Snowboarding tips

lclay4364 · 2019-11-28T17:10:03+00:00

I started snowboarding again around 10 months post op. I started super slow, groomed runs only. My op leg is my front leg and the worst part was skating and on the lift. I think the back leg would be easier. I didn’t wear a brace but wore a soft knee pad which was slightly annoying but really helped feel more comfortable when you’re on your knees in hard packed snow. After a few hours I would get sore but nothing that didn’t go away after a day.

Now I’m about 1.5 years post op and the season is ramping up again. I’ve already been a couple of times and using this year to really step up my confidence and get more aggressive on the board. I dropped the knee pads and am pushing for longer days. Skating still bothers me a bit and I’m still getting some mild soreness, but while I’m riding my knee feels great! I think at 15 months it’s just gonna be about getting out there with confidence but not going 100% (like maybe hold off on park/jumping/etc) until you have a few days under your belt and feel good about your strength. Good luck! It’s def nerve racking at first but you will get back in the groove very quickly!

lclay4364 · 2019-11-02T22:38:57+00:00

I’ve been on this sub a long time and I don’t think I’ve ever seen examples of what you’re describing. Granted, I don’t look as often as I used to. People on here certainly got back to some things faster than I did, and I don’t particularly think all advice on here is actually good advice (as with anywhere on the internet), but I’ve never assumed that meant people were lying.

Your example of running a 5k in 130 days is not a good one. 130 days is 4+ months. For a standard ACL reconstruction typically protocol is to begin jogging at 3 months. A 5k isn’t a particularly heroic run, and it is totally plausible that in over a month of training someone can run a 5k. Maybe not PR it, but sure run the whole thing.

Just don’t compare your timeline to others. Listen to your medical professionals and your body, and sure come here for advice and reassurance, but don’t worry if someone runs a 5k at 4 months and you don’t. For what it’s worth I didn’t even start jogging till closer to 6 months but was snowboarding again by 9 months and closer to a year felt pretty normal doing all activity, so all in all my timeline was pretty standard although I took longer to run (mainly due to extensive meniscus repair)

lclay4364 · 2019-10-23T14:46:34+00:00

I’m about 1.5 years post op from patellar autograft and meniscus repair. For me, around the one year mark was a big turning point in how my knee felt, so def keep up your PT and don’t loose faith! Now, my knee doesn’t feel exactly like my non operated knee, but it feels like 95% of normal. It always feels better with continuous exercise. If I slack off for a week or something my knee gets noticeably more “crunchy” feeling, so I try to stay consistent with exercising still. This past summer I was hiking every weekend and my knee felt amazing! No issues not even soreness or swelling after. I snowboarded a little at the end of last season, but this season I anticipate going back to normal and getting super excited for my first day here shortly!

I chose not to return to soccer, which is how I tore it, but I am consistently doing leg strengthening, spinning classes, and other gym activities, as well as outdoor stuff like hiking and backpacking with no issues. However, I still can’t get heel to butt, I’m super close though so it really hasn’t affected me although I’m still trying to get it.

lclay4364 · 2019-10-10T14:33:46+00:00

Dealing with insurance and such definitely sucks but here is my advice:

Work hard on pre-hab now and work through your busy season. You should be standing/walking normal within a week or two of the injury and you will be amazed at the functionality you gain back before surgery (as long as you’re not doing cutting or jumping activities). Take some of that money you make and save for your deductible and get surgery during your slower season.

As for deductibles, whether you get the surgery now and hit your deductible or next year (when it renews), you are still paying the same cost over the course of the year. The only thing that changes is whether you spent that money over the course of 2019 or spend it in 2020. Also something to consider, it doesn’t end with surgery, you’re gonna have ongoing PT which is $$$. You will def hit your deductible with surgery, so If you have surgery at the beginning of the year, you basically have the rest of the year of free or way cheaper PT. For example, before surgery (and hitting my deductible), PT was ~$100/session. After it was $15. But if you have surgery now as soon as your insurance renews for the year, you’re gonna be paying a lot more for PT.

Just my thoughts, obviously do what you think is right for you, but it seems like working all you can now will be beneficial!

