ACL Injuries.

Causes and cures...
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jafo
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ACL Injuries.

Post by jafo »

As most of you know I've had my ACL replaced with a cadaver tendon. It was'nt until today that I have realised the advantages of this surgery apposed to using your own graph. My doctor is pretty good and respested in my area and on the day of my opperation, did a younger guys ACL right after mine. The other guy opted for using his own graph and I opted for the cadaver replacment. I went in today and found out that I'm weeks ahead of the other guy as far as range of motion and pain goes. Big thing was the pain factor. I had a pain block on my leg instead of the other option, can't remember what it was called. The block helped out alot also but as my doctor told me, the cadaver replacement is much less painful that graphing your own tissue. My knee feels pretty good all be it that my operation was just last week. I'm just offering this info up so that if anyone else here has the same problem, it's another opinion to look at. I'm glad I went the way I did on this surgery. KDX200Kev had this done also, but I experienced a different recovery so far. I did'nt have as much pain associated with my after surgery recovery, at least not yet. :? But he also gives another opinion on his own surgery thats in the "Knee Injury" Topic. You might want to check out also. I feel pretty confident now reguarding my recovery. It's gone better than expected. The Doc is also pretty happy with where I'm at but not supprised.

Jon.
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Post by KDXer »

Very good news indeed Jon. :supz:
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Post by sasrocks »

good news Jon..

I had ACL recon and a total of 5 surgeries on my knee. CTI-2s or equivalent are mandatory post op unless you want to risk messing it up again, IMO.

I went w the patellar tendon graft and sure it hurt but pain is weakness leaving the body. I embraced it and work my a$$ of in rehab. I hit the weights 3X week and ride the bicycle as much as I can 60-75 minutes at a time. With no cartilidge on the medial side I am going to have some issues, but my riding (off road and road racing) has not been affected.
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Post by jafo »

Thanks Kay Dee.

sasrocks, I fully plan on working my a$$ off too. Your right, and also a good way to look at it about pain is weakness leaving the body. I did'nt have to even ask how long until I can ride but he was giving me at least 6 months before I can even think about climbing on a bike. Then he said maybe one to two years before the knee feels natural again. Thats what I'm shooting for, I want to have a natural feeling. He also went into detail of exactly how the original tendon was in my knee and how this one is positioned. I should'nt need any further surgeries on the knee after a certain point if I do what I'm suppose to and wear my knee braces which I fully plan on doing. He told me it would never be as good as ther original tendon but damn close. Thats all I can ask realy. I'm just going crazy not being able to get out and ride right now, awsome weather around here.!!! But I'll be back this spring for sure. Between this doctor and my rehab specialist, I should be in good hands and all the bases covered. I'm going to try to scan these pics the doc took of the inside of the knee and put them into my gallery if anybody wants to check them out, they realy are'nt to nasty looking but they are revealing of what I've been riding with for the last few months. The doc also cleaned up the cartlage and other areas in my knee too. He said I should be good to go in a few months, but I'm going to treat my rehab like conditioning also all the way into spring so I can be ready for harescrambles. They have a deal at this rehab facility where I can pay like $38 a month and come and go as I please instead of dealing with the co-pays every visit. They'll help me out on what ever conditioning I'll be needing for riding. Pretty cool I thought.

Thanks for the posts guys. Nice to chat with guys who ride and have also been hurt and back on thier feet again. Those are in limited supply around here.

Jon.
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Post by jafo »

For anyone interested, I have the pics that my doctor gave to me after the surgery. I have no idea whats what in the pics, accept for the new tendon, I did recognise that part. These are'nt bloody nasty pics they are realy pretty clean. Pics are in the gallery if interested.

