 Poster: A snowHead
|
Posted last year about my broken leg. All seemed to heal, and I was told that I could ski in perfect conditions, ie groomed slopes, only blues, no deep snow, good viz.......
So I did. Only for two days though, because we had snow, a metre to be honest. And high winds!
But I was happy, because although very unfit, I had returned to snow. Upon return I hit the "get fit" routine to be ready for next year. Whilst walking down a small slope on the South Downs, I heard a crack, and my knee gave way. And swelled up! I went to a and e, in the hospital that had treated my fracture, and was re xrayed. No break, so I was relieved but not for long. I saw a ligament expert who looked up my MRI results. My original injury was far worse than I had been told, I had had two fractures, my mcl was almost off of the bone and I had no ACL. I am in possession of a letter from my original consultant who stated that my ACL was ok and that I was fit to return to anything that I wanted to do.
I have had conflicting advice, one to make my thighs as large as a rugby player's ( I am a 61yr old lady) and one for reconstruction.
I am to see a knee specialist in May.
Any thoughts?
Or advice from people who have been here?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
Sorry to hear your news. Hopefully Jonathan Bell will see your post. Wishing you the best.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
@margaret, really sorry to hear that. I suspect jonathan will see this. ..If not I'm sure he would not mind a PM. If it was me I'd want good professional advice before doing anything
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
| margaret wrote: |
Posted last year about my broken leg. All seemed to heal, and I was told that I could ski in perfect conditions, ie groomed slopes, only blues, no deep snow, good viz.......
So I did. Only for two days though, because we had snow, a metre to be honest. And high winds!
But I was happy, because although very unfit, I had returned to snow. Upon return I hit the "get fit" routine to be ready for next year. Whilst walking down a small slope on the South Downs, I heard a crack, and my knee gave way. And swelled up! I went to a and e, in the hospital that had treated my fracture, and was re xrayed. No break, so I was relieved but not for long. I saw a ligament expert who looked up my MRI results. My original injury was far worse than I had been told, I had had two fractures, my mcl was almost off of the bone and I had no ACL. I am in possession of a letter from my original consultant who stated that my ACL was ok and that I was fit to return to anything that I wanted to do.
I have had conflicting advice, one to make my thighs as large as a rugby player's ( I am a 61yr old lady) and one for reconstruction.
I am to see a knee specialist in May.
Any thoughts?
Or advice from people who have been here? |
Sorry to hear of your injury.
Deciding on whether to reconstruct and ACL is not always a straight forward decision.
The one thing that i think is irrelevant is your age. Im much more interested in whether your are healthy, active and wanting to go back to sport/ activities.
Here are a few facts that may clarify the situation.
90+ % of knees that have an ACL rupture end up potentially unstable, i say potentially because it depends what you do with you knee.
Some knee will not "reveal" their instability until the knee is pushed hard to change direction eg hockey, football, skiing etc
About 15 % will "reveal" their instability on everyday activities such as turning as you get something from the fridge, the dog bumps the leg etc.
So the potential for instability varies from one individual to another.
Combined injuries to the ACL and MCL fare worse on the whole if managed without surgery. However it is not imperative that they all have reconstruction.
I generally favour reconstructing knees with good joint surfaces and meniscii as we know that they have the highest chance of a good outcome and the reconstructed ACL protects the meniscus from tearing.
So you can decide to have surgery based on the fact that you have a knee worth protecting , you wish to remain active or play sports or you can see if you can manage.
Trying to manage would mean a program of about 3 to 4 months of physio and then see if the knee is upto coping with the activities you throw at it. If you are a once a year skier and play the odd game of tennis you could try a brace ( for a blog piece i wrote on braces go to http://www.wimbledonclinics.co.uk/blog/to-brace-or-not-to-brace-january/ ) If the knee remain untrustworthy you could elect to have surgery then.
You really need to talk it through with someone who understands your goals, doesn't write you off because you are 61 yrs and specialises in knee ligament surgery.
Jonathan Bell
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
And this ^ sort of valuable, informed information is why Snowheads is so great for it's members, thanks Jonathan for taking the time to reply to Margaret
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
Yes, many thanks for that useful information. Much appreciated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I am sorry to hear about your injury. I guess you are going to want to continue to walk in the Downs without keeling over and therefore kind of have a pointer as to what might be best. Unfortunately, mis-diagnosis, mainly by GPs seems very common. Mine announced confidently that there was no sign of ligament damage. Fortunately I have a physio that I trusted and I booked to see who showed me straight away that there was cause for concern and sure enough, the ACL was completely ruptured. I had to really battle with the medical insurers (PPP) to get a further look based on the GP's first note. If you do go ahead it is a road many have travelled before and it is a very supportive community.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jonathan Bell, many thanks for your thoughts. I am very fit (or at least was!) and consider all hills for walking up, just to see what is on the other side, and mountains are for skiing down, although I do walk up those occasionally too. We have already booked three weeks of skiing next year, and often do more than that. I only ski on piste, but will ski all runs in resort. I cannot understand why the ACL rupture did not show earlier, given what I have been doing. Purely on a self diagnosis point maybe my MCL has gone, could that be what I heard? GP is not keen on me having a reconstruction, but then he thinks that it will be on the NHS. It won't be. My MRI in November showed smooth surfaces and no meniscal damage. I have a brace from my fracture/mcl damage. On the website it is also recommended for ACL problems. Is there any harm in wearing it to protect my knee for now?