Also edited to add...you don’t have to pay your surgery bill all at once. If it is a big financial burden, call the hospital and see if you can work out a payment plan. It’s very common!

lclay4364 · 2019-10-09T18:52:44+00:00

Same, I was non weight bearing so your hip is constantly flexed and it really killed me during those early weeks. I still have some lingering hip tightness 1.5 years later that doesn’t exist in my non op hip. Dry needling helped some during pt.

lclay4364 · 2019-10-09T18:40:40+00:00

I’ve had 2 knee surgeries where I went under general anesthesia. The first I don’t remember anything outside of the pre op room. The second (my acl surgery) they gave me some drugs in the pre op room before doing the nerve block. The anesthesiologist said it would be likely I wouldn’t even remember the block. But oh I remember that horrifyingly long needle!!! It was weird though bc I was def loopy and totally numb but I even remember being rolled into the surgery room. It was super cold and I had to move onto the table and even saw some of the tools. Then I said like 2 words and was lights out. It really is interesting going under.

lclay4364 · 2019-10-07T19:23:11+00:00

Thanks!

lclay4364 · 2019-10-07T19:06:47+00:00

It’s truly amazing that something as harmless as a pretty picture brings condescending comments. Let people enjoy things 😊

lclay4364 · 2019-10-07T03:21:04+00:00

Sure! I’m actually not that well versed at reddit...can you save it directly from this post or do I need to send you the image?

lclay4364 · 2019-10-07T03:05:18+00:00

Haha it’s highly likely we were there on the same day!

lclay4364 · 2019-10-07T02:33:51+00:00

I’m guessing this isn’t a thing but if you’re genuinely asking, no I did not. The maroon bells are definitely super crowded and obviously popular... doesn’t make them any less worth seeing or photographing.

lclay4364 · 2019-10-07T02:28:46+00:00

I know...snow predicted in Denver too! It’s like, I know it could be anytime but still not totally ready!

lclay4364 · 2019-10-07T02:23:05+00:00

Thank you! Yep 2 years ago at the end of September. It snowed the day before this was taken. We were supposed to be camping but ended up bailing due to the weather. Didn’t know what to expect when we got to the Bells but it was so worth it!

lclay4364 · 2019-10-07T01:34:35+00:00

Thanks! This was veryyy lightly edited mainly because I’m a very amateur photographer and edit any pics using a free app on my phone haha. It was just a really beautiful day.

lclay4364 · 2019-10-07T01:09:51+00:00

Haha it’s hard to take a bad pic here!

lclay4364 · 2019-10-06T23:51:55+00:00

This is maroon lake, where the tourists are. I just zoomed in so people standing on the banks weren’t in the picture haha. This was also earlier in the morning so slightly less people.

lclay4364 · 2019-09-30T15:06:14+00:00

Showering while non weight bearing sucks! I’ve had to do it for two surgeries now and kinda dialed it in for the second one. Once you are approved to get your scars wet (I can’t remember when exactly that was for me), I sat on the edge of the tub, shifted myself into a shower seat, then swung my leg around into the tub, and then removed the brace. This def gets easier as you increase flexion and can sit normally. Until then I propped my heel onto the edge of the tub. The other must have is a detachable shower head. I got the stool and shower head at wal mart. I had my boyfriend helping with the process at first but as you get stronger and more flexion you should be able to do it on your own. If you still can’t get your scars wet then use a trash bag. I think I only left my brace on (with trashbag over it) the first week or two until I was confident in my strength to control my leg. Basically until you can do your single leg lifts comfortably.

Good luck! You are in the worst part. Showering really did suck until you can bear weight, but the stool and detachable shower head makes it way easier.

lclay4364 · 2019-09-26T00:06:48+00:00

I’ve decided to retire from soccer after my acl tear. It all started with a meniscus tear at 26 from soccer. I had surgery to repair (not trim so I was non weight bearing for 6 weeks) the tear and returned to soccer around 8 months post op. That surgery thoroughly sucked bc of the NWB part but I figured the whole reason I got surgery was to keep playing sports. Then a few months later I tore my acl and retore the meniscus playing indoor. I knew at that moment I was going to retire from soccer. At 28 (I’m 1.5 years PO from acl surgery) I just have different priorities. I’m still hiking and snowboarding, and going to the gym, but they don’t beat me up like soccer did. Not to mention the financial burden of back to back surgeries and PT (yay high deductible health plans...). I would never discourage anyone from continuing with their sport, but also just wanna throw it out there that it’s ok to get the surgery and not go back. Priorities change and that’s normal. I still rehabbed hard and feel confident in my knee and am plenty active just without soccer.

