Has anybody gotten any surgery done?

[neovan]

I'm getting an MRI soon just to be sure but the doctor said I might have torn my ACL. This will probably end up with me having to get surgery done on my knee. Anybody gone through anything similar? How'd it feel during surgery? How long to rehab?

UPDATE: I went to get my MRI done which is a tubelike machine and they stick your body in there. Its loud so the guy asked if I wanted to listen to music while it was being done. I'm glad I said yes because I could still hear it while I had the headphones on. Anyways...the results came back and the doctor said that I didn't tear my ACL but there is a tear in my meniscus. He recommended physical therapy twice a week for 4 weeks. If it still doesn't improve, then I will need surgery.

My question is: If I've had this pain already for 4 months and its still lingering around, how would physical therapy help? Shouldn't I just go ahead with the surgery?

 

[JeffCos]

I've never had knee surgery, but I know ACL is the worst one to tear and the longest to rehab. Next time make sure you tear your MCL, much less rehab time.

 

[waggy]

well i had this done to me! it was nasty.

but never had a torn ACL. good luck!

 

[ZoNtO]

My dad had knee surgery and it takes a long time to rehab dude. He had to use crutches and stuff for at least a couple months, and then a brace for the next year or so constantly. He wouldn't of course, but technically was supposed to. Then of course athletics were another story... IIRC, swimming does wonders for knee stuff so you'd probably want to spend a lot of time in a pool while u recover.

 

[LeonarD26]

Depends on how active you are. Do you play a lot of sports? If so, it's about a year of recover time with a lot of hard therapy.

 

[Quasmo]

Appendectimy (sp?)
Wisdom teeth
Mole removal
Brain Transpalnt

 

[tfinch2]

not knee surgery...

when i played basketball in high school, i broke a bone in my foot. it required surgery to put a disposable pin to join the bone for healing. recovery time was 6 weeks, although it felt fine by 4 weeks. talk about feeling depressed.

 

[neovan]

Originally posted by: LeonarD26
Depends on how active you are. Do you play a lot of sports? If so, it's about a year of recover time with a lot of hard therapy.

I like to think I'm active. I use to play basketball every Sunday before this knee injury, softball at least once a week for the company team, rollerblade on the beach every other week, running at 5K-10K meets and was planning to run in next year's LA Marathon.

I fractured my ankle in high school but then I was only in a cast for about a month and that didn't require any surgery.

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: JeffCos
I've never had knee surgery, but I know ACL is the worst one to tear and the longest to rehab. Next time make sure you tear your MCL, much less rehab time.

I tore my MCL...just ended up having to lay off it and it ended up healing up properly.

I did have to have shoulder surgery (torn ligament) and that ended up being well over 6 months of rehab. I wasn't 100% for nearly a year...but it was worth it. I was getting hurt doing almost anything from rock climbing to playing hockey. After surgery, I'm as good as new (just with a large scar coming out of my armpit).

 

[GasX]

I had this when I was 16 months old. Still have the zipper on my belly to show for it...

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: Quasmo
Appendectimy (sp?)
Wisdom teeth
Mole removal
Brain Transpalnt

I would ask for your money back for the brain trasplant.

 

[amish]

i dislocated one of my shoulders too many times so i had to get surgery. they cut my muscle and stretched it over a certain part of my shoulder so that it wouldn't pop out anymore without really doing some damage. the scar i have now is pretty cool, once i get home i'll put it out here.

 

[bigdog1218]

I had my ACL and meniscus repaired at the same time. It was from soccer, and I wanted to continue playing soccer after, so it was about 4 months of physical therapy and I started playing again with a brace after about 9 months. I say I wasn't 100% until about a year.

My best advice would be to rest your foot on a pillow and keep it straightened when you get home, and to start physical therapy as soon as possible. This will make a huge difference in your recovery time.

 

[ToBeMe]

Originally posted by: neovan
I'm getting an MRI soon just to be sure but the doctor said I might have torn my ACL. This will probably end up with me having to get surgery done on my knee. Anybody gone through anything similar? How'd it feel during surgery? How long to rehab?

1 week out from ACL/Meniscus reconstruction surgery...................had a ligament implanted (Alograft)....not one cut from my leg..................recovery is quite shorter....................happy with it so far........been in rehab since day 3 and using CPM machine 6 hours a day.....................using thigh - ankle brace yet now...started with 2 crutches...therapy took one at 5 days and will take other tommorrow they told me..................right now I'm 4 degrees from it being flat again (knee on table) and bending 85 degrees..................

 

[Taggart]

I had a lymph node cyst or something like that under my chin, deep under the muscle. It was HUGE and felt like a big nodule lodged below my mouth. I'm pretty sure it was a result of my acne, all the stuff pooling or draining down to under my chin, or something like that. I had that surgery back in '96.

 

[HamSupLo]

I had my ACL done in 2001 and I didn't start playing basketball again until last month. The length of recovery depends if you have any additional damage to your knee like the MCL or the meniscus. For a year I worked out a lot on my legs to strengthen them before i felt confident that i can play again.

The surgery part is no big deal, you'll be out the same day. Then it's 4 months on crutches and several months of rehab. Expect to be back to sports in about 9 months.

 

[ActuaryTm]

Completely torn ACL and MCL in my left knee. Unfortunately have no meniscus left either (totally sheared through where the femur and tibia meet, as a direct result of the injury).

