 Poster: A snowHead
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Dear all
Sorry I haven't been on the board for quite some time but I've had a lot of exciting things happen - bought a house, got engaged.
We are going to Banff on 18th December and are getting married on NYE 2010 on Lake Louise and our plan was to have 3 weeks of skiing as our honeymoon.
HOWEVER - my fiance has torn his meniscus cartilage in his right knee!! Arggghhh! He's on the urgent list for an arthroscopy but they have said this could take up to 2 months. So, if he is seen at the end of September and has the arthroscopy then do you think he will be ready to LEARN to ski in December?? It's always been a dream of his to learn to ski. I'm a proficient skier and woudn't expect him to get up to my level but realistically guys, is it time to change the honeymoon for somewhere hot and tropical???!!
Thanks
Inga xx
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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probably. though i'd wait for someone medical to show up and confirm before cancelling anything.
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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?
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Inga, you've got 2 threads running with 2 different opinions already! You might do better to out a note on the other thread to refer to this one (BTW - I have no idea)
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Inga, go private (if you can).
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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IANAD but a menisectomy is nothing like as serious as an ACL repair so 2.5 months recovery time should be ample provided he is very rigourous with his rehab. Arthroscopy doesn't even imply they'll be cutting anything out or repairing, often they ar euse dto check there is nothing else probelematic (e.g they can diagnose ligament damage) - what's the diagnosis from the MRI?
No-one on here is realisticlaly going to advise you to can a ski holiday if there is a workaround so take any advice with a pinch of salt.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Thanks Fatbob - the diagnosis is 'major cartilage tear'
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Inga,
If he is an absolute beginner then I feel that a potential knee problem is more relevant than if he were more experienced.
As you will know beginners usually spend quite a lot of time snow ploughing and even if his knee has recovered well there is probably a chance that he will still feel the injury in a snow plough position. That would not help his confidence and given that beginners usually fall quite a lot anyway, any kind of inhibition may make falling even more likely to happen.
If something were to go wrong early in your trip, then that is likely to ruin the whole three weeks.
You may need to think about making a tough decision.
How about a one week honeymoon somewhere warm, then take two weeks skiing later in the season? That way his knee should be much better and even if something still went wrong, you have not spoilt a whole three weeks.
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I'm happy to step in if needed 
Otherwise it depends on how soon they get him done.
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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.
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Inga, I think as long as he has surgery in September he should be fine. A Meniscus tear is not as serious as an ACL or PCL. My son TJ split his right knee meniscus on Dec 14th 2008, had surgery on 16th was on crutches until just after christmas. Started rehab/Physio early New year and started training again late Jan & racing Europa cup Downhills again in early Feb. Just over 6 weeks off.
Go for it!
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Just a thought from
my time on a knee forum I seem to remember thaT snowboarding is easier on the knees. Can anybody confirm that?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| NickyJ wrote: |
Just a thought from
my time on a knee forum I seem to remember thaT snowboarding is easier on the knees. Can anybody confirm that? |
Yes, that's the general consensus. I know a few skiers turn to boarding when they have knee issues. They all seem to be happy with the switch.
And it seem to make sense. There's a lot less of that knee twisting going on...
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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.
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Inga, there's your answer. Both start snowboarding, as beginners. He doesn't have to be left behind, is less likely to twist a knee and it would be far more romantic falling over together. It would be a bit dispiriting for him to be lagging behind the whole time - your skiing will improve a lot in 3 weeks, too and he'll never catch up!
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You know it makes sense.
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LL/ Banff is a cool place to hang out anyway, without the skiing.
Snowboarding sounds good and the scenery is amazing. (We did our honeymoon there too)
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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I don't know about boarding - at an advanced level I'd say its definitely easier on the knees but learning involves a lot of rolling over , falls onto knees as well as the inevitable 1 footed falls exiting chairlifts etc all of which can aggravate dodgy cartillage injuries.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Guys, you are all amazing! What fantastic answers you've given us.
We're still pondering it over and will make a decision this week. We certainly have plenty of food for thought from you all.
Thank you
Inga x
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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?
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| pam w wrote: |
| Inga, there's your answer. Both start snowboarding, as beginners. He doesn't have to be left behind, is less likely to twist a knee and it would be far more romantic falling over together. It would be a bit dispiriting for him to be lagging behind the whole time - your skiing will improve a lot in 3 weeks, too and he'll never catch up! |
I would second that, even without his knee issue.
The learning curve for boarding is steeper which means he'll be up to a good level quicker! 
You learning to board slows you down just enough to wait for him. Mind you, you're probably still going to be ahead of him on the learning curve. But at least the gap wouldn't be quite as big. And to be honest, my own experience with learning to board is it helps my skiing in an un-expected way!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Hmmmm sorry to pee on your parade but knee injuries are notoriously difficult to give an accurate prognosis to (not a doctor, but a boarder with a fooked knee and with a close family friend who is a specialist knee consultant).
I think that the docs here will agree that recovery is in the head of the injured party, the more effort put into rehab the better the end outcome. I do dispute that boarding is easier on the knees than skiing . . . It's not, it's just different and if the stance setup is not fitted to the individual then knees are in stress from the beginning and can be truly boogered in the simplest of manoeuvres. Boarding requires lateral flexibility in the knees on a plane parallel with the board . . . a bit like using a 'hoola hoop' . . . try it you muppets 
I've found that the easiest skiing mechanically for the knees is Telemark and the Teleboard . . . BUT! . . . It's a complete bitch on your musculature.
What it boils down to is . . . the average lazy fart can ski . . . superficially quite well . . . an injured fart needs to learn good technique and do some bloody exercise to avoid long term real damage and disability.
Rehab needs to make you fitter than you were before the injury, anything less is not rehabilitation . . . and the individual is personally responsible for that. Push for better fittness and push hard and there is time to have a good holiday but boarding is not an easy option. Treat the vacation as a step on the way to full recovery and choose a discipline to suit . . . even if that is spending a week on snowshoes going up, down and around the hills.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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The latest is that the physio team have told him NOT to cancel the holiday.........looks like we're still going at this point....!!!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Inga He's obviously acident prone and not into skiing either. Have you thought about cancelling the wedding? 
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If your boyf is seeing consultants in September, I would say he will be lucky to have surgery before you leave in December.
If you have the money (prob £5k) go private. He will be seen within 1-2 weeks of now for consultations, scans and surgery.
I had my shoulder tear done a few years ago and was so lucky to have health cover. But... and its a big but, rehab and physio is as important as the surgery.
If he has it done now, you have a chance. Dream trip, I hope you make the most of it. If it was me, I would scale down the wedding to have the money for the op. Your time together is the most important part and far more important than some distant relatives and their kids eating your £60 a head sit down.
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| Quote: |
the inevitable 1 footed falls exiting chairlifts etc
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yes, good point. I did that coming off a chairlift and for a nasty moment I thought I'd done my knee but it was OK after a couple of minutes. After that I did up both bindings whenever possible (Flows). I have dodgy knees from past injuries and only hurt a knee that one time - though yes, lots of other falls! I wore knee pads initially. I've not done much boarding - I am torn between enjoying it, and being fearful of injuring myself, given my very old age, and messing up my skiing as a result.
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I would scale down the wedding to have the money for the op.
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worth thinking about. My OH has had a couple of knee arthroscopies in the last few years - was a good few weeks waiting both times.
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FAQ
I went and had 2 great weeks, couldnt walk around the town though as that was more painful than skiing, which wasnt at all. It didnt stop me skiing knee deep powder although I tended to avoid the moguls. We also skied Kicking Horse and Revelestoke too, again without problems.
