to keep the knee from
moving so much, and I'm NOT a candidate for a surgery
that's an alternative to TKR..because you have to have
the Cls in place to hold the spacer in .. dang it...

chris
--- Libby & Quentin Llop DVM <qhll@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Dear Catfish:
>
>     I did both of mine last Oct.  The collateral
> ligaments tore.  I avoided
> having to deal w/ inconvenient Dr. advice by not
> visiting one.  (But I did
> look at the ligaments with my ultrasound.)  Perhaps
> your ligaments are more
> severely damaged, so assessing the actual ligament/
> meniscus damage is
> important.  Shredded ligaments require surgery. 
> Ones that are like bowed
> tendons on horse require physiotherapy.
>     Assuming good fortune and your damage is the
> later, I will relate what
> worked for me.  Weight bearing was not painful, only
> straightening the legs.
> I found that altho walking was difficult (have you
> ever tried to walk w/
> both knees flexed?), riding was not, as when riding
> ones knees are flexed.
> The discomfort of pressure on the medial ligaments
> disappeared quickly; I
> think that, the massage of riding hastened the
> healing; anticipating this I
> got on a horse almost immediately, i.e. when the
> 'ice it' phase was over.
> The week after my injury, I attended a veterinary
> meeting of acupuncturists.
> A couple of them did 'energy work' including the
> Bowman technique, which I
> found extremely helpful.  (In 'wayout' California,
> this should be easy to
> find.) The body is dumb.  It assumes that you are in
> danger of doing again
> what injured you in the first place and hence goes
> overboard in protective
> swelling.  Most of the pain is from the swelling. 
> Reducing it by massage,
> energy work, and improving circulation will hasten
> healing.  Energy work is,
> in addition, helpful in reducing secondary problems
> in other parts of your
> body.  Expect a large bruise to form along the back
> of your thigh.  Now
> after 7 mo's the residual is a slight discomfort on
> one medial ligament and
> an inability to do unusual yoga like postures with
> the knees.
>     Good luck!.
>
> Quentin
>
> PS I want to add longeing to Jonni's
> recommendations.
>
>   -----Original Message-----
>   From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf
> Of Catfish Daniels
>   Sent: Thursday, May 20, 2004 6:05 PM
>   To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>   Subject: [RC] Horses staying in shape and knees
>
>
>   Hi everyone:
>
>   Just recently two topics were discussed, to which
> I sorta didn?t pay much
> attention to.  Today I wish I had, and any
> comments/suggestions would
> greatly be appreciated ? and I apologize for the
> repeat.
>
>
>
>   This morning I mis-stepped why standing on the
> back of my truck, and
> landed with a fully extended knee below ? hyper
> extended it pretty badly.
> Anyway, can?t walk or put weight on it, it?s pretty
> swollen.  It feels like
> a prior meniscus injury I?ve had 18 months ago to
> which I elected to
> physical therapy and exercises rather than the
> recommended surgery.  Long
> story short, same swelling, same knee.  No sympathy,
> please?my own
> stupidity.  My question are these:
>
>
>
>   1)       For all 100 milers:  If this injury is
> the same as the last one I
> had, I won?t be back in the saddle for about 4-5
> weeks, about beginning of
> July (if I?m lucky).  I?m on the entry list for this
> year?s Tevis Cup.  I
> know timing is very bad, but given what I?ve got to
> work with, how long can
> I ?sorta? expect for my horse to stay in shape
> without being exercised?  My
> mind?s playing tricks on me, and I swear he already
> gained 900 lbs when I
> missed this morning?s training ride.  Tevis is July
> 31st.
>
>   2)       As for the recent discussion about knee
> problems, what is the
> best experience any of you have had with different
> knee braces for best
> support while riding?
>
>
>
>   Just like last time, the doctor?s orders (and I?ll
> see him on Tuesday)
> will be either surgery and/or lay off for a good
> while.  And obviously that
> Tevis is ?out?.  Stupid on my part ? yes ? but any
> suggestions on how to
> successfully ?attempt? to break the doctor?s orders
> would be greatly
> appreciated.
>
>
>
>   Thanks so much for any suggestions you may have. 
> I?m sorry to bother you
> guys with this sorta stuff.
>
>
>
>   Catfish
>
>
>
>   DBL Realtors

=====
"A good horse makes short miles," George Eliot

Chris and Star

BayRab Acres
http://pages.prodigy.net/paus
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