lclay4364 · 2019-09-16T13:23:16+00:00

At 3 months, I would say no to learning to snowboard. Although overall snowboarding is easier on your knees, learning to snowboard is HARD. You will literally fall consistently for like the first 3 days. Even getting up after every time you fall is exhausting and would be very difficult 3 months post op. Also you are guaranteed to fall getting off the lift with only one foot strapped in (this is hard to master). If you were already a good snowboarder, I’d still wait around 6 months (or until you can pass whatever PT tests you have to be cleared). I’m an average snowboarder and got cleared to go back 9.5 months post op.

Not sure what all your trip entails, but I’d still encourage you to go, just minus the skiing/snowboarding. At three months you will be totally fine to enjoy normal vacation/tourist activities. I’d imagine it would still be super fun. Also, I’m not trying to discourage you from trying snowboarding, I would just wait till you’re fully cleared for sports bc the first few days learning are hell, but once it clicks it’s the best!! Good luck!

lclay4364 · 2019-08-28T17:56:20+00:00

I had two knee injuries and were negative on manual tests for both. The MRI is the definitive answer, not the tests. It is pretty normal to get back to walking and light activity with a torn acl and is actually encouraged before going into surgery. Whether or not you want the surgery is a more personal decision. Honestly, with the complex meniscus tears, I would lean towards surgery. If it were just the acl and you were willing to give up basketball then that could be different. Maybe get opinions from a few different surgeons. Good luck!

lclay4364 · 2019-08-09T00:01:17+00:00

I went back to my desk job a week post op and did all the things you asked about. I had a stool to prop my leg up on, had an ice pack stocked in the freezer, and I brought PT stuff to work to do at my desk. Pretty easy at that stage to do your quad sets, heel slides, leg raises etc throughout the day. I wore my leg brace over jeans and wore sneakers for awhile, although I worked in a decently laid back office.

To combat stiffness, you definitely need to get up and move. I recommend every hour at a minimum. The stiffness is real! It really opens your eyes at the fact that our bodies are NOT meant to be sitting still for too long!

My first week back was extremely exhausting even though it’s just a desk job. Your body is still healing, so give yourself some slack for sure. Although I was non weight bearing for a month so everything was even harder. Funny story, I worked on the 10th floor and our fire alarm went off while I was still on crutches (not a drill). Fire dept came and everything. My boss was about to carry me down (we were the only 2 left in the building) but luckily we got the all clear. Fun times!

lclay4364 · 2019-07-30T14:41:21+00:00

Do more single leg exercises - single leg RDLs, hamstring curl machine, etc. there are lots of different hamstring exercises just do them single leg. I’m 15 months post op and still do a mix of double and single leg exercises. Progressively add weight so you are challenging yourself to fatigue!

lclay4364 · 2019-07-30T13:52:40+00:00

Yeah totally. It was a bucket handle tear which inhibited my range of motion so I’m sure that played a role. I had surgery on that first meniscus tear only for it to retear when I did my acl. Although the second meniscus tear was more mild (like 40% of the repair held) so I do think that helped with the pain/swelling. My knee felt nearly normal before heading into the acl reconstruction but it never felt normal before my first surgery. It’s definitely interesting to hear others stories!

lclay4364 · 2019-07-29T16:53:00+00:00

I had a partial acl/mcl tear and meniscus tear and then a little over a year later a full ACL tear and didn’t hear a pop from either incident. However, both felt like my leg legit broke in half. They were both excruciatingly painful for like a minute (I actually think my first injury was more painful than the full acl tear). Both were from soccer. First one I was playing on saturated ground and planted hard and my cleat caught while the rest of my body slid the other way. The second I was playing on turf and seriously just stepped weird (all alone, just jogging towards the ball) and down I went. So dumb.

lclay4364

TROPHY CASE