Was under anesthesia for the duration of the surgery and an hour or so during recovery, but the facility offered me a film of my procedure. Was in Birmingham at that time, and the facility which handled my diagnosis and surgery is world renown for sports related injuries, and is utilized by a number of professional athletes. This was my orthopaedic surgeon. Essentially, the typical procedure involves filling your knee with saline (to allow the instruments to move more easily, and allow the surgeon more room to work), and making the repair/replacement (depending on the extent of your injury) through a few (three to five) incisions. The procedure can vary by doctor or hospital, of course, so be certain you understand which procedure will be used. As you might imagine, there is a great deal of information available online concerning the various orthopaedic methods and techniques.

As far as rehabilitation goes, if my experience is any indication, you will walk out of the hospital (albeit on crutches, of course) a few hours after the surgery. Expect to start your own rehabilitation at home the day of or day after the surgery (a few minor exercises). Professional rehabiliation started a few days later. The exercise bike is heavily used for rehab of ACL tears (no impact); having one at home, or at a nearby gym will be helpful. Lots of biking, then beginning with more streneous exercises, weights (both your own body weight, and typical resistance machines), stretching, etc. Expect a great deal of icing after each session (20 to 35 minutes), if the rehabilitation therapist knows what they are doing (if not, make certain to do it on your own, although immediately after therapy is best). Full recovery can take weeks or months (even years, depending on the severity of your injury), and is typical dependent upon how dedicated you are in regards to the exercises outside of the infrequent meetings with your therapist.

On a lighter note, while being anesthetized outside the OR, the staff roll up another patient being prepped for surgery (believe on his shoulder). The patient's real name was Terry Bollea; though, most probably know him much better under his alternate surname "Hogan". My then wife apparently spoke to him for quite a while before they wheeled him in as well (do not remember any of it, as the anesthesia kicked in fairly quickly).

Good luck with your impending prognosis and surgery, if required.

 

[Argo]

A guy i know tore his ACL 2-3 months ago. About 2 weeks later he was walking around. I've seen him play basketball a few weeks ago, so go figure.

 

[neovan]

Will I be able to drive my manual transmission car after my surgery or should I have someone take me home?

 

[ActuaryTm]

Originally posted by: neovan
Will I be able to drive my manual transmission car after my surgery or should I have someone take me home?

Would depend on which knee was injured. Would strongly suggest having someone to take you home (is always a good idea when you are undergoing anesthesia). And no, would not think you could operate the clutch, if indeed it is your left knee that will undergo surgery. Could possibly drive an automatic home, but would recommend having somewhere there to drive, if for no other reason than for safety.

 

[HamSupLo]

Originally posted by: ActuaryTm
Completely torn ACL and MCL in my left knee. Unfortunately have no meniscus left either (totally sheared through where the femur and tibia meet, as a direct result of the injury).

Was under anesthesia for the duration of the surgery and an hour or so during recovery, but the facility offered me a film of my procedure. Was in Birmingham at that time, and the facility which handled my diagnosis and surgery is world renown for sports related injuries, and is utilized by a number of professional athletes. This was my orthopaedic surgeon. Essentially, the typical procedure involves filling your knee with saline (to allow the instruments to move more easily, and allow the surgeon more room to work), and making the repair/replacement (depending on the extent of your injury) through a few (three to five) incisions. The procedure can vary by doctor or hospital, of course, so be certain you understand which procedure will be used. As you might imagine, there is a great deal of information available online concerning the various orthopaedic methods and techniques.

As far as rehabilitation goes, if my experience is any indication, you will walk out of the hospital (albeit on crutches, of course) a few hours after the surgery. Expect to start your own rehabilitation at home the day of or day after the surgery (a few minor exercises). Professional rehabiliation started a few days later. The exercise bike is heavily used for rehab of ACL tears (no impact); having one at home, or at a nearby gym will be helpful. Lots of biking, then beginning with more streneous exercises, weights (both your own body weight, and typical resistance machines), stretching, etc. Expect a great deal of icing after each session (20 to 35 minutes), if the rehabilitation therapist knows what they are doing (if not, make certain to do it on your own, although immediately after therapy is best). Full recovery can take weeks or months (even years, depending on the severity of your injury), and is typical dependent upon how dedicated you are in regards to the exercises outside of the infrequent meetings with your therapist.

On a lighter note, while being anesthetized outside the OR, the staff roll up another patient being prepped for surgery (believe on his shoulder). The patient's real name was Terry Bollea; though, most probably know him much better under his alternate surname "Hogan". My then wife apparently spoke to him for quite a while before they wheeled him in as well (do not remember any of it, as the anesthesia kicked in fairly quickly).

Good luck with your impending prognosis and surgery, if required.

wow you had your surgery done at the country's premiere place for sports injuries, i had my done at the local Kaiser Permanente hospital.

 

[ToBeMe]

Originally posted by: neovan
Will I be able to drive my manual transmission car after my surgery or should I have someone take me home?

Doubt they'll give you a choice if you go under general you'll have to have someone bring you/take you home.........no eating after midnight the night before..........so on.......................

And yeah.....you (Tim) were at an awesome place......I had mine done in St. Louis by Dr. Francis Palletta whom is the St. Louis Cardinals team surgeon.......................he also operated on back a few years ago.............very good surgeon!

 

[DurocShark]

I had these Harrington Rods when I was 17. I'm 34 now...

 

[paulney]

I had a skin graft from my hip to my arm (partial 3rd degree burn from falming cooking oil)
This sucks is still healing up. And I have a nice rectangular print on my hip as well.

 

[rayray2]

I had some anal warts removed from my anus. Does that count?