I had ACL/Miniscus surgery doneon the 11th. They removed a third of
the patella tendon to do the ACL. The Miniscus as torn and stiched
bac together. I had the miniscus repaired last year, unfortunatly
the ACL did not reveal itself until a year later. When a second MRI
was done with contrast. The surgery to me was pretty painful. The
dr. said the surgery went well but took about an hour longer than
normal. The pain in my knee was intensified by a fluid build up
around the knee. I had to go back every monady and thursday for
check ups but other wise I was in bed on pain med from the 11th to
today I actually walked aroud the house a little. However I didn't
stay on it long before I was tired. The surgery was suppose to be
done arthoscopic but ended up cutting a 4" incision down the midline
of the knee. Physical Theropy for about 3-4 weeks starting next week
and I should be back to work. PT is very important to rebuild the
strength of the muscles around the knee. With that said, the dr
expects a full recovery. If you have questions you should write them
all out and ask your Dr. If you don't understand anything at all
make him explain it to you. My Dr. was great from explaining the
procedure to explaing what to expect after surgery. I still have
fluid on the knee and it will probably take two more weeks to be
back to normal but the knee already feels better than it did before
the surgery. Hope it helps.

--- In kneesurgeryforum@yahoogroups.com, "zerg_0001" <zerg_0001@...>
wrote:
>
> Hi Kim,
>
> That is a tough decision! I facing the decision of whether to have
a
> third ACL reconstruction, a medial meniscus transplant and a micro-
> fracture articular cartilage surgery. Honestly, the thought of
this
> surgery freaks me out!
>
> I don't for one minute regret getting the ACL done, but I have
been
> pretty miserable without my menicus, but I only have about 10%
left.
> However, I do know from years of therapy that to some extent
really
> good therapy and strengthening can help a tremendous amount. For
> example, having really strong quads can reduce the risk of
> osteoarthritis under the patella by keeping the kneecap in a
neutral
> position and having strong hamstrings can help offset the
instability
> of a torn ACL, etc.
>
> I would suggest that if you do decide to have surgery, make it
clear
> to your ortho that you want the tear STITCHED and not SHAVED if at
> all possible. In some cases that can be done. I think that a lot
more
> orthos are recognizing that just going in and taking away parts of
> the knee causes all kinds of problems down the road. Ultimately,
it
> will probably depend on how bad the tear is and where the tear is
e.g
> posterior, etc.(believe it or not, that can make a difference.
>
> I walked around for years on a torn ACL and did fine, with the
> occasional knee collaspe, but there wasn't much pain. With the
> meniscus gone, in my case, there is constant pain and I pretty
much
> walk with a significant limp now. However, everyone's body reacts
> differently to surgeries, physical therapy and lifestyle changes.
> Hang in there.
>
> Good luck and I hope this helps!
>
> Erena
> Minneapolis
>
>
>
> --- In kneesurgeryforum@yahoogroups.com, K Salisbury
> <tractionpads@> wrote:
> >
> > Hi again,
> >
> > This is really getting interesting. I was wondering whether or
not
> to get the arthroscopy that the ortho recommended. I got a second
> opinion, but still didn't give me confidence in having the
> operation. So far, I have canvassed several friends who do
intensive
> physical activity and have heard several whose knee problems have
> healed by themselves without surgery, 1 (dancer married to an MD
who
> said her husband pretty well pressured her into the operation) who
> had trouble for a year after the surgery, 1 (doctor whose own knee
> goes out) who said that surgery is a 50-50 chance of making it
better
> or making it worse, and now the kneesurgeryforum where we hear
lots
> of negatives.
> >
> > So far, I haven't found one person who says they got an
arthroscopy
> or other surgery with a "boy did that help me" result.
> >
> > My question is, is anyone in this group clearly better off after
> surgery? Which surgery? Please give details.
> >
> > Specifically, is anyone here better off after arthroscopy for
> meniscal tear?
> >
> > Thanks, guys!
> >
> > Kim Salisbury
> > La Mirada, Calif.
> >
> > Get your Car or Truck...UN-STUCK!
> > with Lions Grip Traction Pads (tm)
> > www.lionsgrip.com
> >
>