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Advice Needed
- Thread starter Gravelface
- Start date
Cutshaw
Moderator
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- Aug 15, 2004
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- 7,274
1- Drive to Houston
2- Drink a bit
3- Pray
4- The anesthesiologist is your friend.
5- Wake up with a recovering knee
My dad had three knee replacement surgeries. The first, twenty years ago. Another 5 years later. The first one redone about 3 years ago - they do wear out. Like Hank Williams' and their music - it's a family thing. I've dislocated each knee cap no less than 30 times. My first dislocation was at the tender age of 5. Kayaking and even biking is fine but running/backpacking with steep inclines is out of the question.
I've never had a torn meniscus but am not unfamiliar to excruciating knee pain. I think the surgery you're looking at is pretty routine and I would trust the VA doctors - but then again, I'm *frugal* about some things.
Best of luck and we'll be thinking about you.
Hang in there, bro.
2- Drink a bit
3- Pray
4- The anesthesiologist is your friend.
5- Wake up with a recovering knee
My dad had three knee replacement surgeries. The first, twenty years ago. Another 5 years later. The first one redone about 3 years ago - they do wear out. Like Hank Williams' and their music - it's a family thing. I've dislocated each knee cap no less than 30 times. My first dislocation was at the tender age of 5. Kayaking and even biking is fine but running/backpacking with steep inclines is out of the question.
I've never had a torn meniscus but am not unfamiliar to excruciating knee pain. I think the surgery you're looking at is pretty routine and I would trust the VA doctors - but then again, I'm *frugal* about some things.
Best of luck and we'll be thinking about you.
Hang in there, bro.
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If you are worried about the quality of the doctor, there are lots of websites devoted to rating and reporting on individual physicians. VA doctors *can be* recognized specialists in a field. You just never know. I would advise doing your homework on anybody that's going to operate on you.
Gravelface
Gold Member
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I just remembered....Knob Creek is in October......I am getting the Surgery on Monday, I can't be hanging out with a Bum Knee....all the rest of the Hogs will beat me to the table!
:thumbup: :thumbup:
:thumbup: :thumbup:Well, I guess (being a doc and having many patients that have had this kind of procedure) I can chime in.
As has been mentioned before, the meniscus itself is no big deal - it gets trimmed down (or, if severely torn in several places, taken out).
The ACL is a different kind of beast altogether. Firstly, it's by no means an "easy procedure" neither for the surgeon nor for you. There are several aspects to consider:
1. By no means do you need surgery soon. Unless the repair is done immediately (within 48 hours) after injury, it's best to wait at least two months before attempting repair (due to ligament maceration that occurs during this time).
2. In the meantime, strengthen your quads as much as you can. It is entirely possible to have the muscles strong enough so you don't actually need surgery, at least not in the near future (but you need to work out hard in order to achieve this).
3. I'd choose autograft any time of day. Better results, less possible complications, albeit a longer recovery.
4. Be prepared for a lengthy recovery; it might take significantly longer than two months of physical therapy before you have a fully functional knee again.
Hope it works out all right for you. If you have any specific questions, feel free to voice them on the forums or via E-mail.
Cheers,
Rok
As has been mentioned before, the meniscus itself is no big deal - it gets trimmed down (or, if severely torn in several places, taken out).
The ACL is a different kind of beast altogether. Firstly, it's by no means an "easy procedure" neither for the surgeon nor for you. There are several aspects to consider:
1. By no means do you need surgery soon. Unless the repair is done immediately (within 48 hours) after injury, it's best to wait at least two months before attempting repair (due to ligament maceration that occurs during this time).
2. In the meantime, strengthen your quads as much as you can. It is entirely possible to have the muscles strong enough so you don't actually need surgery, at least not in the near future (but you need to work out hard in order to achieve this).
3. I'd choose autograft any time of day. Better results, less possible complications, albeit a longer recovery.
4. Be prepared for a lengthy recovery; it might take significantly longer than two months of physical therapy before you have a fully functional knee again.
Hope it works out all right for you. If you have any specific questions, feel free to voice them on the forums or via E-mail.
Cheers,
Rok
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- Sep 2, 2006
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- 16,703
Man, I hate giving advice. Dangerous for the giver and the receiver.
But...for a fellow Hog, a genuinely nice guy, and a lucky young father.
VA has improved enormously in the past 10 years. You might not be able to tell that right now, because the system has been stressed to the breaking point thanks to our recent overseas adventures...and a few aging old f**rts like myself. Chances are good that VA has an excellent surgeon waiting for you.
You're a young man and you're going to need that knee for a long, long time. Your mobility is nothing you want to mess around with.
My advice? Take care of it right now and strongly consider letting VA do it for you. There are no guarantees -- but I know the core of the VA is still strong and capable, and I'd hate to see a friend saddled with an enormous healthcare bill. [So -- I'm with MMIAM. But Rok's comments about tendon maceration are certainly worth considering.]