Thank you once again. One way or another I am skiing again😃 I just hope that it is sooner rather than later.....
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
| margaret wrote: |
Jonathan Bell, many thanks for your thoughts. I am very fit (or at least was!) and consider all hills for walking up, just to see what is on the other side, and mountains are for skiing down, although I do walk up those occasionally too. We have already booked three weeks of skiing next year, and often do more than that. I only ski on piste, but will ski all runs in resort. I cannot understand why the ACL rupture did not show earlier, given what I have been doing. Purely on a self diagnosis point maybe my MCL has gone, could that be what I heard? GP is not keen on me having a reconstruction, but then he thinks that it will be on the NHS. It won't be. My MRI in November showed smooth surfaces and no meniscal damage. I have a brace from my fracture/mcl damage. On the website it is also recommended for ACL problems. Is there any harm in wearing it to protect my knee for now?
Thank you once again. One way or another I am skiing again😃 I just hope that it is sooner rather than later..... |
A brace can help the knee feel secure but i would favour getting you out of it if the knee is not unstable day to day. i find they make it a little more difficult to get the knee straight.
They also alter your gait .
Good luck
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@margaret, Good luck with getting sorted - there seems to be lots of differing opinions/ways forward - but my thinking is that the best person to decide whats best for you - is you - based on advice from specialists obviously - and lots of peoples experiences on here that are really helpful - and galleons of info all over the internet.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
@barney2, but take those pesky US skiing forums with a pinch of salt, where everyone seems to be back in the park doing tricks 5 days post op.
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
Insurer is paying for an initial appointment, plus any investigations, and follow up. Then depends on the results. Pretty fed up with doing nothing, other than ice, rest, and elevation. But not too long to wait now. Extension almost there, especially when I first wake up. It is the first thing I do each day. But I am not prepared to alter my lifestyle forever. I have too much living to do. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@margaret, Am I right in thinking you have a dog? When I injured my knee & was seeing a consultant who considered me too old to reconstruct my ACL, I was struggling to fully extend my knee, & had been given a deadline of 2 weeks to be able to manage it,or I would need an arthroscopy. Sitting on the floor one evening trying to straighten it, my 40kg labrador came & sat beside me. Without warning he then literally threw himself over onto my knee! It was agony for half a minute....but straight! It remained so & I avoided arthroscopy. Then I met JB & had my ACL reconstructed & all has been fantastic! The labrador was kept well out of my way while recuperating from the op though! Good luck with your knee.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
I have two dogs, in fact it was the younger golden retriever who ran into my leg and did all of the damage. He was being chased by other dogs in his defence. There is no way that he would want to hurt me. He is also 40 kg of love. I am missing not walking my boys at the moment. I am hoping to be fit enough to walk in the bluebell woods before they are over for this year. (Pre op of course ) my extension is almost there, and the swelling is almost gone, just a little puffy now. Fingers crossed
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
My advice is go for the reconstruction.
I have injured my knee many times over the years, PCL, ACL, MCL and eventually had ACL reconstruction at age 55. I'm now 66 and skied 5 weeks last winter, all runs, all slopes. I couldn't have done that with just physio. You need a good physio to work with you after surgery and you must commit to doing all the exercise. I paid to get my surgery privately as the NHS had too long a wait. (I am female)
Good luck.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
Well, the clock is ticking. I am being very good and doing everything I am told to do. Back to the consultant in two weeks to discuss the future. Have just spent a few days in our dog wagon (caravan) looking at hills! Nothing like getting ready to commit. I cannot live just looking. Hills are for walking up, that is probably no problem, it is the getting down! Leg has almost full extension, physio is very pleased with me. Bluebells have gone, no woods for me this year. I shall enjoy them more next year. I have accepted skiing is a no go area next year. I have a (non) sailing holiday booked, following a pattern here because I had a (non) skiing holiday too. Then hopefully the op. If I have to wait a little while to build up the the knee so be it. I want to be fit again. How are you progressing Barney2?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
@margaret, -Progress is mind numbingly slow! - Similar to you - non active stuff - Now travelling around Northern France in our motorhome - seems bit wierd as it was just over 3 months since we drove back up from the Alps - Movement is still good - but the muscle strength is pathetic! If I try and force it the pain is pretty intense - particulalry considering over 3 months since injury - Using a Compex Fit 1 to try and assist me in building them up - Pre op assesment at end of June - So op in mid July I expect?
I am thinking of the possibility of very late season skiing in Northern Sweden - April/May - and also thought about cross country skiing this season as a way back? Same as you - walking up slopes is a piece of cake - but - then I have to get down - much more amusing! even a very slight gradient is felt - Patience I suppose? Lets see how we get on over next few months
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
