--- In kneesurgeryforum@yahoogroups.com, ":-)" <graphix_12@y...> wrote:
>
> After the surgery, has anyone gone back to the sport or activity
> that cause the surgery in the 1st place? And mentally? how long does
> it take for you to get mentally stable and confident about the knee.

It's tough for me to really say how long it takes. I had my surgery
(ACL patellar tendon, partial meniscus removal) in Nov. 2002. Here I
am 2 1/2 years later and I am about 98% normal and have been that way
for at least a year, maybe longer.

I wanted to return to the sport (softball) that caused the injury
after 6 months post-op, but knew mentally it was a bad idea and my
doctor and physical therapist said it was a bad idea. At about 7
months post-op I was playing what I believe to be the most stressful
sport I play, basketball. After a long session of competetive
basketball my knee would be sore for a good day or two. I don't
recall exactly when that stopped, but now I play basketball and other
parts of my body are sore, and not my knee.

I say 98% and not 100 because every now and again, I'm not sure if
it's the weather or what, my knee will get little pains when I'm
walking. They don't last for any prolonged period of time. And
they're only slightly noticable while walking, but they're there.
Maybe just to remind me that I had surgery on my knee.

So my advice that I give people when I see them wearing a knee injury
brace is to stick with the PT and to not worry, because it will get
back to normal eventually.