Think carefully, seek a little more professional counsel (surgical, of course!), and then do something about that knee.
And keep us informed! We're all praying for you...all over the place! :thumbup: :thumbup:
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I just remembered....Knob Creek is in October......I am getting the Surgery on Monday, I can't be hanging out with a Bum Knee....all the rest of the Hogs will beat me to the table!
Oh no! I think we'd make an exception for a wounded Hog!! A way would be found...
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I'm with Rok on this one.
I've had an ACL reconstruction and went with the auto-graft. I suggest though that you go with the hamstring option for donor material if you can. They used my infrapatellar tendon and recovery was a bear (but VERY complete).
I wound up waiting about 5-6 years before I finally had it fixed and that was only because the instability was interfering with training. Procedures changed dramatically during that wait. Rather than a 10 or so inch scar, mine is about 3" and the scope holes are all but gone now.
I can't offer meaningfull advice regarding VA or private practice since I don't have good info on current VA docs.
There is also age to consider. The older you get, the longer it takes to heal.
Some options you might want to try for:
1) CPM machine (continuous passive movement)- It's kind of difficult to sleep with your leg in the dang thing, but it does help with scar tissue build up during your first phaze of recovery. I was lucky enough to get one of these things, and despite being in the immobilizer for an extra 2 weeks (couldn't get an appt with the doc for release) I still finished PT about 2 weeks early.
2) Get yourself a stationary bike for the house. You will be able to do range-of-motion exercises with it. Craigs List is a great place to look and you don't need an expensive one. I think that in addition to the CPM machine, this was a huge factor in my recovery.
3) During PT, you want to be the guy they don't schedule new patients with...work as hard as they let you, sweat buckets. It's worth it.
I've had an ACL reconstruction and went with the auto-graft. I suggest though that you go with the hamstring option for donor material if you can. They used my infrapatellar tendon and recovery was a bear (but VERY complete).
I wound up waiting about 5-6 years before I finally had it fixed and that was only because the instability was interfering with training. Procedures changed dramatically during that wait. Rather than a 10 or so inch scar, mine is about 3" and the scope holes are all but gone now.
I can't offer meaningfull advice regarding VA or private practice since I don't have good info on current VA docs.
There is also age to consider. The older you get, the longer it takes to heal.
Some options you might want to try for:
1) CPM machine (continuous passive movement)- It's kind of difficult to sleep with your leg in the dang thing, but it does help with scar tissue build up during your first phaze of recovery. I was lucky enough to get one of these things, and despite being in the immobilizer for an extra 2 weeks (couldn't get an appt with the doc for release) I still finished PT about 2 weeks early.
2) Get yourself a stationary bike for the house. You will be able to do range-of-motion exercises with it. Craigs List is a great place to look and you don't need an expensive one. I think that in addition to the CPM machine, this was a huge factor in my recovery.
3) During PT, you want to be the guy they don't schedule new patients with...work as hard as they let you, sweat buckets. It's worth it.
mymindisamob
Platinum Member
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- Feb 1, 2005
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I have to agree with all said about taking rehab/therapy serious. When I ripped my lumbar, I was very bull-headed and continuously tried going back to work. I re-injured myself numerous time, and caused myself to extend rehab into 2 years and financial ruin. L&I finally stated that if I didn't finish my therapy, that they would put me on 60% permanent disability. So I finished, and regained a good portion of my mobility. I could have saved myself a lot of pain and shame had I just listened and did what the therapists said in the first place.
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Good advice, in my not so humble opinion.
Also good advice to attack the rehab like you'll never have to do it again, much less the next day
You get out of it what you put in to it, in that regard. I had a much more minor knee surgery last year, cost me over $5k, took about 6 weeks to heal, about 6 months to feel 'best', now feels better than it has in over 20 years... so... Also as someone said, they can do amazing things with ACL surgery these days. Ask the DOC questions, get comfortable with him and go for it.
Thanks for your Service, Jason!
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Let me get this straight..you don't think US Military doctors are top notch re-building or repairing damaged joints... Try THE BEST IN THE WORLD.
Practice practice practice.... Use the VA.
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I had that operation. I waited about three years to get the operation. HAd it done by some sports doc and now I cannot even tell which kne it was. Most important thing with these things is the after surgery rehab. Exercise after the operation is even more crucial than the operation itself. If it is a simple tear the operation is a snap.
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I had mine done by a specialist. Same thing, ACL plus miniscus damage. I was laid up for a week, but after that I was up on crutches and off of them within 2 weeks or so. The recovery is pretty fast.