Jon.
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Post by KDX200Kev »

Glad to hear your surgery went well. I think the pain after the surgery depends on a number of factors; such as, if any nerves were cut during the surgery, your age, and fitness level. Just keep in mind that your replaced tendon weakens while your body is taking it over with your DNA. Then it become stronger. As I recall you need to take it easy during the first 4 months for it to gain its strength otherwise you may tear it. Really focus on getting your range of motion back, since you only have 4 - 6 weeks from the time of surgery to do it. The positive thing for me from this surgery is it help me get in good shape after doing all the physical therapy.
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Post by Little Jeff »

You guys should go over to http://www.thumpertalk.com and ask Dr Mark Samder about cadaver graphs. He will tell you they are the worst thing in the world. I personally had a quad graph for my acl reconstruction last Sept. Dr was going for a hamstring graph but ran into complications as he was harvesting the graph. It ruptured and retracted back into my leg, so he got the quad muscle graph from same leg. Dr said I could ride after 6 months or until my leg was 90% of other. I decided to wait another month. 7 months is way to long to be off a bike IMO. Now I am riding, last weekend was the first time out on my newly rebuilt '00 KDX200. Was in rehab for about 2 months and now go to the gym about 3-4 times a week, really concentrating on the legs. I do alot of squats (1 and 2 leg), leg extensions, hip abductions, leg press, recumbant bicycle and the stair master just to kick my a--. I don't do the same thing every day, I like to mix it up quite a bit. Got fitted for a custom CTI acl brace, very nice. Just going to take it easy on the bike for the next couple months and see how it works out. If I was able to, I would've gone down to Texas to see Dr Mark. He claims he can have you back riding in 3 months and people swear by him. He uses opposite pateelar graph tendon with bone at each end. Bone heals to bone faster than soft tissue does to bone, therefore cutting healing time in half. Go check him out.
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NM_KDX200
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Post by NM_KDX200 »

I think it's "graft". And I really hope I never have one.
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Jeb
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Post by Jeb »

"Allografts" (using cadaveric mat'l) has been demonstrated repeatedly to be a great choice for many people. Athletes are choosing them with increasing frequency.

I had one almost 2 years ago and things are just fine. If one does the research they'll find out that MANY more people are going for the allograft because pain and recoup is actually shortened.

Dr. Mark is an opportunist, he has his own way that is making him a ton a money and has found the perfect place to find his "clients". I'm not suggesting that he's no good, not at all, but he claims that those don't see it his way are flat out wrong. Frankly he gets downright unprofessional, it's like this "my way or you are an idiot" mentality. All it would take is another ortho surgeon to get on TT and start challenging him with a more complete set of facts to change that forum. The guy was absolutely insolent and disrespectful, cursing me and my ortho doc, when I asked some frank questions about what he was suggesting and why. You have to ask why a physician would get so defensive and so strongly berate any physician (or patient that saw them).

Sorry if I was long winded but the "Dr. Mark is God" comment chaps my butt a bit.
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Little Jeff
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Post by Little Jeff »

I do agree with you about his mentality. Hopefully I will never have to go through that ordeal again. If it did happen, I would only consider him only to get back on my bike sooner than 6-7 months, but then again, I might just go back to the same surgeon. There have been a few people that have questioned him on particular subjects, which i can not remember what. It came down to he is right and they were wrong mentality. I do know people that have had him do surgery and swear by him, but to me there are always other fish in the sea, but also keeping my options open.
Man, it sure does feel good to be back on my bike :supz:
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Jeb
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Post by Jeb »

Welcome back to riding! I was out about 4 months or so if I remember right, it was righteous getting back into it.
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Little Jeff
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Post by Little Jeff »

Yeah, it feels great to be riding again. I'm just taking it easy for the first month or two until I get my stamina back and confidence. Now that I got my KDX200 all done and running, I'm in the midst of doing the same thing to my '02 KTM300EXC. Total tear down and rebuilding.
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canyncarvr
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Post by canyncarvr »

You guys worry too much.

I have no ACL in either knee.

They broke.

They're gone.

Let's ride!

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ACL Injuries.

Post by oldschoolmxer »

Dr Mark did both of my ACL's using patela tendons and wouldn't go anywhere else but The Sanders Clinic in Houston. I'm 53 and was back on a bike in 6 months Check out his website sanders clinic.net and watch the videos. In my opinion he is the best ACL Dr around.
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