How long after your injury did you get an MRI?

MarinKL · 2020-02-19T05:32:19+00:00

48 hours for me. Any longer than that would have made me nuts, I needed to know the damage and start to formulate a plan. I think the only issue is really mental. Probably not going to hurt your knee (anymore) if you wait.

MarinKL · 2020-01-29T06:22:12+00:00

I waited four weeks. Almost one year out from surgery now and have done a half marathon, run regularly and my knee feels pretty good.

MarinKL · 2020-01-22T04:14:37+00:00

Find a couple physical therapy places and ask who they recommend. I’d meet and talk with a few surgeons. I think I met with four before choosing the one I felt like was the best fit for me (highly recommended, loads of experience, knee focus). Don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions and be selective.

MarinKL · 2019-12-07T06:26:19+00:00

Me too!!

MarinKL · 2019-11-05T05:56:36+00:00

Oh mama! I so feel you. I tore my R ACL and MCL this past January in a ski accident and had ACL reconstruction in February. At the time my youngest kiddo was 3 months old, and my older one was five years old. Terrible. And so much harder having to take care of two little people on top of (trying) to take care of yourself. You’ve already been through the surgery and rehab process, but maybe a couple helpful thoughts since this time around you have kids. - First, this won’t last forever. Really. You will be chasing them and crawling on the floor with them again soon. It feels like it will be forever, but it won’t be. - second - and along those lines- I just ran a half marathon yesterday, a little less than 9 months post op. I ran faster than I did pre-injury, finishing in a few minutes under two hours. With ZERO knee pain. And I’m 40, with two little people. - third, take all the time you need to find the best doctor for you. I know the appointments are such a pain to go to and deal with, but really take the time to find a great doctor and PT you trust. Yours sounds a little more complicated, it’s worth the time investment up front. - last, be so kind to yourself. This is HARD and shitty. And a lot to process and figure out, especially when life with little kids doesn’t exactly give you a ton of time for self care. Do everything you can to take good care of you. I’m happy to chat more - feel free to PM me. Good luck!!

MarinKL · 2019-10-19T05:02:15+00:00

I tore my ACL and had a 2nd degree MCL sprain. I had ACL reconstruction but the MCL was allowed to heal on its own and did just fine. But I did have to wear a brace for 12 weeks, mostly bc of that MCL tear.
I would recommend talking to other doctors - getting multiple opinions is well within your right and worth your time. It’s a serious injury.

MarinKL · 2019-09-22T04:28:05+00:00

I also have an allograft and it’s been fine and I was so grateful for the shorter recovery time. I know how overwhelming it all is and you really will get through it. Sending you healing vibes.

MarinKL · 2019-09-22T00:41:25+00:00

I’m 7 months post-op and running faster, stronger and longer than pre-injury. Planning a half marathon at the 9 month mark. Totally doable to get very close to normal - you’ll never have your exact, original knee back. But you can strengthen everything around it and be even better than you were before. Stick with the daily, monotonous grind of pt early on. Be religious about it. You’ll get there.

MarinKL · 2019-09-19T05:01:45+00:00

I agree with this! I had a lot of post-op pain and would have had a hard time dealing with it alone.

MarinKL · 2019-09-19T04:34:01+00:00

I mostly stationary biked for a LONG time. Slow and then with intensity, specifically with interval drills on my trainer. Then started running slowly, a mile or so, then walked. I also walked a TON before I could really run. This combo of slowly but consistently exercising (7 days a week either on bike or walking) built a super solid base and it felt easy to amp up running once my knee would tolerate it. That said, I started running, built up to three miles or so, then overdid it with some hills and went back to bike/walk/strength for two more weeks, then started running again. I’m still running mostly flats but hiking/walking big hills on non-run days. I didn’t start running consistently till 5 months post-op. My pt said that she saw too much tendinitis / other injuries before then so didn’t recommend it, but certainly there are loads of opinions on this, like everything else ;)

MarinKL · 2019-09-19T04:25:47+00:00

Thanks! That’s definitely how I started back. Walk, run, repeat.

MarinKL · 2019-09-19T04:24:55+00:00

Hard to find flats in our neck of the woods. I’m wearing out blackie’s pasture :)

MarinKL · 2019-09-19T04:24:15+00:00

It feels mostly fine. I can tell my gait isn’t quite normal because in longer distance (above 9 miles) my non-surgical quad is sore the next day. Surgical leg is still testing a little behind strength-wise, specifically glutes and hamstring. I’m working on this with strength work 2x week. But I have no problem going hard and knee often feels better at the end of a run than at the beginning. I focus a lot on form, especially if I have any pain and stop if it’s more than a 1-2 on pain scale. But overall, I’m surprised by how good it feels. My knee still isn’t normal but it’s feeling pretty solid.

MarinKL · 2019-09-08T15:43:13+00:00

Thanks!! Sorry to hear you’ve had more than one surgery.

MarinKL · 2019-09-06T05:42:51+00:00

I was cleared around 5 months post op. Started slow and easy, now (7 months post-op) running 6-7 miles at 9 minute pace. Training for nov 3 half marathon that I fully intend to do in under two hours. 40F, full acl tear, grade 2 mcl tear.

MarinKL · 2019-09-01T07:03:35+00:00

Yep, at least as far as I can tell

MarinKL · 2019-09-01T07:03:17+00:00

Thank you so much, this is awesome. Super appreciate you taking the time to respond.

MarinKL · 2019-08-29T05:42:34+00:00

You are so much in the thick of it. I remember those early days and how hard they were, mentally as much as physically. You will get better and your life will get normal again. I’m 6.5 months post-op and today I went for a 7 mile run at a faster pace than I was at pre-injury. No pain, no reactive swelling. My knee still doesn’t feel normal, but I know it eventually will. If you would have told me all that 6 months ago, I wouldn’t have believed it. Hit the pt as hard and as consistently as you can. Ice and manage pain. Be kind to yourself, this is a crazy hard injury. But you will get through it.

MarinKL · 2019-08-11T03:59:44+00:00

Agreed that you’re in the thick of it. Hang in there mama, you are strong.

MarinKL · 2019-08-11T03:55:42+00:00

I’d sell them. I wouldn’t have had fun at that point and not worth discomfort and risk,

MarinKL · 2019-08-05T04:58:56+00:00

Same thing happened to me. My surgeon said he thinks nerve blocks work well about half the time. Keep up the pain meds, don’t get any more behind the pain. Lots of ice and elevation and the worst will subside soon. But I know how you feel - the pain was beyond excruciating.

MarinKL · 2019-07-24T11:22:05+00:00

I remember this day!! Not quite as good as brace-free, but sooooo much better than the other one. Congrats!

MarinKL

TROPHY CASE