If you get it done, it really matters about if it is a hamstring graft or a patelar ligament graft. The recovery on a hamstring graft is much faster, like months faster than a patelar ligament graft. However, the patelar graft is stronger. The surgeon said that if I were a 250 lb defensive lineman for the Texas Longhorns, then he would recommend a patelar graft, but being that I'm a 170 lb hiker and deer hunter, the hamstring graft is plenty strong.
The surgery should be pretty quick, unless they break the drill like they did in my surgery, and have to go to another hospital to get a new one while you are still under. That can add about 3 hours to your time in surgery.
The icewater bath that they give you is your friend, use it early and often. It keeps the knee cool, and really dulls the pain post surgery. Of course, the vicodin helps too.
Do the stretching excersizes that they tell you to do even if it pops the stitches. You will be grateful in the long run. They'll do it orthoscopically, so you should only have 6 or so stitches total (two incissions, on on either side of your knee cap) , unless they have to do something unexpected, like drill a screw into your femur, like they did for me, and then you'll get a few more on the side of your knee. That's where you'll pop stitches. I've got a gnarly scar there.
You'll probably spend the first week of your recovery on your back on the couch with a ton of pillows under your leg to keep it elevated to a level where the blood is not rushing to your knee and making it feel like a balloon about to explode. When you do get up, the blood rushing to the knee will hurt some.
Rehab is your friend.
I had a mile walk between my parking space and where I worked at the time. I was unable to get a handicapped space due to availability issues. I was back at work (on crutches) at 1 week post surgery. I did notice much more pain while at work (where I spent most of my time either standing or siting on a stool) than I did at home with my leg propped up.
I'm neither a current or former member of the military, I can not speak for the competence of VA doctors, and have never been to a VA hospital. However, I can tell you that when you factor in the surgeon, the operating room, the anestesiologist, and the rehab, ACL surgery is VERY expensive, even after insurance has their say. If you will have to pay out of pocket for all of the surgery and the rehab, then you are looking well past $10,000 for your ACL repair. I don't remember the exact figure, but I know it got into the "and covers 100% after $10,000." part of the policy.
I do know that I didn't want to be the dad that couldn't climb into the bleachers at "little Johnys" baseball/football/basketball/soccer games, and that was a major motivation for getting the surgery done. It was one of the best decisions I have made. Taking up racketball was obviously one of the worst.
If you get it done, it really matters about if it is a hamstring graft or a patelar ligament graft. The recovery on a hamstring graft is much faster, like months faster than a patelar ligament graft. However, the patelar graft is stronger. The surgeon said that if I were a 250 lb defensive lineman for the Texas Longhorns, then he would recommend a patelar graft, but being that I'm a 170 lb hiker and deer hunter, the hamstring graft is plenty strong.
The surgery should be pretty quick, unless they break the drill like they did in my surgery, and have to go to another hospital to get a new one while you are still under. That can add about 3 hours to your time in surgery.
The icewater bath that they give you is your friend, use it early and often. It keeps the knee cool, and really dulls the pain post surgery. Of course, the vicodin helps too.
Do the stretching excersizes that they tell you to do even if it pops the stitches. You will be grateful in the long run. They'll do it orthoscopically, so you should only have 6 or so stitches total (two incissions, on on either side of your knee cap) , unless they have to do something unexpected, like drill a screw into your femur, like they did for me, and then you'll get a few more on the side of your knee. That's where you'll pop stitches. I've got a gnarly scar there.
You'll probably spend the first week of your recovery on your back on the couch with a ton of pillows under your leg to keep it elevated to a level where the blood is not rushing to your knee and making it feel like a balloon about to explode. When you do get up, the blood rushing to the knee will hurt some.
Rehab is your friend.
I had a mile walk between my parking space and where I worked at the time. I was unable to get a handicapped space due to availability issues. I was back at work (on crutches) at 1 week post surgery. I did notice much more pain while at work (where I spent most of my time either standing or siting on a stool) than I did at home with my leg propped up.
I'm neither a current or former member of the military, I can not speak for the competence of VA doctors, and have never been to a VA hospital. However, I can tell you that when you factor in the surgeon, the operating room, the anestesiologist, and the rehab, ACL surgery is VERY expensive, even after insurance has their say. If you will have to pay out of pocket for all of the surgery and the rehab, then you are looking well past $10,000 for your ACL repair. I don't remember the exact figure, but I know it got into the "and covers 100% after $10,000." part of the policy.
I do know that I didn't want to be the dad that couldn't climb into the bleachers at "little Johnys" baseball/football/basketball/soccer games, and that was a major motivation for getting the surgery done. It was one of the best decisions I have made. Taking up racketball was obviously one of the worst.
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I just remembered....Knob Creek is in October......I am getting the Surgery on Monday, I can't be hanging out with a Bum Knee....all the rest of the Hogs will beat me to the table!
Now's there is a man with a plan. Clear and concise. I like it! I say get it donw while the getting is good. The bod is the most important so you can be healthy for the family. Good luck bro.
