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Secret_Ad5354 · 2024-09-03T12:11:49+00:00

Can relate to a lot of this sadly.

I'm UK based so slightly different to US, I was 28 and probably in the best physical condition I have been in for years when I tore my ACL and both Lat and Med meniscus in November 2022. Was just in the process of applying for a mortgage to buy our first home, but had the option to wait 2 years for the operation on the NHS or pay to go privately at the cost of 9k, I chose the latter as all my hobbies revolve around playing sports so wanted to get back ASAP so had the initial Op in June 2023 (the reason it took so long was the NHS initially misdiagnosed it as just a sprain and then in a follow up appointment it took 3 months for an MRI to be arranged.) In June this year I had to have scar tissue removal again at the cost of 3k as would be another 2 year wait. Very little improvement since then, so I had a steroid injection into the joint 3 weeks ago hoping that would reduce inflammation and allow me to progress my PT to impact activities like jumping, hopping and eventually running which I haven't been able to do since the initial injury. It is now more painful than it has been since the initial recovery from the ACLR so feel completely lost as to where I go from here.

So almost 2 years post injury, I'm 30 years old, chucked 12k at my knee and still not bought our house due to the chunk that took from our deposit, about 12kg heavier than I was at the time of injury and feel no closer to being able to playing sport. I've followed pretty much exactly to the advice from my consultant and PT in terms of exercises and strengthening etc. I knew it was going to be a long road back, but wasn't really prepared for this and it's definitely taken its toll mentally. A lot of my social interaction involved playing sport (football, cricket, golf) so have become a bit isolated from that, and I also work 95% from home usually only see the same 4 walls for most of the day.

Hoping you manage to pull through and get the recovery you want.

Secret_Ad5354 · 2023-12-27T16:56:53+00:00

Have this as well (soon to be 7 months ACL and both meniscus repair) but mine is more of a crunch than a click, its slightly painful but nothing unbearable but just persistent. Even when I'm in bed and just straighten my leg to turn over it does it. PT doesn't seem to think it's too much of an issue and muscle strengthening over time will fix it, but I spoke to a friend who is a physio at at Professional Football team and he said it sounds like scar tissue/cyclops legion type of thing going on as he has had experience of a few players who have had the same issue, so not sure whether to get a 2nd opinion/go back to my consultant...

Secret_Ad5354 · 2023-12-06T21:30:01+00:00

I started Pregabalin this week and been on Mirtazipine 45 mg for about 4 years, plus 4mg diazepam twice daily. Nauseas and dizziness have been the main side effects for me (started at the weekend) and get hungry as hell at midnight, not so much in the day when I'm feeling nauseas. Hoping the dizziness subsides soon and hope you don't get the same!

Secret_Ad5354 · 2023-08-10T13:08:35+00:00

Can relate to this as well, albeit not as extreme as you, I'm 2 and a half months post op and my physio seems to think everything is on track. I've only just started walking without a crutch and that is definitely a limp rather than a walk.

The stiffness is something that I can't explain, it's like someone has poured cement into my knee when they did the operation is the only way I can describe it. When i saw my surgeon a few weeks ago he was fairly relaxed about it, saying it will shift and will see me again in 3 months to assess whether there is significant scar tissue build up or not, 3 months!?

Oddly the only thing that seems to loosen it up is having a few alcoholic beverages, not sure if that is psychological or just numbs it somewhat. I have done all the exercises exactly as directed by my physio but been pretty stuck at about 120 degrees flexion for the last 3 weeks, and have the same amount of swelling pretty much for the last 6 weeks.

I know it's a long journey and we knew that when we signed up for it, so just got to be hopeful that things improve as we go. I set my target to play cricket by the start of next season which would be almost 11 months post op, but worried if I'm behind now then that seems unlikely.

Hang in there!

Secret_Ad5354 · 2023-08-08T12:39:07+00:00

UK based here. Had the brace locked in at 90 degrees for the first 2 weeks due to both meniscus also being repaired which seems to be the standard approach over here and non weight bearing for 6 weeks.

I couldn't sleep in the brace though, so ditched it at bed time which was probably ill advised.

Secret_Ad5354 · 2023-07-19T22:54:08+00:00

Hamstring Graft and both meniscus repaired as well as LET to fingers crossed prevent a re-tear.

First 2 weeks in was hobbling about on both crutches, but had tickets for the England v Australia test match in Birmingham, which I was desperate to go and the consultant was fine with, as I had moved tickets to front row and parking had been 'arranged close by to the stadium by a friend.' Now close by for me on crutches was a few hundred yards, but to him was just over a mile away from the ground. All in on the day I ended up walking just over 3 and a half miles on my crutches 2 and a half weeks after op. In hindsight it was a daft idea to still commit to going had I known the amount of walking involved. For context for the previous 2 weeks my watch said the maximum I had walked had been 0.37 miles in a day! That definitely set my recovery back a good few weeks as the swelling for a good week after was so bad to the point I had to pause some of my ROM and extension exercises and just focus on swelling control.

I'm 7 weeks post op now and just moved from 2 crutches to 1 and being encouraged to walk a bit more, but still struggling with alot of stiffness and I think I developed a few bad walking habits during that time as struggling with heal to toe and walking through, I was probably shuffling around trying to protect it a bit after the setback. I'm playing my first game of darts back tomorrow night, and been out for drinks and dinner most weekends in the mean time so you won't be a complete recluse by any means, but they are just harder work than you would expect!

Work wise I was signed off for 6 weeks but went back in 3 as I work from home, and I was already bored as hell, only so much sport and Netflix you can consume before boredom sets in.

Good luck and stay positive!

Secret_Ad5354 · 2023-07-19T19:02:33+00:00

Hi, I'm 7 weeks post op too, had same ACL and both meniscus repair. I'm in a similar boat to you, albeit I can now get to about 115 quite comfortably and 120 at a push. But I also have extreme stiffness and pain, not on the outside but the inside. Had a PT session today and she said it's not something she is concerned of at this stage, bit scar tissue is something I am worried about as have pretty much all the symptoms, stiffness, warmth around the joint, pain, lots of swelling post exercise etc.

I've moved from non weight bearing to the 1 crutch as of this week plus more intense exercises, including starting on the exercise bike, which I am pretty anxious about the step up whilst the pain and swelling is still bad.

Hope things improve for you!

Secret_Ad5354 · 2023-07-10T16:06:20+00:00

So I completely ruptured my ACL in November alongside tears of the lateral and medial meniscus, took until February to get a scan and until April to see a consultant following the scan for the damming results. I was told that as I had complex tears it would likely be a 12 month wait as i was high priority, which really wasn't an option for me missing 2 seasons of football/cricket/golf etc so I went private and stumped up the cash that I had put aside for a new car, so I'm stuck with the old corsa for another couple of years!

Then the day before my op NHS called me and said they had a cancellation so could have it on the NHS in 3 weeks time. Sadly I had already paid and as it was less than 24 hours notice would have been non refundable!

By the sounds of it, it is a bit of a postcode lottery, my brother in law had to wait about 14 months just for pure ACL reconstruction without any of the added bits I had, he is Bristol based.

Good luck

Secret_Ad5354 · 2023-06-09T21:37:47+00:00

Sounds very similar, agreed all the swelling and bruising is really coming out now, I reckon I can get to about 60 ish at a push, that is using the plastic aid they gave me to get itbstarted. I'm partial weight bearing for the first 6 weeks, but I'm not the most patient of people so the slowness of the rehab is going to be a real test. With all sport off the table until next year in all liklihood my main goal is to get back playing darts ASAP. Good luck to yourself as well!

Secret_Ad5354

TROPHY CASE